First, I have a new to me 1995 Monteray 230 Explorer which originally had a 5.7 GL and then it was replaced in 2000 with a 5.7 GSPWTR according to the documentation that I received when I purchased the boat. When I first got the boat I put on new manifolds / risers and a new starter. The first time I tried to start the boat it cranked up right away no problem. I took the boat to the lake several times and it ran great. Then the alternator went out so I replaced it and now it takes a little effort to get it started when it has sat for a while without running. But after that it starts no problem.
Now on to the problems which I believe are probably caused by the same thing (Fuel Pump Relay Missing).
#1 - The last couple of times I took the boat out I tried to run it at WOT, which I previously hadn't tried. It starts to bog down, I pull it back a bit to about 4500RPMs and it is fine.
#2 - I was on the lake for most of the day yesterday and the boat ran great (4500rpms or below). Started to head back in and the boat dies, it's out of fuel, I should have known not to trust the fuel gauge. With the help of fellow boaters I was able to get about 10 gallons of fuel. Tried to start the boat and it cranks and cranks but will not fire. So after a few minutes I start to check things out. I figure out that the fuel pump is not pumping when I'm cranking the engine. I run a wire from the fuel pump to the battery terminal and now I hear it pumping. Try to start the engine again and it starts right up. Half way back to the ramp it dies again, I run a jumper to pump some fuel and it starts back up and runs fine.
In doing some research on this forum it appears that I have no fuel pump relay. The purple wire from the fuel pump is spliced to a red wire which goes into a wiring harness it appears to come out the back side of the harness where it is spliced again then goes back into that same harness and back out the front and wired to the alternator.
My questions: Do you believe that both issues are caused by the missing relay? If I am fine with running the boat at 4500rpms or below, is it fine to continue running the boat the way it is wire? Could not having a relay harm the engine? Could I have connected the fuel pump wire to the wrong terminal on the alternator, which is the reason the fuel pump does not come on when I crank the engine, and also the reason it is hard to start now?
I would like to wire the fuel pump properly with the relay but is it fine to run the way it is for the remainder of this season?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Now on to the problems which I believe are probably caused by the same thing (Fuel Pump Relay Missing).
#1 - The last couple of times I took the boat out I tried to run it at WOT, which I previously hadn't tried. It starts to bog down, I pull it back a bit to about 4500RPMs and it is fine.
#2 - I was on the lake for most of the day yesterday and the boat ran great (4500rpms or below). Started to head back in and the boat dies, it's out of fuel, I should have known not to trust the fuel gauge. With the help of fellow boaters I was able to get about 10 gallons of fuel. Tried to start the boat and it cranks and cranks but will not fire. So after a few minutes I start to check things out. I figure out that the fuel pump is not pumping when I'm cranking the engine. I run a wire from the fuel pump to the battery terminal and now I hear it pumping. Try to start the engine again and it starts right up. Half way back to the ramp it dies again, I run a jumper to pump some fuel and it starts back up and runs fine.
In doing some research on this forum it appears that I have no fuel pump relay. The purple wire from the fuel pump is spliced to a red wire which goes into a wiring harness it appears to come out the back side of the harness where it is spliced again then goes back into that same harness and back out the front and wired to the alternator.
My questions: Do you believe that both issues are caused by the missing relay? If I am fine with running the boat at 4500rpms or below, is it fine to continue running the boat the way it is wire? Could not having a relay harm the engine? Could I have connected the fuel pump wire to the wrong terminal on the alternator, which is the reason the fuel pump does not come on when I crank the engine, and also the reason it is hard to start now?
I would like to wire the fuel pump properly with the relay but is it fine to run the way it is for the remainder of this season?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
