Failed fuel pump

davidlees

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Jun 21, 2012
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I have a 5.7 Volvo Penta with prox 150 hours on it and the high pressure fuel pump went out. The dealer said it was because of ethanol fuel but Volvo says you can use it. At a $1500.00 repair I don't want it to happen again. It is hard to locate non-ethanol fuel except at dockside. I am not a happy camper with that few hours on the engine and a big repair bill.
 

Bondo

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Re: Failed fuel pump

I have a 5.7 Volvo Penta with prox 150 hours on it and the high pressure fuel pump went out. The dealer said it was because of ethanol fuel but Volvo says you can use it. At a $1500.00 repair I don't want it to happen again. It is hard to locate non-ethanol fuel except at dockside. I am not a happy camper with that few hours on the engine and a big repair bill.

Ayuh,... So tell yer elected officals that yer sick a this crap of burnin' Corn, 'n to put a Stop to the subsidies...

Welcome Aboard,....
 

Don S

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Re: Failed fuel pump

The dealer didn't give you the full story. 10% ethanol is fine for engines, but Volvo did have an issue with paint coming off in filter housings and plugging up pumps.


PS: 5.7 Volvo with 150 hours doesn't tell us much. Does that engine get 10 hours of use a year or 100 hours a week ???? Makes a big difference. Here in the engine forums, we go by full model number or serial numbers, as even year of the boat doesn't mean much in many cases.
 

davidlees

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Jun 21, 2012
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Re: Failed fuel pump

The boat is still in the shop awaiting parts but I can tell you its an 08 boat and this is the the third season of use. I didn't expect problems this expensive this soon. She is well maintained and kept in covered dry storage, engine flushed after each use.
 

Don S

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Re: Failed fuel pump

Have your dealer contact Volvo about the problem. Volvo might cover it under warranty. Assuming your dealer is Volvo certified dealer.
 

davidlees

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Jun 21, 2012
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Re: Failed fuel pump

Dealer said no warranty, regular or extended if I had one because of ethanol fuel. Treated just like corrosion. Too bad.
 

davidlees

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Jun 21, 2012
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Re: Failed fuel pump

Just got the boat back form the shop. They replaced the fuel pump assembly. I ask for the old one and took it apart and found, just as you said, paint blistering on the inside of the large round can thing. Question should I save my old pump for future use or has the paint chips damaged it beyond safe usage?
 

Don S

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Re: Failed fuel pump

Just got the boat back form the shop. They replaced the fuel pump assembly. I ask for the old one and took it apart and found, just as you said, paint blistering on the inside of the large round can thing. Question should I save my old pump for future use or has the paint chips damaged it beyond safe usage?

Impossible to say at this point, why didn't you do that before you took it to the dealer. We are here to help people fix things themselves, not just give them a heads up on what their mechanic is doing.
 

davidlees

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Jun 21, 2012
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Re: Failed fuel pump

The boat was already in the shop when I found this forum. I guess I should have done some homework first. thanks for the help so far and I am sure other problems will arise that I can use your help in the future.
 

Redpony

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Apr 29, 2012
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Re: Failed fuel pump

I have written Volvo Penta's customer service by email and have yet to receive a response on this same fuel pump assembly problem. It's a defect by the manufacturer. I wonder how many people have experienced this same problem?
 

davidlees

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Jun 21, 2012
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Re: Failed fuel pump

I am going to do the same. Does anyone know if the new fuel pumps are still painted on the inside or has the PROBLEM been corrected? I would hate to go through this every three years or so. Mine gave us no warning. The boat was running fine one minute and the next it just quit, would not run at all and had to be towed.
 

genemaxey

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Jun 27, 2012
Messages
3
Re: Failed fuel pump

I have twin Volvo Penta 4.3 GXI-E engines. Had to replace both Fuel pumps. The fuel pump internal painted coatings delaminated and contaminated the fuel rails and injectors.
I called Volvo Penta, 757-436-5100, Talked to "Jay" He explained that water entered the fuel tank some how and this mixture destroyed the fuel pumps. E10 is ok to use in the volvo engine.
You would think the engineer would know that Ethanol absorbs water and thats why everyone needs to use a fuel stabilizer at the end of the season. I guess the engineer that designed the fuel pump and spec'd out the type of paint to use didnt think of the mixture of water and Ethenol.
I called Boat US Consumer Protection to see if they have any information.
I'm still looking for more information, I wonder if there is a class action law suit.
 

genemaxey

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Jun 27, 2012
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Re: Failed fuel pump

The dealer didn't give you the full story. 10% ethanol is fine for engines, but Volvo did have an issue with paint coming off in filter housings and plugging up pumps.


