1999 Volvo Penta 4.3 Sputters, Stalls, Dies

[JupiterJoe]

Re: 1999 Volvo Penta 4.3 Sputters, Stalls, Dies

I agree the motor is good. But electrical is a pain and 3 mech. later no one figured it out. So whats next more put some new parts on it and maby this will fix it . The guy is getting tired of replacing parts and not fixing it . This will at least rule out the wire harness. And then look into replacing the harness for the motor with a VOLVO harness. And as far as a newbie I have fixed boats others couldn't. I have been in the Mechanic field for almost 20 years. From gas to deisel. And you really could LIGHTEN UP where is your sense of HUMOR??

 

[Don S]

Re: 1999 Volvo Penta 4.3 Sputters, Stalls, Dies

The guy is getting tired of replacing parts and not fixing it .

No kidding!!!! He also doesn't have someone working on it that knows what they are doing or he wouldn't be in this predicament.

And then look into replacing the harness for the motor with a VOLVO harness.

See, even you aren't paying attention. Volvo doesn't make a harness for a points type ignition. Volvo has always used the EST, so how in the hell can you use a Volvo harness with a points ignition????

And you really could LIGHTEN UP where is your sense of HUMOR??

Haven't heard anything that was humorous.

 

[fat fanny]

Re: 1999 Volvo Penta 4.3 Sputters, Stalls, Dies

The only obvious truth here is none of the mech's have used any of the troubleshooting processes in the merc service manual or this issue would have been picked up a while back. I had similar issues this summer and just read the manual provided by Don (which I downloaded before they were taken away from us)and found my connection issue in the the internal terminal of my coil which I fixed with the use of a simple paper clip with a hook bent on the end and expanded it to re-acquire terminal contact. Never the less these individuals should have used the fundamental skills of repair first. Something anyone can do with a meter and the ability to read.

 

[JupiterJoe]

Re: 1999 Volvo Penta 4.3 Sputters, Stalls, Dies

You keep blaming this on Volvo, and Volvo isn't your problem. It's the previous owner or whoever put the OLD (pre 90's) engine in it with the points ignition, and hacked the wiring, an who knows what else is wrong.
The problem is YOU, and who you pick as your mechanic. A real MARINE mechanic would have identified the problem and fixed it.
You seem to want to blame Volvo, so go for it, cause you sure don't have a clue as to the real reason for your problems. About the only thing you seem to be capable of is blaming the wrong people/company, and using a bunch of words that make you sound like a writer, not a boat owner.

You really don't need a boat.

So this really helps him right the man blows off a little steam asks for help. and this is gonna help him by putting him down.. I'm sure he now knows his Mechanics don't know about volvo.

See, even you aren't paying attention. Volvo doesn't make a harness for a points type ignition. Volvo has always used the EST, so how in the hell can you use a Volvo harness with a points ignition????

Than put the right parts in the motor and quit replacing parts for nothing I'm sure the monet he spent on all the work to get here he could of changed the motor to a VOLVO EST system.

Haven't heard anything that was humorous

.

Because you dont have a sense of HUMOR.

 

[Don S]

Re: 1999 Volvo Penta 4.3 Sputters, Stalls, Dies

Great, he's all yours. I'm done.

 

[slowbreak101]

Re: 1999 Volvo Penta 4.3 Sputters, Stalls, Dies

I was hoping to have some word from the shop before Christmas, but the weather has closed in here so I doubt he?s gotten the boat to the lake. I don?t expect to hear anything now before the second week of January and that?s even if the weather plays nice.
_________________
And I?ve got to return fire about the Volvo provincialism that?s so obvious on the part of some contributors here.

I understand that Volvo has a good rep, and people here not only own and have probably had great experience with their Volvos, but also make or have made their living off Volvo. So Volvo?s a favorite child. I understand that.

But, gentlemen, some children just go bad.

I point out that whatever this kludge of thing is I?ve got, this hacked Mer-Penta or whatever it is for whatever reason gracias the original owner, once upon a time it was a Volvo. And it is only what it is now because it broke.

The original owner then hacked a fix. Gotcha, ain?t arguing that. But the original engine, the Volvo, broke.

And this is my second Volvo, and I couldn?t keep that first one on the water, either.

I can?t say Merc, because they haven?t been Mercs. They?ve been Volvos, and that's just the facts of it. And I wasn't the one who broke either of them. I'm just the (irritated) guy who's tried to get hem fixed.

