hard cold starting volvo 2000 5.0Gs

[Dock Side]

I seem to have a hard time starting the engine after it sits up for longer than a day or two, but once it starts you can start it up a thousand tmes and will fire up in the first crank. The engine is a 2000 Volvo 5.0Gi which has a Delco EST (TBI)fuel injected system. At first I thought some of the ignition parts may have been getting wet with all the rain we have been getting. I checked and cleaned up all the connectors,still the same. My question is should you pump up a fuel injected system after it has been layed up for a couple of days, what is the proper starting procedure for this type of fuel delivery system. Could this possibly be a fuel pump problem, I have heard that VP has had a lot of problems with the fuel cell on 5.0Gi engines. Thanks

 

[Don S]

Re: hard cold starting volvo 2000 5.0Gs

Do you have the gauges to check the fuel pump pressures, both hi and low pressure? and a way to check the vacuum on the fuel pumps? and do you have the service manual so you can follow the sequence of events for testing?

 

[Dock Side]

Re: hard cold starting volvo 2000 5.0Gs

Hi Don hope all is well, nice to hear from you again. I have no gauges, all I have are the OEM manuels for my motor. But I cleaned up the cap and rotor and put a good electrical connector compound on all the ignition connectors. I also put a thermal compound under the ignition module. The past couple of days the boat has started right up. I will replace the cap and rotor with new ones soon. I purchased the boat used from MA and upon looking at the old service records the fuel cell was replaced in 2003 along with the MAP sensor. The complaint was a bog down problem at high speeds. I still have a warranty on the boat till Feb 2007,but I am concerned about the fuel cell because it is a costly item. If the problem happens again do you think I should get a Mechanic to see if there in fact are any fault codes in the ECM for the fuel cell, if so how long will the codes be stored. Thanks again

 

[Dock Side]

Re: hard cold starting volvo 2000 5.0Gs

Well it happened today again after idling out to channel, I tried to power up and it stalled. I noticed a whinning noise, it seemed it was comming from the high pressure pump.started it up again let it idle for a while, the noise went away and everything went back to normal.

 

[Don S]

Re: hard cold starting volvo 2000 5.0Gs

Since it's still under warranty, why haven't you already had the mechanic looking at it????

 

[Dock Side]

Re: hard cold starting volvo 2000 5.0Gs

They are all booked up and can't look at it for a couple of weeks. Plus I am limited to only certified volvo penta service personel.Took the boat on the water after yesterdays problem and the boat ran great. I am begining to think it is something in the fuel tank because it seems to happen when the boat sits for 6 to 7 days. everything settles to the bottom then when I run it, the problem starts. Don is there any way I siphon the fuel on the bottom to see what it looks like?

 

[Don S]

Re: hard cold starting volvo 2000 5.0Gs

I doubt your problem is in the tank, your Volvo has an engine fuel filter. As long as it has fuel in it, it should start and run for several minutes on what is in the filter alone.<br />That is why I mentioned right at the beginning that you need to do pressure and vacuum tests on the fuel system.<br />But if you want to check your tank, if the fuel level is low enough, raise the bow so any water and dirt will go to the back of the tank, remove the pickup tube, and with a small electric fuel pump with a hose and tube setup to stick down in the tank, suck all the junk out of the bottom and into a container. You could even use an outboard squeeze bulb to suck out the junk. I usually just stick an inline cheap filter in the hose to protect the pump.