one for the pro's

[digbystar]

Ok , My boat went out again.

About a month ago I was having fuel pump issues and with the help of this forum I got it down to the pump(no pressure to the fuel rail).
I changed the pump and it has ran fine for 3 weeks. Yesterday it runs all day perfectly until I let my wife drive, hehe. When I went to start it it would almost start, start and die, rough start,then never grabbed again.

I should say that It was down to just above Empty and I have never had it down that far and haven't always done my best at adding stabilizer in winter. So basically I am thinking bad gas. I popped the hood and did a quick check for pressure at the fuel rail and there was a good amount.
It never started, the Sheriff came and gave me some gas thinking maybe I ran out, no change. so he towed me in.

I got it home today and just went out and tried messing with it. First off I had some pressure at the rail, but did Not hear the fuel pump run when I turned the key. I dumped a little gas in the throttle body and turned it over, black smoke then died. I reached down and unplugged and replugged in the pump and the next time I turn the key I heard the pump. I added a touch of gas and it started and stayed running rough for 30 secs or so.

I never heard the pump again and contemplated dumping the remaining gas in the can all over the boat and .......well I thought about it.
Do you think it could have been the bad gas at the bottom of the tank that did this? Not starting and maybe killing the brand new pump?
I hope you guys can help me, thanx in advance!

 

[zbnutcase]

Re: one for the pro's

Did you actually put any more fuel in the TANK? A gallon or two is just an eyedropper in a boat, or did you stop on the way home and fill it up???

 

[digbystar]

Re: one for the pro's

Good question, no I just did the eye dropper.

But I think I found something. I decided to hook my old pump up to a battery and of course it worked. Hmmm, so I went out to the boat and tried swapping the relays. No change. I have a battery switch close to the motor so I reach down and disconnect and re connect the pump again and nothing. This time I flick the switch (I can hear the relay doing it's 5 second thing) and move the wire back and forth and what do you know the pump comes on. Do it again and I can make the pump turn on and off (while the relay is still on) by moving the wire.
This tells me I have a bad wire or some type of connection and a brand new fuel pump and a perfectly good spare, Ha ha!
So tomorrow I will see about replacing the wire. I'll come again with the update.
And thanks zbnutcase for your input.

 

[TiredoleBoy]

Re: one for the pro's

Good question, no I just did the eye dropper.

But I think I found something. I decided to hook my old pump up to a battery and of course it worked. Hmmm, so I went out to the boat and tried swapping the relays. No change. I have a battery switch close to the motor so I reach down and disconnect and re connect the pump again and nothing. This time I flick the switch (I can hear the relay doing it's 5 second thing) and move the wire back and forth and what do you know the pump comes on. Do it again and I can make the pump turn on and off (while the relay is still on) by moving the wire.
This tells me I have a bad wire or some type of connection and a brand new fuel pump and a perfectly good spare, Ha ha!
So tomorrow I will see about replacing the wire. I'll come again with the update.
And thanks zbnutcase for your input.

Remember in a boat a corroded contact is your worst enemy

 

[digbystar]

Re: one for the pro's

Thanx gentlemen! So far it looks like it was a bad connection contact. Only one way to find out....

 

[sethjon]

Re: one for the pro's

The wire probably doesn't need replacing. Sounds like a bad connection due to corrosion. Clean it up and it should be ok.