Sorry. Some children just go bad.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: 1999 Volvo Penta 4.3 Sputters, Stalls, Dies

You can't blame Volvo because someone changed out all the ignition system(and who knows what else) that Volvo originally put in there.

The engine is the same one put in by both Volvo and Mercruiser. Neither manufacture the 3.0L engine. The only thing Merc and Volvo do is integrate the engine, fuel system and ignition system with their manufactured drive. In this instance someone completely changed what Volvo integrated with a hybrid of what Volvo intended with something else.

Sorry. Some children just go bad.

Sorry, you seem to have a tough time understanding the obvious.

 

[fat fanny]

Re: 1999 Volvo Penta 4.3 Sputters, Stalls, Dies

In some small way I see your point. (I fell the same way about Dodges a lil) but to avoid this becoming anymore longwinded than needed on this post you should really educate yourself a lot more on this recreation and I mean by reading up and knowing what you have and what it takes to keep it in good order wheather your doing the work or not if this was the case before you got your second boat you possibly wouldn't be in this predicament by already knowing what to look for when buying a boat. I will be the 1st to say that I by no means am an expert on marine mechanics but know enough to do my own work or find the info to do so and I owe all that to the Vet's on this site and the info within it. Once again Good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[slowbreak101]

Re: 1999 Volvo Penta 4.3 Sputters, Stalls, Dies

The 3.0L engine used by Volvo is the same thing that Volvo uses.

Maybe just to keep you in the loop, Don, but ?? huh. Volvo uses the same engine that Volvo uses? That's pretty circular. Are we're defending boat Volvo by talking car Volvo? Wouldn't that be apples and oranges? I've never seen an outdrive signalling left at the light.

The problem is that some idiot hacked in a Mercruiser engine with an old points system that Volvo never even used, and something is hooked up wrong.

Which returns me to my last post:

the original Volvo's been replaced​

Why was it replaced? Well who knows. Was it done right? obviously not.

And it's not the "engine" that's my problem, now. I get that. I've said so.

But the original Sea Swirl-installed Volvo went bad. And that was the point of my last post, who some people ignored, either in haste to throw an anonymous verbal dart at another poster, or out of bigoted defense of a favorite engine. And if so, then that's provincialism, so point made, I think.

Me. Volvos. I'm 0 for 2. Fact. That's all I've complained about.

----> Some children just go bad in spite of pedigree. <----​

I came here for advice on getting this, ahem, "Volvo" fixed (whatever it is now: it used to be a Volvo, remember!? but it broke, and it was replaced), and instead I find myself in a pissing contest.

 

[Lou C]

Re: 1999 Volvo Penta 4.3 Sputters, Stalls, Dies

It's a 99 boat, right, well when was the original engine replaced? If a marine engine is not maintained right, it's not unusual for a not so old boat, to have had the engine replaced. Forget to drain the block once, and you get freezing temps, then its history. People try to save money fixing things and then they create problems that are hard to solve. Your problem is not VOLVO, it's whoever replaced the engine, with an ignition system that VOLVO does not use! When you mix systems from different manufacturers, then you can have problems.
I have an old boat, but it's an original OMC, and when I have problems after using it for a season, my mechanic was able to tell right away what was wrong, all it needed was a carb rebuild and an anti siphon valve. Been fine for the past 6 seasons. If I ever re-power this engine, then I have to face a few issues, one is to deal with the ignition system (OMC used points, you need to find a way to make the shift interruptor work if you use an electronic system, which most new engines will come with). The other is the fuel pump, the newer engines have no provision for a mechanical fuel pump, so I'd have to find out how to wire in an electric pump. These conversions have been done, the right way to go about it is to find out what works, and not take short cuts. In your engine, the right way would have been to continue to use the ignition system that CAME on it. Not use the Merc system that was for points. What would have been so hard about simply using the original distributor from the original engine, in the replacement engine?
Keep in mind the differences between a Merc Alpha system, and Volvo. The Alpha is a dog clutch drive, it needs a shift interrupt system to allow it to come out of gear into neutral. Same with a OMC Cobra. Volvo uses a cone clutch sytem, it does not need a shift interrupt to come out of gear. That tells you right there, they have different wiring harnesses, on top of the differences between points ignition and electronic.

You're blaming Volvo, and have no idea why the OE engine was replaced (probably owner neglect) and have a mechanic who should have told you, this is a hack job and you need to either make it work with points, or reinstall the Volvo ignition and repair the OE harness....

