Troubleshooting an Evinrude E-TEC Motor

Bombadier’s Evinrude E-TEC outboard motor engines are well-regarded for being low maintenance while achieving a 300 hour run time. Like all engines, low maintenance or not, E-TECs do run across problems, including the starter not operating, engine not starting, and idling. With a few troubleshooting steps, these problems can be corrected.

If the engine won’t start, shift the handle to neutral. Check the battery to see if it’s charged and also check for blown fuses (located under the engine and electronics cover). If the starter cranks, but the engine fails to start, check that the water intake screens are below the water line. You’ll also want to check for tangled fuel hoses or an empty fuel tank. For idling, clear debris from the propeller and fix bent blades or shaft.