Carter electric fuel pump

[cjacobs611]

Hello I just found this site and this is my first post and this forum is awesome! I have rebuilt a 78 cuddy cabin bayliner and lemme say its a fish slayer!
Heres my question
I have a carter electric fuel pump on my boat. Its a 2 wire hooked up to my coil going to my distributer that is switched from my ignition and the other to the block. When my ignition is on and the engine is not running the pump runs constantly, although it doesnt overfill/flow the 4 barrel holley carb. Boat runs fine. My question is the pump suppossed to be running nonstop when the ignition is on and the engine is not or is my pump bad?

 

[Don S]

Re: Carter electric fuel pump

No, an electric fuel pump is not supposed to run with just the key in the run position.
There are different setups for how to cure this. Some aftermarket and Mercruiser use an oil pressure switch. But depending on how it's hooked up, it could only run while the engine is actually running.
What engine do you have? That's the only way to give you accurate answers.

 

[cjacobs611]

Re: Carter electric fuel pump

Is an older marine 350. Not sure on year but the boat is a 78. The pump was already in it and the other day the motor died when I had it on the dock while ideling just after lunch. I narrowed it down to the fuel pump and pulled it off and tested it on a battery and it runs. Then I tested the power wire going tothe pump and it was dead with key on and off. I then ran a new wire from my distributer coil to the + on the pump reconnected everything and the motor fired right up.
But not sure if the pump is suppossed to run with just the key on w/ engine not running.

 

[Don S]

Re: Carter electric fuel pump

How the electric fuel pump system is supposed to work, is that while cranking the engine, the fuel pump comes on to keep the carb full of fuel during cranking. When the starter is released, the fuel pump stop unless there is another form of power that indicates the engine is running. Mercruiser uses an oil pressure switch. As long as there is oil pressure, the switch allows power to the fuel pump. Volvo, in the later engines uses diodes and the alternator output to indicate the engine is running. Both work. But the pump should NEVER run with the pump running and the engine not running.

 

[Raystownboater]

Re: Carter electric fuel pump

I could have done without the verbal thrashing but it seems working outside all day has affected my judgement. Having your fuel pump running without the engine running could have a very dangerous outcome. Thats not an opinion, that's the fact jack!

 

[Don S]

Re: Carter electric fuel pump

verbal thrashing removed, was just trying to really get my point across. Sorry it was at your expense.
There is a very real reason for not having the fuel pumps running when in the key on, engine off mode.
Sorry about that.

 

[Raystownboater]

Re: Carter electric fuel pump

verbal thrashing removed, was just trying to really get my point across. Sorry it was at your expense.
There is a very real reason for not having the fuel pumps running when in the key on, engine off mode.
Sorry about that.

Point taken and it is I that owes you the apology. I was going to send you a PM but would rather apologize in the forum. I should have cooled off (literally) before replying to your PM and for that I'm sorry. But to get this post back on track, Don is 100% correct, the fuel pump should never be running if the engine is not running.

 

[cjacobs611]

Re: Carter electric fuel pump

First of all thank you for your concern and passion..

Soo my og question is..Is my pump bad or do I have it wired wrong? I rewired it to my +on dist. coil.

 

[cjacobs611]

Re: Carter electric fuel pump

Point being the carter pump is old, unknown age, but when I put it on 12 volt it runs. I will buy a replacement but would like to keep it as a backup if its not bad...

Where and how do I wire the new pump..Its 2 wires, this shouldnt be such a complicated q

 

[sqbtr]

Re: Carter electric fuel pump

Don't believe that eng came with an electric pump.

Don explained the way an electric pump should be wired.

Marine fuel systems have requirements that are designed to keep you from going BOOM!

Post some pics of your set up and maybe we can walk you through it. I would put the original mechanical system back on JMHO.

 

[Don S]

Re: Carter electric fuel pump

Here is how the fuel pumps are wired on a Mercruiser Chevy engine. You don't mention what engine you have, so details are impossible to give.

.

 

[cjacobs611]

Re: Carter electric fuel pump

I mentioned earlier it is a 350, not sure exactly size or year, my guy at Lake Elsinore marine blew me off earlier today because I asked him where I should wire the pump to. It would of took him 1 min to tell me, and this is after I paid him 4k + for other work. *****hole just said he was busy and walked away.

 

[cjacobs611]

Re: Carter electric fuel pump

So I closed the hatch after another few hours of 100? temps . Back to work on the ambulance for next few day.Come sunday a buddy of mine comes back from Tahoe and will help me wire this dam fuel pump..Hopefully I get out fishing soon because the tuna are headed my way.

Thank you DON, and everyone else..Very comforting knowing there are complete strangers out there that are willing to help. We are fortunate.
-Chris

 

[cjacobs611]

Re: Carter electric fuel pump

Here's a link to a youtube video I made of the boat and motor. Ill also attach some pics. I need to get this fuel pump wired. Its driving me crazy because I know it shouldn't be this hard. Thanks in advance

Also I' trying to figure out the model name of this boat.

http://youtu.be/czZqPkc2Otc
or
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czZqPkc2Otc

 

[cjacobs611]

Re: Carter electric fuel pump

 

[Don S]

Re: Carter electric fuel pump

I need to get this fuel pump wired. Its driving me crazy because I know it shouldn't be this hard.

It's not hard to wire an electric fuel pump. They all have a + and - wire or terminal on them.
Look at the wiring diagram I posted earlier and think about where the wires are going and why.
It's not that complicated and it doesn't take a lot of pictures of the boat. If you want info on the boat, try our Bayliner forum in the manufacturers forums.