 

[slowbreak101]

Re: 1999 Volvo Penta 4.3 Sputters, Stalls, Dies

And your right Volvo suck thats why no one works on them. Mercury rules!!!!

Easy there JJ. Don't create waves in a narrow canyon. They slosh back.

 

[Aloysius]

Re: 1999 Volvo Penta 4.3 Sputters, Stalls, Dies

This seems to be a VERY COMMON and PERSISTENT and virtually IRRESOLVABLE problem with this product.

The engine starts like a NASA launch and runs well at idle or WOT for about 45 minutes, then begins, what I'll call, tapping/ missing/ sputtering/ spitting at about 20 second intervals that slowly increase over maybe 5 minutes until forward progress is just one long, continuous, jerking heave, the engine then completely fails, and won't restart.

If the boat sits for about an hour before the engine will finally turn over, but the sputter routine begins after just a couple minutes, until it again stalls, and again won't restart.

My local (Volvo certified, 20+ years experience) mechanic is humbled and flummoxed. I've returned it to his shop 6 times in 9 weeks. He's had it on the water 3 times himself to experience the problem first hand. He's replaced, greased, dried, reconfigured, tightened, loosened, abracadabra-d, exorcised, and prayed over all of the obvious first-to-fail systems, pieces, and parts (coil, condenser, plugs, wiring, deadman switch, exhaust manifold, compression, filters, pumps).

This boat is my personal, real life B-O-A-T joke. I'm $$ replacing, fixing parts that aren't broken.

Of course, there's always the possibility that some bad part has been replaced with a bad part.

This, as I say, from what I glean from internet boat forums, is a LONG-COMMON problem. Certainly someone has stumbled on a solution. Anyone?

One additional symptom, related/ relevant? who knows. I sometimes get, almost always get at first WOT, say 4000+ RPMs a metallic-like whir or wheezing. Back off the throttle and it goes away.

Your thoughts, please.

I've kinda followed this thread. I simply don't understand why people abuse these little stock engines..buzz 'em constantly over 4000 rpms wide open, and wonder why they die. Especially when they know there's a problem.

I'm also pretty sure your problem is indeed ignition/electrical. A COMPETENT mechanic LEFT ALONE should be able to make that thing run; Throwing parts at it until it works ain't the way to do it.

 

[captmello]

Re: 1999 Volvo Penta 4.3 Sputters, Stalls, Dies

Maybe just to keep you in the loop, Don, but ?? huh. Volvo uses the same engine that Volvo uses? That's pretty circular. Are we're defending boat Volvo by talking car Volvo? Wouldn't that be apples and oranges? I've never seen an outdrive signalling left at the light.



Which returns me to my last post:

the original Volvo's been replaced​

Why was it replaced? Well who knows. Was it done right? obviously not.

And it's not the "engine" that's my problem, now. I get that. I've said so.

But the original Sea Swirl-installed Volvo went bad. And that was the point of my last post, who some people ignored, either in haste to throw an anonymous verbal dart at another poster, or out of bigoted defense of a favorite engine. And if so, then that's provincialism, so point made, I think.

Me. Volvos. I'm 0 for 2. Fact. That's all I've complained about.

----> Some children just go bad in spite of pedigree. <----​

I came here for advice on getting this, ahem, "Volvo" fixed (whatever it is now: it used to be a Volvo, remember!? but it broke, and it was replaced), and instead I find myself in a pissing contest.

Sir, you're missing the point entirely.

First, Don had originally meant to say Volvo and Mercruiser use the same engine. Anyone who knows I/O motors would recognize that. You didn't because you don't know I/O's. Thats ok. GM makes the motor you have. Its not their fault either.

Second, brand bashing is not allowed, especially by someone who clearly doesn't know anything about the products or brands. It's incorrect and misleading to other newbies reading the forum for help.

It seems to me you had received a lot of help, and I was looking forward to finding out what your problem is.

Happy Holiday's

 

[JupiterJoe]

Re: 1999 Volvo Penta 4.3 Sputters, Stalls, Dies

Easy there JJ. Don't create waves in a narrow canyon. They slosh back

Didn't meen any harm.. When I was a kid we had a bow rider with a VOLVO and it was a great little boat fun and fast. I am hoping you can get the problem resolved soon and you can enjoy your boat this spring.. So sorry to all I ofended in ths post..

