Ignition Switch Question

[AlanW]

My 2000 model Coral 191 has the Mercury Commander control handle on it, but the actual ignition switch is mounted on the dash board. I don't know if it is a Mercury switch or something else. My engine is 1999 Mercury 200 EFI 2.5 liter.

How is the correct way to "entergize" , "enrich", or "choke" this engine for starting?? Do I turn the switch to first postion and hold it there for a few seconds??
OR...
Do I turn the switch to the first postion and push in on the key and hold like that for a few seconds.

On my old boat/motor, you pushed in on the key in the first position. A knowledgeable friend said on my current rig, the pushing and hold in on the key does nothing. He said you just turn the key to the first postion and hold there without pushing in. (he said you can push in on the key, but it doesn't do anything)

It seems to start better if you push in on the key, but for the sake of arguement, what is the correct way this works?

[Tx Champ]

I don't think the EFIs have a choke. What I do is make sure the bulb is pumped up before I put it in the water. Once in, I turn the key on and let the fuel pump pressure up. Mine takes about 10-15 seconds before it shuts off. Then I crank the engine. It usually fires right off. If I rush it, I may have to give it a little gas to keep it running until the fuel pressure is stable. After the first crank of the day, I just crank it & go.

Hope that answered you question.

[Psychologist]

On that engine you should not have to choke it. If it is not starting, I would look into other issues. Let me know if you have any problems with it starting. I have a friends that is very knowledgeable on that engine.

[AlanW]

Oh, it always starts. Just sometimes it won't start until you disengage the throttle from the gear shift and give it a little gas. ( I always pump the bulb up real good).
This mostly happens when my wife tries to start it when I'm backing her down the ramp & in.

TX Champ's post has me confused where he states he lets his fuel pump pressurize for 10-15 seconds. While it sounds like a good idea, I thought these engines had the same diaphram/vacuum pulse type fuel pump as the old carb engines, not a electric fuel pump? If it had an electric fuel pump, why would you even need to pump up the bulb?

[Psychologist]

It has an electric fuel pump located in the VST. If you pull the cowl you will see a small red and black wire going to a pump next to that low pressure diaphram pump you are speaking of. The low pressure pump feeds the electric.

[Tx Champ]

It's also hard to hear unless the cowling is off.

I had it in the garage one night doing some work on the engine and turned the ignition on and heard it running. After several seconds, it shut off and occured to me what it was. The early Ford and others' fuel injection systems (early 90s) you could hear the high pressure pump run for a few seconds when you turned the ignition on. If you would wait until full fuel pressure was present (the pump quit running) it would crank first time every time. So I just started applying it to my EFI. Works!

[Tx 201]

You pump the bulb so the fuel pump has something to pull on and not just trying to pull fuel all the way up the line which will hurt the pump over time. Pump the bulb, turn the key to the on position and then back the wife down the ramp, by the time she is in the water it is ready to start.

[AlanW]

Thanks, everyone! I'll have her try it next time. The funny thing is, it starts right up for ME most every time on the first or second try by just turning the key!
I tell my wife either she isn't holding her mouth right or the boat just hates her.

It's sure is nice & quick to have somebody to help when when launching & loading.

My wife can't back-up the truck & trailer for anything, but, assuming she can get the engine started, can launch and she can LOAD - she hits the trailer right the first time almost everytime!!! I love it when there are some guys struggling to get their boats on their trailers right, and I just back my truck down and stand & watch as she puts it right on there & we're gone right back up the ramp

[Tx Champ]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by AlanW &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">My wife can't back-up the truck & trailer for anything, but, assuming she can get the engine started, can launch and she can LOAD - she hits the trailer right the first time almost everytime!!! I love it when there are some guys struggling to get their boats on their trailers right, and I just back my truck down and stand & watch as she puts it right on there & we're gone right back up the ramp </TD></TR></TABLE>

My wife and I fished CAST during the 90s and she refused to launch or load the boat. So we spend a couple of afternoons one weekend at an old TG&Y parking lot and backed that boat all over the place. By the time we got through, she could stop and back it in between the yellow lines from 90 degrees off. We havent fished together in a long time, we've taken the grandkids out a couple of time in the last year and she can still hit the ramp straight on first time. I love it when some of the other yeahoos at the ramp realize they've been out backed by a woman ...

[Tx 201]

That is too funny Reggie!! Have you seen my rig at Lacks backing up and pulling forward? Wife has gotten pretty good at it, the last time at Ivie she wanted to back down the ramp at Concho, she did a good job!!

[Tx Champ]

Nope, but holler next time and I'll come cheer her on. And if needed, harass the coach ...