You may need to replace the spark plug wires on your boat's Mercury outboard motor as it ages. Running from the capacitor discharge module to the spark plugs, the spark plug wires carry the electrical charge from your boat's coil to the plugs that are found in the top of the motor's cylinders. A bad spark plug wire will make your motor misfire, waste fuel or, if there are several bad wires, refuse to start.
Items you will need
Open-end wrenches
Turn the ignition key "Off" and remove it from the switch. Remove the 5/16-inch nut from the negative post of the battery with the appropriate open-end wrench. Remove the negative/ground cable from the battery.
Trace the spark plug wire from the plug to the capacitor discharge module associated with that plug. There will be one module per plug.
Pull the spark plug wire from its push-on/pull-off connection on the capacitor discharge module. Pull the other end of the wire from the top of the spark plug.
Push the straight end of the new plug wire onto the connection on the capacitor discharge module and push the end with the 90-degree bend on the top of the spark plug. Repeat for all plug wires.
Replace the ground cable onto the negative post of the battery. Thread the 5/16-inch nut onto the post and tighten with the appropriate wrench.