Volvo Sx

[mikebc]

Is it normal for a 2001 4.3 with a volvo sx drive to have a whine like noise after running it hard, and then idling back to 1/2 throttle? It's in a 19' runabout, low hours.

 

[Don S]

Re: Volvo Sx

Hard to say without being able to hear it, but you might try pulling the drive and looking at the gimbal bearing and check for water in the bellows.<br />Did you check the gear lube to see what it looked like?

 

[mikebc]

Re: Volvo Sx

I had the marina change the gear lube last week, they said it looked fine. The boat is dry inside, not even a little water. Could it be a fuel pump? I was reading a old post that mentioned a fuel pump whine. It's fairly loud, and only occurs after running hard and then backing down to 1/2 throttle or so. If you idle down, the noise is gone & you can run it normal w/o any noise, but if you open it up, still no noise, but when you cut back to 1/2 throttle again, you've got the noise back. Kinda sounds like a whistle, or a audible warning from a dashboard, but it's constant untill you idle down. Thanks for givin it a shot, I'll investigate any thoughts you might have. By a off chance, could it be a bad alternator?

 

[Don S]

Re: Volvo Sx

You mentioned a drive whine. Long distance between the drive and a fuel pump. Guess the first thing you need to do is listen and locate where the whine is coming from. Then it will be possible to look for a cure.

 

[mikebc]

Re: Volvo Sx

Never said it was from the drive, but true. I will try and isolate the location of the noise. First I will have to convince my wife to take the helm! I'm sure this is part of diagnostics most everyone has experienced. I will check it out & report back. Thanks for looking at my post.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Volvo Sx

hello<br /> in fact you never mentioned what powerplant is in front of the sx drive. sometimes the fuel pumps are a tad noisy and sometimes the IAC circuits in the throttle body,if fuel injected, can whistle. I have a pair of merc 8.1's that will run you out of the cockpit I am trying to quiten down now. so usually the engine,drive and hull type as well as a concise description of the problem is better than just telling us its gray or an sx and the 4.3 is avalible in about 10 configurations . vacum leaks can whistle,the IAC passage is most notiocable at part throttle medium loads. try to isolate the area the noise is coming from. its difficult sometimes cause with the engine box open noise comes from everywhere. usually a noisy fuel pump indicates air in the fuel or a restriction, however some pumps just make noise.

 

[mikebc]

Re: Volvo Sx

Sorry, it's carbed and a vortex 4.3. The noise is only duplicated at as low as 25MPH, so it is nearly impossible to be in the back with the cover open and be useful at all! I don't know how the techs do it. Anyways, the noise is only after running hard and backing the throttle down. It runs really good, but the noise is concerning.

 

[Don S]

Re: Volvo Sx

You're going to have to find someone to run the boat while you listen. You must find what is causing the noise in order to fix it. Otherwise it's all guess work and changing parts till you hit on the right one.

 

[mikebc]

Re: Volvo Sx

Hey, nogo on figuring out where the heck the noise is comming from. But,,, I put a new battery in, the old one was acting weird and had lower voltages. Now the noise is 95% gone. Does a overworked alternator make a whining noise? I used to be able to make it make that noise almost all of the time, now with a new battery I only got it to do it once, and it was very very quiet.

 

[jeff13601]

Re: Volvo Sx

My alternator has a whining noise. Has for six years now, but it isnt annoyingly loud

 

[mikebc]

Re: Volvo Sx

Jeff13601, is it at certain engine speeds? I am almost sold it's a alternator, it's all but stopped since I replaced the battery today! I think one reason I hear the noise so well is due to the overall sound proofing on the boat.