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Author Topic:   1999 Mercury OptiMax 225 Run Problems

coast1345 posted 05-17-2009 03:06 PM ET (US)
I have twin 1999 [Mercury] 225 [OptiMax] motors. They both have low hours around 350. The port motor started off by giving me trouble starting it, then it would run fine for around four hours then just lost power all the way down (not to safe mode). The motor will turn over but not start at all. Here is a list of things we tried: we used parts off the working motor to check different things, throttle position, EMC [?], starting position. We checked in-line filters; the air pressure and fuel pressure both fine. The motor is not getting fuel. Oil is running out of the hub from trying to start it so much. Fuel is making it to the fuel rail but not into the motor. Please any ideas. We ran a computer on it and can not find anything wrong with the motor.
[This article was posted in duplicate to PERFORMANCE. It has been moved to REPAIRS/MODS. Please use REPAIRS/MODS for topics related to repair or diagnosis of problems with engine running. Please do not post duplicate articles.--jimh]
Tohsgib posted 05-17-2009 06:41 PM ET (US)
It is an Optimax!
gorji posted 05-17-2009 07:20 PM ET (US)
Please help the poster.
adriano posted 05-18-2009 03:35 AM ET (US)
Have you done a compression test? If not do this before anything else and let us know what value you get. Then will move from there. Adri
Jefecinco posted 05-18-2009 09:59 AM ET (US)
Sounds like it is time to take your Opti to an authorized service center. You're certainly well beyond the ability of most back yard mechanics.
Butch
Tohsgib posted 05-18-2009 10:45 AM ET (US)
No offense but with what he has posted and with computer diagnostics been done...how on earth can a bench side mechanic help here? Butch is correct.
martyn1075 posted 08-15-2009 11:00 PM ET (US)
I have this exact same engine and have had similar problems. Have you checked the fuel injectors? It turns out that the original factory injectors are faulty and are not the right part for this engine. In other words, they are a time bomb and pretty much useless! and will fail at some point if not already. I have replaced one so far but just recently have had the same pre symptoms of a another dying injector. There of course is an upgrade injector to fix Mercury's problem but will cost $500.00 a peice per/6 injectors. OR you can just replace the old ones with the same replacement part for $300 but what's the point because they will fail again. If its not the Injectors I am sorry I don't know. Good Luck.
jimh posted 08-15-2009 11:19 PM ET (US)
Are the faulty injectors that you are replacing for $500-each the air injectors or the fuel injectors? With a total of 12-injectors in a V6 motor, and at $500 per injector, total replacement cost would be $6,000. It may not be worth investing $6,000 into a 1999 OptiMax.
martyn1075 posted 08-16-2009 12:24 AM ET (US)
In my case it is for sure the injector. You are right its not a good investment on an engine that may be worth 3-7K on the market. I am currently looking to re-power my 1990 22 Revenge it seems like a better choice. I have bad taste in mouth with the Mercury product, but I hear the new optimax's are very good which is making it hard for me to choose between a two stroke, or a popular Four stroke re-power.
martyn1075 posted 08-16-2009 12:33 AM ET (US)
I meant to say FUEL Injector not just injector in my last post.
TransAm posted 08-16-2009 12:20 PM ET (US)

quote:
There of course is an upgrade injector to fix Mercury's problem but will cost $500.00 a peice per/6 injectors.
Can you cite the source for this information. Fuel injector for this engine should run about $150.00 each; air injectors about $300 each.
martyn1075 posted 08-16-2009 01:20 PM ET (US)
Wow if $150.00 is the going rate and you can can verify that price sounds like I got ripped off. However, my mechanic located a the part at $300 replacement and $500 for the right injector. I m located in Vancouver B.C. perhaps they are marketing up the item or I have been ripped off by my mechanic which would be disturbing. Next time I see him will ask for the receipt from the store that it was purchased from, that should settle it. I received a total Mechanic bill for part and labour only. I would love to hear anyones thoughts on the new Optimax engines.
TransAm posted 08-16-2009 01:56 PM ET (US)
I would recommend you obtain the serial number of your engine as well as the part number for your fuel injector(s) and conduct an internet search on one of the many sites that sells Mercury parts. I friend of mine with twin 250 Opti's (don't recall exactly what year they are-c.2001) replaced injectors for about $160/piece. Perhaps there is something unique about your model year engine warranting a more complex part.
RevengeFamily posted 08-16-2009 09:18 PM ET (US)
These engines are crap... I have twin 1999, 225's Opti's, don't care that they were made in the good ole USA or that Merc "stands behind their product"...
See part of my nightmare below...
http://continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum3/HTML/017232.html

