5.0 gxi-e Fuel Pump Issues?

[ingham01952]

2004 vista 288 with dual 5.0 gxi-e motors and Carter hem fuel pumps. starboard engine had a few instances of not starting easily and I've noticed how quiet it was compared to port.

• This will be the first issue I've had all season. I started both engines and noticed the starboard engine shut off shortly after starting. It fired right back up, so I went for a ride. At the town dock, the starboard engine wouldn’t restart. I opened the hatch and found the fuel pump wasn’t turning on. The fuse on top of the engine looked fine, so I pressed down on the relays and fuses to make sure they were seated. After that, the pump came on, but it sounded quiet and sputtery compared with the port pump.

 

[alldodge]

Remove the relays and clean the contacts. The relays are cheap and can be found at the local auto parts store.

 

[ejnichol]

alldodge suggestion is what I would first check, the relays.

Have a 2007 with 5.0 GXi and it quit starting last summer with little warning.

There is a relay center located on top of motor on mine and there are 5 relays using just 2 part #'s. Trouble shooting finally led me to the fuel pump relay after swapping the relays around the pump came back to life at key on.

 

[ingham01952]

alldodge suggestion is what I would first check, the relays.

Have a 2007 with 5.0 GXi and it quit starting last summer with little warning.

There is a relay center located on top of motor on mine and there are 5 relays using just 2 part #'s. Trouble shooting finally led me to the fuel pump relay after swapping the relays around the pump came back to life at key on.

hello, thank you. and you noticed a sound difference before you did this?

 

[ingham01952]

Hey everyone! Good news—both engines started up normally today. The starboard engine is still noticeably quieter during fuel pump priming. I swapped the relays to see if that would shift the issue, but nothing changed. The starting problem seems to have cleared up for now, though the sound difference is still there. I’d love to just say “it is what it is,” but I know better than to count on that kind of luck!

 

[alldodge]

starboard engine had a few instances of not starting easily

I swapped the relays to see if that would shift the issue, but nothing changed. The starting problem seems to have cleared up for now,

1st post
2nd post

There was first issue starboard had an issue with not starting easy

Swapped relays and there are no issues currently.

Thoughts: the moving around of relays help clean contacts on relays. While there still may be a weak relay time will tell.

Opinion: If it was my boat I would replace the relays "and" clean the contacts. Doing this eliminates the relays and contacts and starts fresh. Again relays are cheap and I don't want to be somewhere and wonder if a weak relay or contact may keep me from starting the motor.

 

[ingham01952]

1st post
2nd post

There was first issue starboard had an issue with not starting easy

Swapped relays and there are no issues currently.

Thoughts: the moving around of relays help clean contacts on relays. While there still may be a weak relay time will tell.

Opinion: If it was my boat I would replace the relays "and" clean the contacts. Doing this eliminates the relays and contacts and starts fresh. Again relays are cheap and I don't want to be somewhere and wonder if a weak relay or contact may keep me from starting the motor.

It’s definitely a good idea to swap out the cheaper parts if it makes sense. Why not? I’m just wondering if anyone has ever linked that quiet pump sound to a problem, or if it’s just something that happens sometimes. Looking back at my service records from a year ago, I can’t believe I forgot this. I remember having an issue with the port engine that needed a control module, and since I’ve had both motors replaced, I was checking the service notes and it reminded me that I had mentioned the fuel pump being quiet on the starboard side (just like now) a year ago. So, maybe the whole thing was just a contact problem, and it’s not really an issue at all?