Got a new (to me) boat, a 1995 ranger 461vs w/ Merc 175 EFI. It has a new power head, low hours, garage kept, and it's spotless under the cowling. When I bought the boat, it started first turn and ran great and did so the first few outings. My issue is it will not start unless I cold start it and let it warm up. Once it is started it idles fine and runs top. When I get to my spot and fish for a while, it has to be cold started again to get her going most of the time. When I do start it, it is smoking a lot, and eventually goes away after burning off. The only thing I have done is added a gallon of oil to it to top it off, otherwise it's the same as when I got it. Double oil or too much oil in the case? What do y'all think?

I'm sure this isn't it, but did you add the correct kind of oil?

Yup, Merc 2-Stroke Syn TC-W3

??? this problem just show up?.. oiler still intact?.. what do you do "different" with cold start and/or "normal" start?.. does this every time its started, even after its been ran and warmed up?.. motor run ok (idle, mid, wfo) other than this "starting" issue?...

there's several things ta think of ona computer!.. not being able ta "touch" it makes for a guessin' game... first thing comes ta mind is tpi but could be few "other things"..

do you have an oem manual?

Yeah I guess you could say it just showed up. Oiler seems to be intact, when I drop it in the water I have to cold start the engine to get it running. It runs fine after I cold start it, but I can go to a spot, shut the engine down for 30 min; get ready to leave and try to start it and it won't start. So now I'm cold starting it again and it'll start and I'll have to repeat this process every time I stop to fish somewhere. Every time I cold start it, it's smoking pretty well for about 5 min or so. Otherwise the engine idles great, runs really good, have no problems other than getting her started.

what do ya do different with what ya call "cold start" as opposed ta a normal start?

cold start meaning you are choking it? by pushing in the key?

steve, he can't, pushin' tha key does nothin' unless someone has made tha modified wirin' change!.. thats why i was askin' jus what ya can do any different for a "cold start"?

?? Mine is factory stock and pushing in the key activates the enricher and makes a huge difference....to the point of flooding the motor if it is held too long.

EFI?

several years of tha little motor (2.4/2.5) efi"s, including tha '95 is only activated when tha "start" circuit is energized... if not, its been "fixed" by someone knowing what they are doin'.....
you can tell by lookin' at tha start solenoid.. there will be "two" yellow/red wires on tha same pole.. one is for start comin' from tha motor harness and tha other comes from tha ecu harness.. it "squirts a coupla injectors" every time start is engaged... in order for tha "push key" to enrich tha efi motor you have to disconnect tha yellow/red from tha ecu from tha soleniod and connect it to tha yellow/black comin' outta tha motor harness.... jus like a carb motor... tha yellow/black is tha only wire energized by pushing tha key....

thats jus "one" of tha reasons tha efi (in good tune) starts so much easier than tha carb.

justa a note... on efi's most don't know tha yellow/black is even there... its almost always folded up and covered with tape in tha motor harness near tha plug....

i have a quicksilver 3000 series throttle. On the bottom of the shaft handle there is a black button (handle is black as well so it's kinda hard to see). You push the button in and move the lever forward. This keeps the gears in neutral while giving a little throttle to help start, this is the "cold start feature". In addition my boat does have a key primer; however, using that alone will not start the outboard.

My dads 225 Merc Pro XS has a Mercury throttle with cold start as well. On his the "M" logo on the bottom of the throttle handle can be pressed in to cold start. He didn't even know about it lol.

thats fast idle thingy.. thought thats what ya meant... I'll say it one more time... unless someone has "rewired" tha primer (enrichner) circuit pushin' tha key does nothin' to put fuel in tha motor.. pushin' tha key will ONLY ENERGIZE THA YELLOW/BLACK WIRE, NOTHING ELSE... so has yours been done like i described above?... look for tha TWO yellow/red wires on tha same pole on tha soleniod.. how do you know its adding fuel?.. can't be seen or heard?

if you are just a little bit mechanical i can give ya an address for an oem manual if you want.. will tell ya 'bout anything ya wanna know...

tha tpi would be tha first thing i'd test and/or adjust back to tolerance if its outta whack....

That year has a temp sensor (port cylinder head) that signals the ECU to give it more fuel until the motor warms up. Years ago I found out by not connecting this sensor. Motor would flood because of so much fuel.