WorkingFromHome
Cadet
- Joined
- Jun 27, 2019
- Messages
- 25
Hi all. New to the forum but long time boater and generally pretty handy.
We bought a new to us, 2004 Four Winns Vista 288 this spring and have been slowly going through it. It's super clean and both engines only had 461 hours when we picked it up. We have twin 2004 VP 5.0 GXi-E (3869255) with DP drives. I've always had outboards or Mercruiser I/O's so I'm learning the nuances (parts cost!) of the VPs.
When we got the boat, both fuel cells were weak so I replaced them along with the alternator on the port engine, which is recently started making gimbal/u joint noises. FUN!
Anyway... I could use some help diagnosing a new stalling and starting issue. A week or so ago, I was towing a tube with a 4 big adults on board (around 2200 rpms) and the port engine cut out. No stuttering, coughing or signs of an issue (gauges were all reading normal) and no alarms. When we stopped and I cycled the key, there were no beeps and it wouldn't fire. It cranked, but wouldn't catch. I smelled a bit of fuel, so I put it in neutral and opened the throttle all the way to stop the injectors thinking maybe it was flooded. No dice. The next morning, it fired and ran fine all day.
The next time, I was out, it ran fine on the way out, but on the way back in after idling for a bit, I couldn't get it to rev past 2200 rpms. It's like I was in a limp mode or something. The next day, it was fine again.
I replaced both batteries earlier this week, because a load test showed only 1/4 of the rated cranking amps at full charge. We took it out and everything seemed like it was okay. We were clipping along around 3500 rpms and then the port engine died. Again, the gauges were all reading normal and there were no warning signs or alerts. Brought it to a stop and tried to start it. It cranked with gusto, but wouldn't catch. I cycled the key and didn't get typical two beeps. Checked the fuel pump while we were on the water by disconnecting the high and then low power plugs and they both cycled independently and together. Cycled the key again and heard the beeps, but still wouldn't catch.
Rather than me just throwing parts at it, does anyone have a suggestion where to start?
Thanks in advance!
We bought a new to us, 2004 Four Winns Vista 288 this spring and have been slowly going through it. It's super clean and both engines only had 461 hours when we picked it up. We have twin 2004 VP 5.0 GXi-E (3869255) with DP drives. I've always had outboards or Mercruiser I/O's so I'm learning the nuances (parts cost!) of the VPs.
When we got the boat, both fuel cells were weak so I replaced them along with the alternator on the port engine, which is recently started making gimbal/u joint noises. FUN!
Anyway... I could use some help diagnosing a new stalling and starting issue. A week or so ago, I was towing a tube with a 4 big adults on board (around 2200 rpms) and the port engine cut out. No stuttering, coughing or signs of an issue (gauges were all reading normal) and no alarms. When we stopped and I cycled the key, there were no beeps and it wouldn't fire. It cranked, but wouldn't catch. I smelled a bit of fuel, so I put it in neutral and opened the throttle all the way to stop the injectors thinking maybe it was flooded. No dice. The next morning, it fired and ran fine all day.
The next time, I was out, it ran fine on the way out, but on the way back in after idling for a bit, I couldn't get it to rev past 2200 rpms. It's like I was in a limp mode or something. The next day, it was fine again.
I replaced both batteries earlier this week, because a load test showed only 1/4 of the rated cranking amps at full charge. We took it out and everything seemed like it was okay. We were clipping along around 3500 rpms and then the port engine died. Again, the gauges were all reading normal and there were no warning signs or alerts. Brought it to a stop and tried to start it. It cranked with gusto, but wouldn't catch. I cycled the key and didn't get typical two beeps. Checked the fuel pump while we were on the water by disconnecting the high and then low power plugs and they both cycled independently and together. Cycled the key again and heard the beeps, but still wouldn't catch.
Rather than me just throwing parts at it, does anyone have a suggestion where to start?
Thanks in advance!
