Alpha 1 Gen 1 Correct water pressure ?

[hearly]

Hi folks,<br /><br />i have a repowered 1991 searay 21 with a new Mercruiser 4.3 MPI engien on a Alpha 1 drive Gen 1 which is being tuned. But the mechanic siad my Alpha 1 drive was not giving my Mercruiser 4.3 MPI enough water pressure for the engine ? he was questioning was the drive good enough for the engine ?<br /><br />he also siad my guages were to old for the new engine ?<br /><br />any suggestions?

 

[tommays]

Re: Alpha 1 Gen 1 Correct water pressure ?

1991 was a crossover year do you have a GEN I or GEN II drive<br /><br /><br />tommays

 

[hearly]

Re: Alpha 1 Gen 1 Correct water pressure ?

sorry it's a gen 1 drive

 

[waterone1@aol.com]

Re: Alpha 1 Gen 1 Correct water pressure ?

Could you post what the problem or symptom is ? Is the engine over-heating ? Are the gauges not reading correctly ? If there is a specific problem, then that problem needs to be diagnosed and fixed. For instance, if the engine is running hot, then the water pump in the drive may need to be rebuilt. If a shop gauge shows oil pressure different than your dash gauge, then that problem needs to be fixed. If none of this is happening, then it sounds like someone trying to sell you a bunch of add-ons to your repower bill.

 

[tommays]

Re: Alpha 1 Gen 1 Correct water pressure ?

no expert but if you search under (newport dave) there was a recent problem with and MPI motor and low water flow<br /><br />the newer GEN II drive water has a much greater water flow<br /><br /> http://www.iboats.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=24;t=011987#000003 <br /><br />

<br /><br /><br /> <br /> idont no if this is the same for 4.3 but there is a high water flow required<br /><br />tommays

 

[hearly]

Re: Alpha 1 Gen 1 Correct water pressure ?

Hi waterone1,<br /><br />The exact problems are, the boat acts like it is suffering from Fuel starvation and keeps reducing rev and eventualy cutting out! the machanic says it has low water presure from the APlha 1 Gen 1 drive and alarm buzzer is not conected. I am not sure about their diagnostics? could it be something else?<br /><br />OR how can I increase the water pressure?

 

[hearly]

Re: Alpha 1 Gen 1 Correct water pressure ?

Hi waterone1,<br /><br />The exact problems are, the boat acts like it is suffering from Fuel starvation and keeps reducing rev and eventualy cutting out! the machanic says it has low water presure from the APlha 1 Gen 1 drive and alarm buzzer is not conected. I am not sure about their diagnostics? could it be something else?<br /><br />OR how can I increase the water pressure?

 

[waterone1@aol.com]

Re: Alpha 1 Gen 1 Correct water pressure ?

Has your tech run the boat with a scan tool connected to the engine ? Is he seeing a over-heat condition ? If there are active fault codes in the ECM what are they ?

 

[hearly]

Re: Alpha 1 Gen 1 Correct water pressure ?

hi the active codes are "buzer" and low water pressure.<br /><br />He says there could be more active codes but needs to fix the "buzer" before the system will allow he to proced.<br /><br />Is he talking BULL! he says my dails are to old (1991) for the new 4.3 MPI engine?????

 

[waterone1@aol.com]

Re: Alpha 1 Gen 1 Correct water pressure ?

After re-reading your original post, I see what the problem is here....I screwed up ! You have a new engine with either the ECM555 or the PCM555 ECM (computer). It is also known as the smartcraft system. The older ECM's did not have a water pressure sensor, just an engine coolant temperature sensor. Soo... this new engine is "looking for" a specific water pressure and will not run right without it. Your options, as I think it was Tommays posted above would be to install a Bravo-type pump on the engine and thru-hull water pick-up to suppliment the water pressure, or possibly to replace the drive with a Alpha-GenII. The other issue, is that the older style analog gauges are now replaced with a couple of digital multi-function gauges that give you a more in-depth view of what the engine is doing. In-a nutshell, you have chosen to install the latest, greatest engine technology in your boat, and it is time to up-grade the rest of your boat to work with it.

 

[tommays]

Re: Alpha 1 Gen 1 Correct water pressure ?

i have been looking at new boats 2005 with MPI motors and they all use standard guages with smartcraft as and option<br /><br /> http://www.mercurymarine.com/smartcraft_faqs

You can use either digital or analog instrumentation <br /><br />Each type of gauge system requires its own wiring. Regardless of the instrumentation, however, we strongly recommend the use of a SmartCraft display product to inform you of engine trouble and help you avoid serious damage in the future.

<br /><br /><br />tommays