Boat cutting off while riding along.

[lawhon11]

Hello, this is actually my second post about this topic. I thought that I had it fixed, but I guess not. The problem is that while we are riding along in our Tahoe Deck Boat it will just turn off and come to a complete stop. On every occasion that it has done this, whenever it stops I can instantly crank it back up and run. When it turns off i hear the beep sound that I hear when I turn the ignition key on to crank the motor up. I have cleaned all the terminals on the battery and replaced one of my batteries. I have cleaned the ends of the wires that ground to the motor. It is almost as if I reach down and flip the kill switch. It dies just like that. Is there anyway that I can test the kill switch. This problem has Kicked my tail. The motor runs great when it is running. Help Help Help.

 

[southkogs]

Is that a temperature warning? Are you overheating?

 

[lawhon11]

Not that I can see. I have looked at the Temp gauge constantly and so far it has not gone over 190.. It usually runs about 180-190. Is there a way to check it besides the gauge, or is there a way to check the gauge.

 

[LAC_STS]

Not that I can see. I have looked at the Temp gauge constantly and so far it has not gone over 190.. It usually runs about 180-190. Is there a way to check it besides the gauge, or is there a way to check the gauge.

You can check with an IR temp gun. I had a cut off issue and my problem ended up being two wires that go to the IGN had the insulation off them and were touching every now and then.

Your gonna have to go through everything electrical and make sure everything is in good order, nice and tight, and no corrosion. Also check the kill switch and the IGN switch.

 

[lawhon11]

How hot would the motor be to make it cut off like that? I will check all the wires and should I just go ahead and replace the IGN and kill switch or is there a way to check them?

 

[southkogs]

What's runnin' temp on that engine? Mine is supposed to be about 160. I dunno' that it would/should cut off at 190 though.

 

[LAC_STS]

Mine is supposed to be at 160 also. What engine are we talking about first of all? Most are around 160 degrees in my 1989 OEM manual. Even if the overheating is not the problem you have to fix that.

What exactly do you mean by cut off? Cut off like you turned the key off? Or does it cough and die or ?

You say you can instantly re start the engine. I would think if it was cutting off because it is too hot that it would not instantly start back up. It would probably seem like the battery was dead and only turn over slowly until it cooled for a few seconds.

There is a way to test nearly everything IGN related. You need an OEM service manual. It will have the correct procedure for every part. It will pay for itself.

If you just start throwing parts at it it will def cost more and probably end up costing a lot more.

 

[lawhon11]

Alright, as of tonight, I looked up a manual and it says the Temp suppose to be 160 degrees for my engine. I have a mercruiser 5.0 with a Alpha one drive. The temp stays around 180-190. When I say it cuts off, that is exactly what I mean. We are riding along and all of a suddone I will hear a beep and the motor will die and we will come to a stop. As soon as I come to a stop, I can turn the key in the ignition switch back to its off position and then crank the motor back up and put the trottle down and it will go. The temp stays the same(no higher than 180-190) and it will ride for another 10-20 minutes. I have noticed though, once it starts with the cutting off, it will keep doing it. I just got through looking at all the wires that I could see from behind the panel and around the battery and engine and i did see one red wire coming from the button that you mash for the HORN, but i wouldnt think that this would make the engine cut off. I taped that wire anyway before I put the panel back on. I did see some numbers at the back of the engine that is probably the serial number if this may help but im not sure. I will post them in the sequence that they are in> 104ZB M40529099. On this same tag some more numbers: 93440120. And on this same tag is:4ZB.

 

[southkogs]

Well ... I'm not sure what's causing the engine to shut off, but you've at least got an overheat problem. When was the last time the impeller was changed?

 

[lawhon11]

I havent ever changed it. to be honest, i dont know where it is. I guess it would be down into the foot of the drive right.

 

[southkogs]

I would suggest starting there and see what kinda' problems you can solve easy: It's in the sterndrive "somewhere." One of the Merc guys'll have to answer that one. Better even still, getcha' a manual for it.

Might even look at testing/swapping your thermostat while you're at it. It would be pretty cheap and easy and eliminate another variable.

Get your operating temp back down to 160 and then see what happens.

 

[lawhon11]

I went ahead and ordered a impeller repair kit today. As soon as it comes in I will change it out and take it to the lake to see if it helps. ill post the results. thanks.

 

[jbetzelb]

Make sure your outdrive gear lube is is good condition and at the correct level. I don't know if your boat has a sensor for low gear lube but I have seen the condition you decribe occur on a searay. It would shut down and beep once when it did it. After about 30 seconds it would fire up and all was good again for a little while and then it would do it again. The mechnaic said it was low on lube in the outdrive and the sensor was shutting it down. This boat was a 2001 searay with a 5.0 alpha 1.

 

[jbetzelb]

Make sure your outdrive gear lube is is good condition and at the correct level. I don't know if your boat has a sensor for low gear lube but I have seen the condition you decribe occur on a searay. It would shut down and beep once when it did it. After about 30 seconds it would fire up and all was good again for a little while and then it would do it again. The mechnaic said it was low on lube in the outdrive and the sensor was shutting it down. This boat was a 2001 searay with a 5.0.

 

[lawhon11]

I went ahead and ordered a impeller repair kit today. As soon as it comes in I will change it out and take it to the lake to see if it helps. ill post the results. thanks.

 

[lawhon11]

Im not sure why my previous reply did not post until today, but i have already changed the impeller and took the boat for an outing yesterday(Sunday). It did not cut off at all unless I cut it off. The temp ran around 160-165 and out of the 3 hrs that we where out, we probably ran the boat almost 2 1/2 hrs of that time. Hopefully the problem is fixed. I will be taking the boat out again Friday and Sunday of this coming weekend, and I will post the results next week. Thanks for the help.

 

[southkogs]

Rock on! :rockon:

Let's hope the easy fix does it for good!