2006 175 Optimax been sitting 8+ years

[thormx11]

I have a 2006 175 Optimax that will not start on its own. The boat/engine has been sitting since about 2013. I first hooked up an external gas tank and primed the bulb before trying to start. It would not start, so we sprayed a little starting fluid into the throttle body and it fired up and briefly ran (until it ran out of starting fluid.) I then removed the VST to clean it out and replace the fuel pump diaphragm on the engine block. The inside of the VST was actually really clean, no gel or trash to be seen, but the gas smelled really bad. I haven not replaced the diaphragm yet.

While I had the VST out on the bench, I tried to test both of the electric fuel pump by supplying power and ground to the plugs and neither one seemed to do anything or even make any noise. I would assume they should hum or make some kind of noise when suppled with power and ground, correct? I know it is possible for both of the pumps to have failed from sitting for years, but I want to make sure before replacing them.

 

[Faztbullet]

If you applied power and they didnt run they are bad, Only replace with a OEM pump ...crap off Amazon does not work or work long. Might as well start trying to find a tracker diaphragm also as most likely degraded

 

[thormx11]

If you applied power and they didnt run they are bad, Only replace with a OEM pump ...crap off Amazon does not work or work long. Might as well start trying to find a tracker diaphragm also as most likely degraded

Thanks, that's kind of what I was thinking, but not familiar with these kind of pumps. Have use 12v inline electric pumps on vehicles in the past and you can definitely tell when they are running when supplied with power.

 

[Chris1956]

Optimax uses ports on fuel and air rails to diagnose engine issues. These will clearly indicate is fuel pumps are working and if air compressor is working.

You might look into a set of gauges. They are similar to a/c gauges, but would require different fittings. May be adaptable?

 

[thormx11]

Optimax uses ports on fuel and air rails to diagnose engine issues. These will clearly indicate is fuel pumps are working and if air compressor is working.

You might look into a set of gauges. They are similar to a/c gauges, but would require different fittings. May be adaptable?

Yeah I don't have the gauges. We do have a few sets of r134a gauges so maybe if there are some adapters we could make it work. We did open both of the ports while cranking over and we could hear solid bursts of air coming from the one, and the fuel port hardly had any gas come out. Nowhere near the 90psi it should have

 

[vroom ZOOM]

ATTENTION: GET THE INJECTORS CLEANED! especially after sitting 8+ years! What can easily happen, is you run it and one cyl is a little lean. Opti then turns into POPTIMAX. Also throw some opti oil and ringfree in the cyl's. Dont want to bust a ring. Also make sure you have the proper OPTI oil, and not some knockoff junk...

The thread on the fuel rails is the same as on a tire. If you can get a thread on tire chuck (or whatever that would be called) and a pressure gauge up to 120psi, some hose, and you are good to go. Get the gauges filled with... I forget what its called, I think it was glycerin or something. Basically a damping liquid to damp the rail pulses. OR... just kink the hose till the needle stops bouncing...

For the pumps, ideally you should replace, BUT... you can chuck them in the ultrasonic cleaner and they sometimes free up.