2001 challenger 2000 wont start at temp.

[timdogge]

Hello guys,

This is my first post. i have read all the post on this subject and have followed all of the instruction given. i've tried the blower advice, ive changed the temp sender, new spark plugs, clean fuel filter.

Yesterday i took the boat out and as usual it started and ran fine for about an hour. stopped for about 30 minutes and would not start. i did something different yesterday that i hadnt thought of before and no one on here has mentioned. i put the "gear shift" forward and gave it a little bit of throttle, with the ignition switch in the on position, i jumped the starter from the solenoid. she cranked right up and i went. taking the boat out the water by jumping the starter was quite the task

Now this makes me think i have a fuel/idle issue. not enough, too much, not sure. she does run rough at idle and heavy smoke. oil injection has been removed and i mix the oil myself, 50:1. anyone have any ideas on what the issue is. when i pulled the plugs they were in bad shape. i was pretty optimistic that they were the problem, but not so much. also she is burning a lot of gas..

any help from you guys would be greatly appreciated!!

 

[Dr Honda]

Lets start with.... What engine do you have?

 

[timdogge]

its a mercury 240 efi. i cant find the serial number to save my life..

 

[Dr Honda]

its a mercury 240 efi. i cant find the serial number to save my life..

That's fine. Unless its been swapped, it's the early engine.

If you replaced the port side temp sender... then there could be an issue with the TPS. (Throttle position sensor) Also... there is (was) a second throttle cable hooked to the steering. It adds a little power while at idle, and full turn. If it's still hooked up, you can turn the wheel to a stop, and it should add enough throttle to get it to fire.


But, as always... it's good to get a compression check. If it's low, it makes it very hard to start, when the mufflers are full of water.

 

[timdogge]

Thanks Doc for your responses!! yeah i was thinking TPS but not familiar with it at all or how they work or where it is. any insight, pictures on the TPS would be greatly appreciated. Also, i was thinking muffs being in the water too, but she does the same thing on the hose. there is a throttle cable lying in the engine compartment, i thought it was there for a dual motor set up. any insight on where to hook it back up to, if that is what it is? i will def check the compression. she runs perfectly at higher rpm's and tops out speed wise around 50-52 mph @ about 6k rpm. sunday i put 30 gallons of 93 octane eth free gas in and ran about 3/4 of that thru hoping it would clean up anything that may have been gummed up. clearly didnt help..

 

[K Rock]

Can you get a photo of the mystery cable? It might be the steering throttle my 2000 challenger 240 efi has a broken one by the base of the engine caused from corrosion. New cable is on the way.

For future reference you should have a sticker on the flywheel cover with engine and jet pump serial numbers, unless it's been worn off or the cover removed.

 

[Dr Honda]

Yep... a pic would be helpful. I'll assume it's the power adder for the steering... but it could just be an old part.

 

[timdogge]

Yep, it's connected to the steering wheel. Had my son turn the wheel as I peeped.. so now I need to know where it goes.

 

[timdogge]

Doc, have you taken apart a set of these controls? What does the locking mechanism for the throttle when in the neutral position, consist of? Can it be bypassed? And why would someone disconnect the steering throttle cable?

 

[timdogge]

 

[K Rock]

Reference number 41 on the diagram. It may help find where it connects

 

[timdogge]

didnt mean to post it twice

 

[timdogge]

thanks k rock! ill try to follow that

 

[K Rock]

It won't fix the problem of not starting when warm, but should make idle control a lot better, ya know when it's running I mean.

 

[timdogge]

yeah krock, im hoping it gives me enough throttle, like i said earlier, bypassing the ignition switch and jumping the starter while in "gear" giving a lil throttle it fires right up. when i bought the boat the motor cover was gone. would you be so gracious and take a pic of the side of the motor where your cable broke? mucho gracias

 

[timdogge]

it looks like there is some adjustment room on the cable too, keeping fingers crossed it will give me enough throttle. ive tried everything else there is to try. are the "injectors" like injectors on a car? do they clog, go bad, etc.? please forgive my ignorance.

 

[K Rock]

The microfiche shows your cable connects to the starboard side. Mine is off the port side on my 2000. Not sure why it would be different, both have the 240efi and should both be the first generation.

 

[K Rock]

Edit*** I looked at the diagram wrong, they are the same, port side. The connection is behind the vst tank. My tank is off now for a new pump, I'll take a picture of the linkage point in the morning.

 

[timdogge]

thanks man!!!

 

[Dr Honda]

Looks like KROCK got on it for me.

Yes, it connects behind the bottom edge of the vapor tank. It's a total pain to get to... but it's possible. There is a plastic clip that holds it in place, so at lease you don't need tools back there.

As far as the comment that it won't help start... well... that's not true. When we get into a situation where a re-start is hard... then it does help, since it will give you a small bump in the throttle.

 

[K Rock]

Here you go. You can see the plastic connector [MENTION=16022]Dr Honda[/MENTION] mentioned ed, and my broken cable hanging from it. Just below that and behind the rest throttle linkage is were it hooks to the mounting bracket. Hope it helps!!