Won't start, possibly seized, please help!!!

[DeaconBlues]

1997 Larson 18'
Volvo Penta 3.0GS MLKD


Boat ran fine for about an hour, then it started bogging down and dying. I should have looked sooner, but I just kept restarting and chugging along until water started coming up through the floor. The hose from the water pump to the thermostat housing had a fresh 3"split in it and had filled the boat full of water. The water was about 1/3 up the motor.

So I builged it dry and duck taped the hell out of that hose (i know, i know, bad idea to try and run it). The temp gauge read nothing, but there was no smoke, steam, oder, alarm, and I could rest my hand on the manifold, so I figured it wasnt running hot. Water preasure was strong enough to spray form the edges of the duck tape I eased my way back to the ramp, but about half way there, it stopped and would not restart. Seems to be plenty of battery power, but just one hard click when I turn the key. Tried a jump box, same result.

Did I just lock up my motor? So you are probably thinking two things. It could be a lot of stuff and maybe I am not qualified to be working on it. Problem is, I don't have the money to take it to a shop, so either I learn by doing, or the boat sits. So please help, where do I start????????

Guessing I need to try and turn it by hand. So what? Disconnect the battery, pull the plugs, and then what. How would I turn it?

Also, what started all this? Impellor? I just took off my duct taped hose and a ton of water poured out. The water pump seemed to have been doing its job with all the spraying and what not.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Don S]

Re: Won't start, possibly seized, please help!!!

Pull the spark plugs, tighten the alternator belt and use a wrench on the alternator nut.
Make sure the outdrive is down when you try to turn it.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Won't start, possibly seized, please help!!!

Could be a ton of things. Pray that your boat was bogging down because of the water on all the ignition parts and that your starter stopped working because it was under water!

Just as you were saying, pull the plugs and put a breaker bar on the crankshaft bolt and try to turn it(if you don't have a water pump on your crankshaft)

Your drive is also a possibility but I would think that it would be just too much of a coincidence with your broken hose.

 

[DeaconBlues]

Re: Won't start, possibly seized, please help!!!

So when I put the wrench on the alternater is spun fine, but didn't take the belt with it, so no indication of whether or not the crankshaft will spin. I cannot for the life of me figure out where to put a breaker bar on the crankcase. I also am not sure what you mean about if there is a water pump on it. The water pump is connected to it by a belt yes.

The prop spins smoothly. Not sure if that answers any questions about the outdrive or not.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Won't start, possibly seized, please help!!!

What does it do with the spark plugs out when you try to turn it over with the starter?

 

[DeaconBlues]

Re: Won't start, possibly seized, please help!!!

with the plugs out it makes one click and kind of a "Ting" sound (like a metal rubberband if that makes sense).

And for more info. I had bilged it completely dry and it had run for a little bit before it finally reached this point. So even though the starter had been wet (the water line was about half way up the starter), it started fine for a bit after bilging it.

Starting to think all signs are pointing to bad.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Won't start, possibly seized, please help!!!

Thats why Don said to tighten the alt belt...it should turn the motor using the nut on the alt if the belt is good and tight.

Sounds like the very least is the starter is now junk..
Pull the starter and have Autozone bench test it for free.
If it is bad do NOT buy an auto starter.

 

[DeaconBlues]

Re: Won't start, possibly seized, please help!!!

Well some good news. I did as I was originally told (sorry) and tightended the alternater first. Then I put a socket wrench on it, and everything turned. So no seized engine right. Good deal..

So I guess next is the started. I'll pull it and have it tested.

so if there was plenty of water passing through that hose, what caused the split. Just an old hose. Somebody on the lake said something about the impeller going bad and air pressure. But would I still have such strong water preasure if that were the case?

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Won't start, possibly seized, please help!!!

I would replace the impeller if it has not been done in the last couple years.
If it was at least pull it out and inspect it.
Yes,hoses do go bad.

If you order a starter from ebasicpower here in NC there regular ground shipping is next day to Charlotte.

Another thing,NEVER use the old starter bolts....buy new ones.They are a one use only bolt.

 

[DeaconBlues]

Re: Won't start, possibly seized, please help!!!

So I pulled the started and bench tested it and it's shot. Unless I can hire someone to sit in the engine compartment and tap it, it's useless.

Gary, I checked ebasicpower, but I am not sure I understand how to match the application. My engine is a 97 Penta 3.0SX MLKD. Also, they are significantly cheeper than on volvo's parts site, so thanks for the tip.

The impeller looks fine (replaced May 09).

I'm going to go ahead an replace the thermostat. It looks original and may have been part of the problem, or the hose was just old and blew. Either way, for 10 bucks I figure why not.

So at this point I don't think it got hot (or at least not too hot). Hopefully a new hose, starter, and thermostat and I'll be back on the water.

I'll update you all when It is back together.

Thanks again.

 

[Juniinc]

Re: Won't start, possibly seized, please help!!!

U might want to add a automatic float switch,,,,
something everyone should have in the bilge.

 

[Utahboatnut]

Re: Won't start, possibly seized, please help!!!

I would throw in an oil change and new filter, also a new fuel/water seperator if so equipped. Not trying to spend your money just seems like a good idea if there is ANY possibility water could have found its way into either system. Also check around and see if there are any local shops that rebuild starters / alternators alot of times they can do it for much cheaper than a new one might at least get you on the water. When you say "tap" it does it function when tapped? if so it may not be all that bad off. A perfect candidate for a rebuild. I usually carry spare belts and hoses just for such an occurance, as they do go bad from time to time. Not to sound like dad but the first run of the season should be monitored real closely for the first few hours. Run it idle it check everything on and around engine, repeat a few more times. hope you get back on the water soon.

 

[DeaconBlues]

Re: Won't start, possibly seized, please help!!!

THANK YOU ALL!

So I replaced the starter, thermostat, and of course the broken hose and the boat seems to be doing fine. I also bought a new impeller but the current one looks brand new and was replaced under a year ago, so I just put the one I bought in the boat box just in case. I also changed the oil (which looked good) as suggested and I'm working on the float switch for the bildge.

I'm pretty sure I determined what started it all as well. When I got it back together and fired it up, I noticed a drip from another (smaller) hose that runs from the top of the thermostat houseing back down to the water pump. I had never taken that hose off and it was leaking slightly. I checked it and it looked fine so I just tightened down the cose clamp and the leak stopped. Maybe that is where air was getting in that caused preasure to build up and make the first hose burst...???

Anyway, its fixed, and no major engine damage. Thanks again!!!