Yamaha Marine Outboard Charging and Electrical Components

Yamaha Marine Motor Charging and Electrical Components Resources and Information

PartsVu.com is happy to offer a broad selection of outboard engine charging and electrical components to match the exact specifications of your Yamaha outboard motor. If you have questions about performing maintenance on your outboard, chances are you’ll find the answers somewhere in our blog. 

We also regularly release new helpful resources like: 

• Yamaha Outboard Maintenance Parts Charts
• Yamaha Outboard Engine Schematics
• Yamaha Outboard 100-hour Service Guides

Looking for more components and products to service your Yamaha outboard engine? Feel free to shop our complete selection of Yamaha outboard parts. 

Yamaha Outboard Engine Charging and Electrical Components FAQs

Will doing my own maintenance void my Yamaha outboard engine warranty?

Will doing my own maintenance void my Yamaha outboard warranty? The short answer is, no. Your Yamaha warranty will not be voided if you perform your own maintenance. But, you do need to understand the difference between maintenance and warranty service work.

Your maintenance can be done by you or anyone you authorize to do it. Actually, if an issue arises from the lack of proper Yamaha maintenance or service, your warranty will not support that issue.

We strongly advise that you review your owner’s manual maintenance chart or online maintenance schedules to plan the maintenance that needs to be done. However, some procedures should be done by your authorized Yamaha dealership, such as checking valve clearance and inspecting a timing belt.

If you perform your own maintenance, please remember to help protect the environment by properly disposing of oil and other engine fluids. Also, if you need help finding the right Yamaha outboard parts or Yamaha maintenance kit for your specific engine, check out our Yamaha Outboard Parts Library.

While maintenance work can be performed by you or anyone you hire to do the job, only a Yamaha dealer can perform service work covered under your Yamaha limited or extended warranty.

All Yamaha 4-stroke Yamaha outboards for pleasure use come with a limited 3-year warranty. Additionally, Yamaha offers extended warranties through their Y.E.S. extended warranty plans. Like limited warranty work, extended warranty service work must be performed by a Yamaha dealer.

When you purchased your new engine, the Yamaha Dealer filled out the warranty information and Yamaha should have sent you a Factory Warranty Card. Warranty coverage is found on the back of your dealer manual But, if at any time you want to know how much time you have left on your warranty, call the Yamaha Outboard Customer Support line at (866) 894-1626. They will need your Primary Identification Number (PID). If you don’t have your warranty card, you can find the PID number on the port side of your engine.

Additionally, your PID number is all you need if you have a problem covered by your warranty.

How does my Yamaha outboard engine’s electrical system affect my engine performance?

Your Yamaha outboard’s electrical system may be responsible for your boat not starting or experiencing intermittent performance issues.

As covered in PartsVu’s Yamaha outboard troubleshooting guide, you’ll first want to start by testing each part of the electrical system:

• First, make sure your kill switch is firmly attached.
• Next, for electric-starting models, you’ll want to check the main fuse to confirm it’s not blown. If you find that the connection at the center of the fuse is broken, you will need to replace it with one of the same amperages.
• After verifying the fuse, check the battery. Safely disconnect the negative cable followed by the positive cable before removing the battery from its housing. With a wire-bristle brush, carefully scrape away any corrosion on the battery terminals. If the battery is damaged, you’ll need to replace it. If it is in good condition and shows no signs of damage, you can proceed to charge it. When it’s completely charged, reinstall the battery and cables (positive cable first, then negative). 
• Now that you have a working battery, the electrical system may be hampered by bad spark plugs. Carefully remove them with a spark plug wrench so you can inspect them. If you see signs of damage such as cracks, burns, fouling, or corrosion, replace them with the type of spark plug specified in your Yamaha owner’s manual – as well as the Yamaha spark plug wires.

What other issues cause my Yamaha outboard motor to break down?

Boater owners committed to regular maintenance will also often ask, “How many hours will a Yamaha outboard last?” While Yamaha makes a diverse line of outboard motors, most models will last 1,500 – 3,000 hours depending on how often it is maintained, stored, and used. Considering that the average boater racks up 50 hours of usage per season, owners can expect many years of use. This said, we commonly hear of Yamaha motors lasting well beyond 3,000 hours.

Performing routine maintenance at the recommended intervals prevents many problems and significantly contributes to engine life and performance.

One of the most common ways your Yamaha outboard motor will break down is a fuel system failure. Whether you’re experiencing an intermittent bog down, poor performance, or complete engine failure, your fuel system is a common culprit.

• Ethanol gasoline: Only use premium low-ethanol gasoline for your Yamaha outboard motor. The reason is that ethanol attracts water, causing fuel to dilute through “phase separation.” Additionally, ethanol gasoline can also gunk up fuel lines and fuel system components due to additives used. To help prevent these issues, regularly use a high-quality fuel stabilizer.
• Fuel lines: Check your fuel lines. If you discover any breaks or leaks, you should stop using the engine and make any necessary replacements. Also, take a look at any fuel hoses with an interior liner.
• Yamaha Fuel filters: The fuel filter on your Yamaha outboard is designed to catch any debris and contaminants that have entered your fuel system. Regularly replace your fuel filters to keep fuel running freely.
• Yamaha Fuel pump: A malfunctioning fuel pump can significantly reduce engine performance and, over time, severely damage other components. If your fuel pump is not working correctly, replace it and any hoses that may have been affected.

A common mistake newer boat owners make is that they dry start their Yamaha outboard motor. A continually flowing water supply cools an outboard engine—without a supply of water to cool it, an outboard motor will overheat. Additionally, the impeller, which is lubricated by the water, will begin to warp due to the heat and friction, further exacerbating the problem. 

To fix this problem, check your impeller. If the impeller is misshapen, you will need to replace it. Replacement is a simple fix for most amateur mechanics, but pay attention to any other issues that may have resulted from the dry start. Dry starting can cause serious engine issues and may require a rebuild by a licensed mechanic to restore it to working condition.

Yamaha outboard motors need to be running when switching gears. If your Yamaha outboard has cable controls for the throttle (versus electronic controls), you may experience some issues if you shift in and out of gear when the engine isn’t running. This will require some adjustments to the cable or may damage the clutch dog, causing a severe engine malfunction or failure if left unaddressed.

Do I need to swap out my Yamaha trim and tilt switch?

Contrasting with the internal engine problems we’ve covered so far, Yamaha trim and tilt problems are external. Yamaha trim and tilt involve how well your boat is propelled through the water by the angle of the propeller shaft relative to the boat. A faulty trim and tilt switch can prevent you from the fine-tuning (trim) and dramatic changes (tilt) needed for optimal performance of your Yamaha F115, including:

• Poor gas efficiency due to friction/drag of the water
• Lower RPMs, acceleration, and overall top speed
• Less accurate control during operation
• Inability to raise the motor for storage, servicing, and/or removal

Luckily, you can avoid these problems by swapping out the trim and tilt switch as needed. However, keep in mind that a faulty trim/tilt switch can be a sign of some other issues, such as low battery, electrical shorts, malfunctioning hydraulic motors, and more.