Silent choice closing by itself
 

I have the Merc silent choice with the air cylinders and last weekend I would open the exhaust no problem then go for a blast and by the time I had came off plane they would be closed, then I would open them back up again, I dont think there is an air leak but I havnt done a soap test........Doug

You have an air leak. Check for loose fittings. Open them back up and put dish soap on the fittings and look for bubbles.

Mine did the same thing. Would only hold pressure for a minute. The relief valve was leaking. I just removed, cleaned and reinstalled it. 10 minute job. Problem solved. The valve is so basic, I didn't see the need to order a new one and wait for delivery.

LEAKS !!
 

I agree with both replies, but with a long history with Mercury I to would check the relief valve on the air pump itself. These things are notorious for this. Remove it disassemble it clean it , put it back together and go boating. We have had to actually take that valve out and put in a pipe plug so some people with HP motors didnt have any problems while we had to get a new valve. The salt water got to it befoe we did. If you do this just be careful not to hold the button down to long and blow off an ail line .

Pwrbt33 :D

If, by some chance, it turns out to be the air cylinders, I have 2 brand new ones I wont need.

Ahhhhh, excuse my ignorance but, where is the relief valve???

It is on the air pump itself. It will be on the tee were the air line connects.

Finally got around to checking this..........my pump doesnt have a "tee'' on it, it is just the pump, a fitting, then a single hose connected to it that goes to an electric solinoid with the air line coming out of the other side of it. I took the top off the pump (3 screws) and didnt see much to clean or service in there, wondering if I have a different set up than yours............reason it took me so long to check it..........changed trim tab indicator cables........NASTY!!!!!!!! Doug

My marina melted pistons in my motors because they did not properly hook up the silent choice! My motors are supercharged, exhaust backed up and the rest is history.

ttt

You sure it doesn't have a relief valve??????? Item #11

http://www.mercruiserparts.com/Show_...+PUMP+ASSEMBLY

thats the view the dealer has. mine doesnt have that big thing hanging off the side of the motor housing, an earlier model?? anyone?

ttt

Soapy Water
 

Soapy water is your friend. I had a few leaks at the compresion fittings for the plastic lines.

Steve

twinn29,

I've been having the same problem. I am still under warranty so I have had it back to the shop three times with the same result. I think they replaced the relief valve once already. I just take tie wraps and tie wrap them open. I don't want to have any down time so I will deal with it in the fall.

Dave M.

DaveM - I could wire them open, Ive thought of it, but I go through a lot of locks and open pipes are pretty nasty in there, I dont want anyone throwing things at me, might scratch the paint.....

Happy ending- Fixed some leaks with the official plastic furrels from the Merc dealer,had about two and a half of them working but the big thing seemed to be that the positive connection for the silent choice on the battery was kind of corroded and was the top connection with about three below it, I cleaned them all up and put it "second" in line from resting right on the battery terminal itself, all of them working now.........Doug