 

[GLENN M]

Re: 1999 Volvo Penta 4.3 Sputters, Stalls, Dies

wholly crap batman,i dont care who makes it if its mechanical it will eventionaly fail.if abused or not maintained fail sooner.you have a gm engine,not built by volvo,a very reliable engine if treated well.you sir bought a boat that has been hacked together,so far the only person to identify the problem has been ignored and belittled.any real mechanic could wire up the systems from scratch in a day.this has got to be a joke because nobody can be this naive,why would you buy a second volvo if so much trouble with first,and if as you put it you no squat about boats or anything mechanical why didnt you have someone who does look before you buy someone elses problem.as don tried to explain to you witch didnt help because either its over your head or you aint reading info ,your problem is not either volvos doing or mercs its the guy who didnt know what he was doing and jammed it altogether.you bought this abortion so whose fault is it,get someone like don who understands the systems and fix it or keep throwing money away.your choice

 

[GLENN M]

Re: 1999 Volvo Penta 4.3 Sputters, Stalls, Dies

last out engine ran like lawnmower or motorcycle warmed up with the throttle still on? cant understand why nobody can figure it out with that discription sounds cut and dried to me,sell it buy something that works,make sure it has none of the problems ie;sounding like motorcycle or lawnmower.that current trailer queen has!

 

[slowbreak101]

Re: 1999 Volvo Penta 4.3 Sputters, Stalls, Dies

Sir, you're missing the point entirely.

Actually, I think you (plural) continue to miss mine.

brand bashing is not allowed

I?m not bashing Volvo ? and it?s a matter of definition, but ?bashing? suggests that you?re slamming one thing in preference of a favorite, and I don?t have a favorite. My experience with Volvo sucks. Maybe that?s a better way to say it.

My first one wouldn?t hold compression. Why/ How?d it get that way? I don?t know. This one, the original motor?s been replaced and hacked and why? I don?t know.

I?m just John Doe trying to put a craft on the water, have a couple beers, and throw frisbies to the dog.

But your point is taken.

It seems to me you had received a lot of help.

Absolutely. Quality stuff. I'm still wowed as a non-techy by the pull the tach connection off the coil and see what happens suggestion. My mechanic was still chasing fixes like unscrew the gas cap and see what happens. I?ve passed on all the advice and given him the addr to this forum. I?m disappointed that he hasn?t piped in. And I'm disappointed that I haven?t heard from him yet. It?s been 3 weeks and it's the slow season, I know he's slow, you can tell by the lot (tho in his favor it is Christmas and the weather has crapped).

Tho this is a rash on my butt:

The problem is YOU, and who you pick as your mechanic. A real MARINE mechanic would have identified the problem and fixed it.

Yeah. He's had his chance.

I was looking forward to finding out what your problem is.

I promise that if this stutter stall die problem gets an answer, I?ll post it.

 

[slowbreak101]

Re: 1999 Volvo Penta 4.3 Sputters, Stalls, Dies

For anyone still following this odyssey, I've hit the wall with the shop, which has had 9 months to fix this thing and hasn't.

I've pulled my boat from the repair side and I've taken it to Bergeron Engineering in Mesa. I'll let you know.

CAVEAT EMPTOR Phoenix Valley locals, don't use Props Plus, Scottsdale, AZ for boat repair. Their prop repair side of the business is solid. Boat repair? thumbs down after all d*mn summer.

 

[slowbreak101]

Re: 1999 Volvo Penta 4.3 Sputters, Stalls, Dies

Here's the answer, the new shop R&Rd or adjusted:

1. Replaced the fuel pump. Specs:
old 7.8V new 18.0V
old 5.8P new 5.5P
2. Reset/ replaced carb settings / choke system (cam, coil)
Jets old 67-68 up to jets new 79
3. Distributor advanced curve
4. Distributor gear

My last failure on this stutter, stall, die problem occurred at 90 minutes. Earlier failures occurred at 45 mins. This shop only had it on the lake for 60 mins testing their repair, so we'll see.

This problem needs dyno testing to truly isolate the cause(s) I guess.

My first two shops troubleshooting this didn't have the equipment, so they were barnstorming a best guess I suppose, based upon their experience and an ohm meter.

I hope this helps someone.

 

[wfrits]

Re: 1999 Volvo Penta 4.3 Sputters, Stalls, Dies

This sounds like an intermittent electrical problem at the fuel pump. Try bypassing the plugs by stripping the plugs off and putting your own connectors on, worked at fixing my intermittent problem...would run fine then die...and the fuel pressure would drop off to nothing.