Outboard motor troubleshooting: what's wrong with my boat motor?
Plain-English fixes for common outboard problems, organized by symptom. Each page gives a quick answer, likely causes, safe owner checks, parts, and when to call a pro, with sources.
Won't start
Runs poorly
- Why does my outboard idle rough or surge?
- Why does my outboard bog or stall when I throttle up?
- Why has my outboard lost power or won't plane?
- Why does my prop slip, ventilate, or cavitate?
- Why is my outboard smoking so much?
- Why do my outboard spark plugs keep fouling?
- Why does my outboard vibrate or shake?
Overheating & cooling
Fuel problems
Electrical & controls
Seasonal care
- How do I winterize an outboard motor?
- How do I start my outboard after winter storage?
- Why is my outboard gear oil milky?
- How do I flush my outboard with fresh water?
- How often should I change the oil in my 4-stroke outboard?
- When should I replace the anodes on my outboard?
- Where is the serial number on my outboard, and what year is it?