1996 Spirit 170 problems

[globalgrl]

Hi all,
I bought my first boat about 5 weeks ago, she is so cute! The guy who I bought her from said she has been in storage for a year but he had her ready for water. She overheated first day out and I had to be towed. She has been in the shop for 5 weeks now, MY SUMMER IS DISAPPEARING! I had to stay on them to get it fixed that quick. It needed new water pump, bilge pump, carbeurator rebuild and I got tune up and oil changed. Just before 4th of July it was ready but then they tank tested and NO, blown head gasket so had to wait on that part. Finally yesterday it was ready and I picked up, put her in the water and started up, got 5 feet and died, kept doing this and I looked at engine and saw a fuel line (about 4 inches cracked and leaking fuel on both sides). I was really ticked off having just paid $1100 but I thought 'well, I can change that and save my weekend'. So I did and sure enough it started right up very strong. Ran about a minute and died. Kept doing it, start strong but die. I looked again and there was long skinny hose connected on one end but nowhere else (friend thinks it might be vacuum hose?) and also saw where the new oil filter was screwed in had a foamy white stuff around it (not much but still...) at this point storm was coming and I paddled into the marina. Lost my favorite hat and now I am so bummed. Any ideas?
Oh the engine is 135hp, 4 cyllinder. It says Volvo Penta on the back but also corsair and I noticed a part they installed said Chevy so I don't know and they aren't open again until Monday.
Thanks for any tips!
globalgrl

 

[globalgrl]

Re: 1996 Spirit 170 problems

Sorry, guys I meant to say Cobra instead of Corsair. thanks again.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: 1996 Spirit 170 problems

Welcome to iboats.
That blows bad.
Let's get this to the Mercruiser/Volvo/OMC I/O and Inboard repair forum.

 

[Don S]

Re: 1996 Spirit 170 problems

The hose you found loose is a vent hose that goes between the carb and fuel pump, in case the fuel pump diaphram leaks, the fuel will go up into the carb instead of the bilge. There should be no fuel in that hose, if there is, you need a new fuel pump.

Did you check your oil? was it a milky color? Overfull???

Being as it's a 96 boat, you have a Volvo Penta SX style drive, and not to be confused with the OMC Cobras of the late 80's and early 90's. Do you have the full model number of the engine? It will be something like 3.0GX-XXXX with the X's being letters.

 

[globalgrl]

Re: 1996 Spirit 170 problems

Thanks Don and all. I remembered that I took photos of the motor (to send to my brother) before I bought it so I looked and sure enough I can see exactly where that hose goes and I am on my way now to try and plug it in.
My next question is separate from vent hose that was just danglng.
The first problem I mentioned in original post about seeing the 4 inch fuel hose --they must have just put back the old cracked one when they did either the carb rebuild or tuneup. Anyway, so I replaced that and my question is --if they did the timing and other stuff you have to set when that hose was cracked would it be off now? Meaning, I fixed it but will changing that our suffice. I don't want to damage it further and don't know how to adjust timing myself.
As to the oil, yes it was milky leaking just around the seal, and it had just had oil change. Maybe this was caused by me trying to start it out in the middle of the lake so many times!
Off to the marina to see what I can see!
Thanks again.
Kelli

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: 1996 Spirit 170 problems

Kelli, that sounds like a cracked block from poor winterization.....
You need to check the oil level, if it has come up significantly, you have a real problem......
You need to drain the oil & see what it looks like....
If it is milky, you will need to find out why.....
If the shop did head work, they should have noticed something wrong & should have checked the head for trueness....
I'd take it back to the shop & start asking some questions.....
It should have been returned to you in working condition......
At this point they should give you a diagnosis for free, imho....​

 

[Don S]

Re: 1996 Spirit 170 problems

The first problem I mentioned in original post about seeing the 4 inch fuel hose --they must have just put back the old cracked one when they did either the carb rebuild or tuneup.

There are no 4" diameter fuel hoses. Are you refering to the hose that connects the exhaust elbow to the exhaust tube going down to the bottom of the transom shield??

Changing anything on the exhaust or fuel system shouldn't affect the timing. The only thing that will change the timing is moving the distributor. I sure hope it was set correctly, with that Delco EST distributor, you have to place it in Base timing mode with a shunt in order to lock the timing so it can be set. With the timing off, it can cost you a head gasket, or even worse a whole engine if allowed to stay improperly set

Still need a full model number. and need to know it the oil IN the engine is milky and if the oil level is overfull on the dipstick and by how much.

 

[globalgrl]

Re: 1996 Spirit 170 problems

Haut and Don,
Thanks so much.
The oil level is overfull by a lot, nearly half an inch.
The hose I was referring to was 3/8 inch in diameter, I meant to say it was 4 inches long. But today there was a guy at the marina and he took a look and though not a mechanic he said the same as you, cracked....yikes.
What makes me mad is that I had to stay on them to get anything done for past 5 weeks, and one day I went by there to check on it and I saw a test tank and I said 'you will test it before I get it back, right '? and they said of course but I cannot imagine they could have tank tested it and still have all this happen.
All the guys at the marina told me to cancel the credit card and I might do that.
Will see tomorrow when they open and I give em hell!
The place that it looks most milky is where you screw in the oil filter, right around the top it is coming out milky.
The model on the back says Volvo Penta SX Cobra. That is all I see.
Will post back tomorrow what happens.
Thanks again.
Kelli

 

[Don S]

Re: 1996 Spirit 170 problems

You need a new steel fuel line. Either they cut the line for an inline filter, or a tee for checking the fuel pump pressure. A hose over the tubing is far from legal or safe. Heavy on the SAFE part.
Canceling a credit card bill for a job done can really hurt your credit. If you have problems with the bill, there are legal methods. But that is not something for this forum.
If you have water in the oil, and it appears you do, you probably have a cracked block. Usually from poor or non existant winterization.
Look for a metal tag with a FULL MODEL NUMBER. Port side aft. You need it.

 

[Dakota47]

Re: 1996 Spirit 170 problems

Reverse charges on that credit card first thing,, then call them and see whats up.. im sure they will tell you its your fault.. then find a new boat repiar shop..

 

[globalgrl]

Re: 1996 Spirit 170 problems

Don, that is what I thought. When I saw that hose leaking fuel and I took it off to change it I thought that it used to be one steel elbow line and I could see the very clean cut in it.
Today I met the mechanic over at the marina and he said that it is running rich but he does not know why. He said there is no water on my spark plugs and that that was good but then he said that one of the gaskets he took off needed changing but that he could not get it so he put the old one back on and that that might be it. also I did get him to admit that he did not tank test it.
I told them I would be cancelling the credit card payment until it is fixed properly. I am going to call CC back as they did not say it could mess with my credit.
Anyway, I am going to give them until Wednesday to tell me something. thanks!