Sick of EFI Fuel Pumps going bad

[Paul Haldeman]

I have a 1993 5.8 EFI OMC Cobra on my Seaswril 190SE. It has two fuel pumps, a low PSI one that advances fuel from the tank and a second one that is a high PSI pump that feeds the fuel injectors.<br /><br />I have gone through 5 of the low PSI pumps and 3 of the high PSI pumps. Why? I use the boat all year round (so. Cal), I use additives to keep the water from seperating, I drain the separator. I use Chevron Tectron or 76 Union fuel recommended by my mechanic. Still I go through these pumps at $200 a pop. And they always go bad just before a nat'l holiday like Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day.<br /><br />Has anyone else run into this EFI fuel pump problem? My last one lasted two boat trips. I'll be sending it back to OMC or Bombadier or whoever for analysis.<br /><br />Standing by if you can solve this mystery. (Does this site have a spell checker?)

 

[petryshyn]

Re: Sick of EFI Fuel Pumps going bad

Have you ever measured the voltage getting to the pumps when they fail?<br />Are you sure you don't have water in the tank?<br />Have you disassembled a pump to see why it failed?

 

[dick]

Re: Sick of EFI Fuel Pumps going bad

Just a thought, do you have a aux. motor? and if you do does it draw its fuel from your main tank ?<br />the reason I ask is those pumps don't like water or sucking air and if you have a fuel line going to a aux. ob the pump will draw air through the carb on the ob.

 

[Paul Haldeman]

Re: Sick of EFI Fuel Pumps going bad

No, I don't have an auxillary motor. <br /><br />One area I've been suspicious of is the tank vent. It has a factory cover on it, but still may be taking a few drops of water due to how close it is to my hull spray. It still seem odd that a new pump, 3 months old that was being used twice in the same month could go bad that fast even if some moisture got in the fuel.

 

[petryshyn]

Re: Sick of EFI Fuel Pumps going bad

Have you changed the fuel filter? A plugged fuel filter on a fuel injection system may not show up as a performance issue, but adds a load to the fuel pump causing premature wear.<br /><br />Again, the best way to troubleshoot any problem is to see why the pump failed. Take the old one apart. Uncrimp it if needed. If the commutator is corroded, bushings worn, impellar broken up, or burnt armature bar is found, determining why will easy from there on. Everything else is just speculation.....

 

[Trent]

Re: Sick of EFI Fuel Pumps going bad

Also I would like to add to the other posts...Check the pickup in the tank for obstructions (or air leaks) and also check the anti-siphon valve in the top of the tank.

 

[Paul Haldeman]

Re: Sick of EFI Fuel Pumps going bad

I sure appreciate the thoughts on solving this reptitive EFI fuel pump failure problem. The boat dealer said that I will have to pay the $200 to buy the replacement pump, but that the bad one can be sent to OMC for a request for refund. They'll analyze it and have typically been very good about refunding the costs. <br /><br />What I really need is their analysis on what failed or caused the failure so I don't sell the boat out of frustration. <br /><br />I'll continue to follow these ideas coming in from the postings. At least it isn't a chronic problem which would indicate a bad design. There are no other postings that show this same problem. So it is something unique to my situation. <br /><br />Now, the fact that shifting my OMC into neutral is such a pain - I see that all over the board. I'll look into that after I get this fuel pump problem figured out.<br /><br />I have had this boat since it was brand new 10 years ago. My six kids hardly remember not having it as part of the family. In frustraion I told them I was just going to get rid of it. You should of heard of the protests I got from my 4 daughters (ages 17 to 4). It was music to an old boaters ears. You'd think I was selling their puppy to science lab.

 

[petryshyn]

Re: Sick of EFI Fuel Pumps going bad

EFI systems typically have a pressure regulator in the fuel circuit. If this reg is seized or plugged, high system pressure and pump"loading" will occur. Again no performance problem, but decreased pump life. Check the system pressures as per manual....

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Sick of EFI Fuel Pumps going bad

I had a problem burning out electric fuel pumps on a fiberglass car once. It turned out to be a faulty ground. It was getting enough to ground to run, but the corrosion was creating enough resistance to prematurely burn out the pump.<br /><br />Just a thought, I know grounds will lead to more weird situations by backfeeding through other components. I would MEGA Ohm your ground to make sure it has no resistance. Good Luck

 

[clanton]

Re: Sick of EFI Fuel Pumps going bad

See www.screamandfly.com, there is a member that designs electrical fuel pumps, also lot of info on electrial pumps. Do a search. Different brands, different sizes, and the brand that has a lot of problems. The dealer should be able to call the BOMB for warranty approval if he install the part. Lot of shifting problems caused by worn control assy and inproperly install/adjusted cable. There is web site about shifting, not always up, and I dont have address. May fine it on this site with search.