Hello,
I own a 2001 SeaRay Sundeck, with a Mercruiser 4.3 EFI engine (S/N 0M010426).
I am experiencing an intermittent problem where the motor will not restart, usually after turning it off. This is a very frustrating problem, because no error codes are registering, and it starts ok by the time I get it to a mechanic. Some of the symptoms and a few things I've done are described below. I was able to video tape the engine when it is experiencing the problem and uploaded the videos to Youtube.
Here are the links to the videos;
http://www.youtube.com/user/LWDism?feature=mhee#p/a/u/0/FPRBVUpf4ak
http://www.youtube.com/user/LWDism?feature=mhee#p/a/u/1/wj6P6pa38A0
The engine will turn over and try to start, it will kind of sputter, idle about 100 - 200 rpm's, snort and quit. It will eventually start, usually after sitting about an hour or so.
It is usually hot when I have the problem, but not always. Last year I was at home with the water muffs on when it failed. One time I restarted the motor and it ran for about 2 minutes before failing. One time I had the problem at the ramp as I was launching the boat (early day, engine not hot), I pulled the boat and took it straight to a mechanic, and of course it started and ran fine. It's been hooked up and checked for error codes, but nothing shows up.
Most mechanics believe it is vapor lock or from ethanol in the gas. I started using Stabil Marine for ethanol gas and still experienced the problem. I am now going to start using ethanol free gas to see if this helps (at this time I still have about 3/4 tank of 10% ethanol gas in the tank). I replaced the water separating fuel filter, and there was no water in the old filter.
On one of the videos you can see fuel shooting into the chamber, and you can hear the fuel pump buzzing like when you first turn the ignition key on.
This has left us stranded and being towed. I am afraid to take it out without another boat along. I am not a mechanic, and I am not familiar with electronics, but am willing to do what I can. It is very difficult to diagnose an intermittent failure with no apparent pattern to it. Any help will be very much appreciated.
Thanks,
Larry
I own a 2001 SeaRay Sundeck, with a Mercruiser 4.3 EFI engine (S/N 0M010426).
I am experiencing an intermittent problem where the motor will not restart, usually after turning it off. This is a very frustrating problem, because no error codes are registering, and it starts ok by the time I get it to a mechanic. Some of the symptoms and a few things I've done are described below. I was able to video tape the engine when it is experiencing the problem and uploaded the videos to Youtube.
Here are the links to the videos;
http://www.youtube.com/user/LWDism?feature=mhee#p/a/u/0/FPRBVUpf4ak
http://www.youtube.com/user/LWDism?feature=mhee#p/a/u/1/wj6P6pa38A0
The engine will turn over and try to start, it will kind of sputter, idle about 100 - 200 rpm's, snort and quit. It will eventually start, usually after sitting about an hour or so.
It is usually hot when I have the problem, but not always. Last year I was at home with the water muffs on when it failed. One time I restarted the motor and it ran for about 2 minutes before failing. One time I had the problem at the ramp as I was launching the boat (early day, engine not hot), I pulled the boat and took it straight to a mechanic, and of course it started and ran fine. It's been hooked up and checked for error codes, but nothing shows up.
Most mechanics believe it is vapor lock or from ethanol in the gas. I started using Stabil Marine for ethanol gas and still experienced the problem. I am now going to start using ethanol free gas to see if this helps (at this time I still have about 3/4 tank of 10% ethanol gas in the tank). I replaced the water separating fuel filter, and there was no water in the old filter.
On one of the videos you can see fuel shooting into the chamber, and you can hear the fuel pump buzzing like when you first turn the ignition key on.
This has left us stranded and being towed. I am afraid to take it out without another boat along. I am not a mechanic, and I am not familiar with electronics, but am willing to do what I can. It is very difficult to diagnose an intermittent failure with no apparent pattern to it. Any help will be very much appreciated.
Thanks,
Larry
