2003 Johnson 115 4-Stroke Acting Fussy

General Boats and Motors
1

I have never had a problem with this motor, but Monday it started acting up. About half of the time, from idle when I get on the throttle she spits and sputters before taking off or just chokes out all together. Also, about half of the time, when I am running and then pull the throttle back to idle, it just goes back to idle and then chokes off. I have not had any problem with it skipping or anything once it’s on plane and all the way up to WOT. I can still get to 35 knots wide open. It seems to just be to and from idle that it is acting up.

The fuel line and bulb is still the original from 2003, but it seems to be in good shape and gets pressure when I squeeze it.

I have heard several opinions so far about using gas with Ethanol, which I have been using without a fuel-water separator. I know that that is not a good idea, but will that be my problem now?

Someone else told me to get the fuel treatment Seafoam and see if that clears it up.

I will greatly appreciate any advice that you guys can give me to track down this problem.

Thanks.

Matthew K. Mizell
Columbia, SC
Sea Pro 190CC
Johnson 115 4-Stroke

2

sounds like a fuel problem

I’m now at www.teamcharlestonmarine.com

3

Get one of these and mount it where it is safe and visible. The sight bowl unscrews from the filter cartidge which you change like any other. Any water settles out in the sight bowl which has a petcock on the bottom allowing you to drain off the water. If you already have a mount for a spin on filter, you can get one of these to fit (~$50). Otherwise, you’ll need to buy the mount also and make the appropriate connections.

Link to Westmarine catalog: http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/producte/10001/-1/10001/300467/377%20710%201685/712/fuel%20filter/Primary%20Search/mode%20matchallpartial/0/0?N=377%20710%201685&Ne=712&Ntt=fuel%20filter&Ntk=Primary%20Search&Ntx=mode%20matchallpartial&Nao=0&Ns=0&keyword=fuel%20filter&isLTokenURL=true&storeNum=6&subdeptNum=68&classNum=219

17’ Henry O Hornet
w/ Johnson 88spl

4

Ethanol

Do a google search for Ethanol & Outboards

Good Luck