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Author Topic:   Problems with 99 135HP Mercury Optimax

cardinal7769 posted 07-23-2007 04:47 PM ET (US)
Hello fellow Whalers, Anyone have any suggestions...
I was running this weekend and all of a sudden loss power on my Optimax. I started her back up and she began to move real slow and then stalled again. Upon diagnosis I noticed the alternator bolt broke which caused the alternator to come loose and my drive belt to snap.
I put on a new drive belt and resecured the alternator but the engine just won't start. Everything turns crankshaft, compressor, alternnator but no dice. Anyone else ever have this problem....
Would running the motor without the drive belt cause any damage? Everything is turning but just won't kick over.

bsmotril posted 07-23-2007 05:10 PM ET (US)
There was a dealer service bulletin right around 1999 to replace the alternator brackets due to their cracking.
Have you tried a different known good battery capable of delivering 1000 CCA?
sosmerc posted 07-24-2007 11:34 AM ET (US)
Your Optimax does require a strong battery. Merc recommends a 1000 MCA STARTING BATTERY at minimum. The reason for this is that the engine must make two complete revolutions before it will start (this gives the engine computer time to collect sensor data and time to build up required fuel and air pressure). Hot or cold, this 2 revolutions prior to starting is required.
You may want give your serial number to a dealer and they can check to see if all of the service updates were performed to your engine in the past.

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Author	Topic: Problems with 99 135HP Mercury Optimax
cardinal7769	posted 07-23-2007 04:47 PM ET (US) Hello fellow Whalers, Anyone have any suggestions... I was running this weekend and all of a sudden loss power on my Optimax. I started her back up and she began to move real slow and then stalled again. Upon diagnosis I noticed the alternator bolt broke which caused the alternator to come loose and my drive belt to snap. I put on a new drive belt and resecured the alternator but the engine just won't start. Everything turns crankshaft, compressor, alternnator but no dice. Anyone else ever have this problem.... Would running the motor without the drive belt cause any damage? Everything is turning but just won't kick over.
bsmotril	posted 07-23-2007 05:10 PM ET (US) There was a dealer service bulletin right around 1999 to replace the alternator brackets due to their cracking. Have you tried a different known good battery capable of delivering 1000 CCA?
sosmerc	posted 07-24-2007 11:34 AM ET (US) Your Optimax does require a strong battery. Merc recommends a 1000 MCA STARTING BATTERY at minimum. The reason for this is that the engine must make two complete revolutions before it will start (this gives the engine computer time to collect sensor data and time to build up required fuel and air pressure). Hot or cold, this 2 revolutions prior to starting is required. You may want give your serial number to a dealer and they can check to see if all of the service updates were performed to your engine in the past.