PS: 5.7 Volvo with 150 hours doesn't tell us much. Does that engine get 10 hours of use a year or 100 hours a week ???? Makes a big difference. Here in the engine forums, we go by full model number or serial numbers, as even year of the boat doesn't mean much in many cases.

Don:You state, "but Volvo did have an issue with paint coming off in filter housings and plugging up pumps".

Do you have any documentation or know where i can find this. I want to develope enough information to take legal action.
 

MuddyBlues

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Jul 1, 2012
Messages
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Re: Failed fuel pump

davidlees - What were the symptoms when the fuel pump started failing? Did it just stop working suddenly, or did it slowly fail over time? Did you hear a whining noise coming from the pump? Any engine running issues?

My boat goes to the dealer tomorrow morning as my high pressure pump is making a whining noise. Seems to correlate to water temp: in shallow, warm water near the ramp, it whines. Once on the lake, where the water is cooler, no noise. Engine runs fine (no evidence of fuel starvation). High pressure pump is "hot to the touch", which my dealer states is an indication of a failing fuel pump. Just wondering if I have the same problem as is described in this thread?
 

davidlees

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Jun 21, 2012
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Re: Failed fuel pump

muddyblues,
Mine quit without notice. The engine just died and would not run at all. I am not sure the pump quit I think it just got plugged up with paint chips. I've not tested the old pump yet.
The sogga continues: We took the boat out this weekend, the engine was sluggish and would no turn up to proper RPMs. If you gave it a quick full throttle it would backfire and sputter. Called the shop, he said it was either a defective new fuel pump or an injector problem. I maybe wrong but judging from the amount of paint chips I found in the pump I suspect fuel rails or injectors with paint chips in them.
 

The Fab

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Jul 1, 2012
Messages
5
Re: Failed fuel pump

It looks like I had a fuel pump go out over the weekend too! I have a 2000 Chaparral 230si with a Volvo 5.7GSI PEFS, e

I hate for the boat to be down over the 4th so I can handle installing the fuel pump or fuel pumps. In trying to look them up on the online parts store was a bit confusing. I am pretty sure of the troubleshooting as I am an old gear head. The boat was running fine and then after I stopped and gave it throttle it wouldn't take RPMs-let it rest a minute and then it would start for a 10 seconds and die at idle or when I gave it gas and a whinny sound coming from the fuel pump (the one to the right when facing the engine). Engine was all tuned up, plus new fuel filter, etc

I bought a pump in a panic at NAPA on Saturday afternoon (Sierra 18-7330) but it won't fit. It has a different style fitting on the end that attaches to the fuel reservoir than the existing one.

I have read most of the posts but still confused whether I need the correct fuel pump part #3588865 or the whole fuel pump assembly #21545138. Where is the best and fastest place to order so I can be back up over the 4th?
 

davidlees

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Joined
Jun 21, 2012
Messages
30
Re: Failed fuel pump

From what I have seen you can buy the low pressure pump seperate but the high pressure pump only comes as part of the complete unit and I could not find it listed anywhere but through a Volvo dealers. I just had mine replaced and the pump assm cost about $800.00.
I am still having problems and feel that I have paint particles that have gotten in the injectors. I will post as soon as I find out.
 

davidlees

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Jun 21, 2012
Messages
30
Re: Failed fuel pump

Yep the injectors were plugged with paint from the fuel pump. They cleaned the injectors and and the fuel rails and engine runs fine.
 

genemaxey

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Jun 27, 2012
Messages
3
Re: Failed fuel pump

Yep the injectors were plugged with paint from the fuel pump. They cleaned the injectors and and the fuel rails and engine runs fine.

That's great, Did they clean the Fuel pressure regulator? Also, Some of my injectors had to be replaced and the rest just needed cleaning
 
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