| Weak telltale or overheat alarm |
Inspect intake screens, water pump impeller, thermostats, and passages for blockage. |
Water pump kit, intake screen, thermostats, anodes (corrosion control) |
| Poor acceleration / power loss |
Check fuel quality, filters, carb linkage/sync, and spark plug condition. |
Fuel filters, spark plugs, gaskets (carb service), hoses |
| Hard starting / rough idle |
Verify primer operation, choke/enrichment, plug gap, and air leaks in fuel lines. |
Spark plugs, fuel filters, hoses, gaskets |
| Excessive smoke (2‑stroke) |
Confirm correct oil type/ratio, thermostat function, and oil injection calibration. |
Thermostats, hoses, spark plugs |
| Gearcase noise or metal in oil |
Check gear oil level/condition, prop shaft for fishing line, and seals for leakage. |
Lower unit seal kits, propeller hardware, anodes |