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Author	Topic: 1999 Mercury OptiMax 225 Run Problems
coast1345	posted 05-17-2009 03:06 PM ET (US) I have twin 1999 [Mercury] 225 [OptiMax] motors. They both have low hours around 350. The port motor started off by giving me trouble starting it, then it would run fine for around four hours then just lost power all the way down (not to safe mode). The motor will turn over but not start at all. Here is a list of things we tried: we used parts off the working motor to check different things, throttle position, EMC [?], starting position. We checked in-line filters; the air pressure and fuel pressure both fine. The motor is not getting fuel. Oil is running out of the hub from trying to start it so much. Fuel is making it to the fuel rail but not into the motor. Please any ideas. We ran a computer on it and can not find anything wrong with the motor. [This article was posted in duplicate to PERFORMANCE. It has been moved to REPAIRS/MODS. Please use REPAIRS/MODS for topics related to repair or diagnosis of problems with engine running. Please do not post duplicate articles.--jimh]
Tohsgib	posted 05-17-2009 06:41 PM ET (US) It is an Optimax!
gorji	posted 05-17-2009 07:20 PM ET (US) Please help the poster.
adriano	posted 05-18-2009 03:35 AM ET (US) Have you done a compression test? If not do this before anything else and let us know what value you get. Then will move from there. Adri
Jefecinco	posted 05-18-2009 09:59 AM ET (US) Sounds like it is time to take your Opti to an authorized service center. You're certainly well beyond the ability of most back yard mechanics. Butch
Tohsgib	posted 05-18-2009 10:45 AM ET (US) No offense but with what he has posted and with computer diagnostics been done...how on earth can a bench side mechanic help here? Butch is correct.
martyn1075	posted 08-15-2009 11:00 PM ET (US) I have this exact same engine and have had similar problems. Have you checked the fuel injectors? It turns out that the original factory injectors are faulty and are not the right part for this engine. In other words, they are a time bomb and pretty much useless! and will fail at some point if not already. I have replaced one so far but just recently have had the same pre symptoms of a another dying injector. There of course is an upgrade injector to fix Mercury's problem but will cost $500.00 a peice per/6 injectors. OR you can just replace the old ones with the same replacement part for $300 but what's the point because they will fail again. If its not the Injectors I am sorry I don't know. Good Luck.
jimh	posted 08-15-2009 11:19 PM ET (US) Are the faulty injectors that you are replacing for $500-each the air injectors or the fuel injectors? With a total of 12-injectors in a V6 motor, and at $500 per injector, total replacement cost would be $6,000. It may not be worth investing $6,000 into a 1999 OptiMax.
martyn1075	posted 08-16-2009 12:24 AM ET (US) In my case it is for sure the injector. You are right its not a good investment on an engine that may be worth 3-7K on the market. I am currently looking to re-power my 1990 22 Revenge it seems like a better choice. I have bad taste in mouth with the Mercury product, but I hear the new optimax's are very good which is making it hard for me to choose between a two stroke, or a popular Four stroke re-power.
martyn1075	posted 08-16-2009 12:33 AM ET (US) I meant to say FUEL Injector not just injector in my last post.
TransAm	posted 08-16-2009 12:20 PM ET (US) quote: There of course is an upgrade injector to fix Mercury's problem but will cost $500.00 a peice per/6 injectors. Can you cite the source for this information. Fuel injector for this engine should run about $150.00 each; air injectors about $300 each.
martyn1075	posted 08-16-2009 01:20 PM ET (US) Wow if $150.00 is the going rate and you can can verify that price sounds like I got ripped off. However, my mechanic located a the part at $300 replacement and $500 for the right injector. I m located in Vancouver B.C. perhaps they are marketing up the item or I have been ripped off by my mechanic which would be disturbing. Next time I see him will ask for the receipt from the store that it was purchased from, that should settle it. I received a total Mechanic bill for part and labour only. I would love to hear anyones thoughts on the new Optimax engines.
TransAm	posted 08-16-2009 01:56 PM ET (US) I would recommend you obtain the serial number of your engine as well as the part number for your fuel injector(s) and conduct an internet search on one of the many sites that sells Mercury parts. I friend of mine with twin 250 Opti's (don't recall exactly what year they are-c.2001) replaced injectors for about $160/piece. Perhaps there is something unique about your model year engine warranting a more complex part.
RevengeFamily	posted 08-16-2009 09:18 PM ET (US) These engines are crap... I have twin 1999, 225's Opti's, don't care that they were made in the good ole USA or that Merc "stands behind their product"... See part of my nightmare below... http://continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum3/HTML/017232.html