DrDockinc
Recruit
- Joined
- Jul 29, 2015
- Messages
- 1
Good morning gentlemen,
I am new to forums all together. This is my first post ever, so I hope I'm doing this correctly.
To jump right in to things I will try and explain as to the timeline and details of what happened.
Boat Specs:
5.7 GS PEFS
Serial #4012049075
(3869058)
Symptoms:
Boat had run fine earlier in the day. After launching at a new ramp headed to another job the motor started to sputter and die as soon as we started to accelerate. I checked the screw on fuel filter at front of engine and found it to be full, however the gas was ever-so-slightly whitish cloudy. Emptied it and screwed filter back on empty. Tried starting engine and was successful at restarting after slightly longer cranking as would be expected. Repeatedly the engine would start as it always has but would stutter and die within 30 seconds or less. At one point I had engine in neutral and was able to get it revved up to 3k or so when I noticed smoke, immediately a saw some faint red intermittent glow from inside the alternator housing. Once engine stopped there was indeed wisps of smoke exiting the alternator as well as it was fairly hot to the touch.
Fortunately we were able to get the engine to run long enough to load back on trailer. I was able to purchase a replacement fuel pump but am not excited about swapping it out until I am 100% certain that is the problem.
Once back at shop and on muffs I did some testing. I found that the fuel pump doesn't run with ignition key on while engine is not started. Not sure if that is normal. However I disconnected the fuel line at the carb and tried starting engine and I did find that the pump put out significant fuel while starting the engine but immediately quit pumping as soon as engine had started and ignition key released to run position. Thus the reason the engine would always start and run for short periods of time before dieing.
Here is my concern/question. I find it hard to believe that the alternator and fuel pump problems are independent of each other. Its highly unlikely that they would both fail at the same time. But I just cant wrap my head around why they would be linked together. I personally would like the piece of mind knowing that I could limp the boat back to shore on battery power alone. I find it inconceivable to believe that I would be stranded because of an alternator failure. Am I correct in my hunch that the two are somehow related? I called my mechanics and they said that the pump should run as long as there was sufficient battery power. I can tell you that there is more than enough juice available to power the pump.
I'm hoping you guys can help me out here. Any suggestions?
Thanks so much,
Scott
I am new to forums all together. This is my first post ever, so I hope I'm doing this correctly.
To jump right in to things I will try and explain as to the timeline and details of what happened.
Boat Specs:
5.7 GS PEFS
Serial #4012049075
(3869058)
Symptoms:
Boat had run fine earlier in the day. After launching at a new ramp headed to another job the motor started to sputter and die as soon as we started to accelerate. I checked the screw on fuel filter at front of engine and found it to be full, however the gas was ever-so-slightly whitish cloudy. Emptied it and screwed filter back on empty. Tried starting engine and was successful at restarting after slightly longer cranking as would be expected. Repeatedly the engine would start as it always has but would stutter and die within 30 seconds or less. At one point I had engine in neutral and was able to get it revved up to 3k or so when I noticed smoke, immediately a saw some faint red intermittent glow from inside the alternator housing. Once engine stopped there was indeed wisps of smoke exiting the alternator as well as it was fairly hot to the touch.
Fortunately we were able to get the engine to run long enough to load back on trailer. I was able to purchase a replacement fuel pump but am not excited about swapping it out until I am 100% certain that is the problem.
Once back at shop and on muffs I did some testing. I found that the fuel pump doesn't run with ignition key on while engine is not started. Not sure if that is normal. However I disconnected the fuel line at the carb and tried starting engine and I did find that the pump put out significant fuel while starting the engine but immediately quit pumping as soon as engine had started and ignition key released to run position. Thus the reason the engine would always start and run for short periods of time before dieing.
Here is my concern/question. I find it hard to believe that the alternator and fuel pump problems are independent of each other. Its highly unlikely that they would both fail at the same time. But I just cant wrap my head around why they would be linked together. I personally would like the piece of mind knowing that I could limp the boat back to shore on battery power alone. I find it inconceivable to believe that I would be stranded because of an alternator failure. Am I correct in my hunch that the two are somehow related? I called my mechanics and they said that the pump should run as long as there was sufficient battery power. I can tell you that there is more than enough juice available to power the pump.
I'm hoping you guys can help me out here. Any suggestions?
Thanks so much,
Scott