Volvo Penta 5.7Gsi PEFS fuel pump problem?

[Stingray240CS]

I put my boat in dry storage and did not use it last summer so it has been sitting there for 2 years. It was working great last time I use it. Start every time as soon as I turn the ignition switch. This time, the engine start right away just like all other time but only last for 20 seconds. If I try to re-start the engine right away, it just crank but won't start. If I wait for a couple minute and try again then it almost wanted to start (run for a second or two). This is what I have done so far but still unsuccessful:
1) Replace the fuel with brand new 91 Octane fuel (I actually remove the fuel line from the boat tank and put it in a portable fuel tank with new fuel in it)
2) Replace fuel filter
3) Replace spark plug
4) Check to make sure that the safety lanyard is connected
5) Clean rotor cap and rotor
After all the above it still doesn't help with the problem so I removed the fuel injector portion (on top of the carburetor under flame arrestor) and clean everything. The fuel seem to spray a little better (more evenly) when I crank the engine and it seem to make the engine getting closer to starting but still only last for a few seconds and dies. I do hear a high pitch sound from the fuel pump (the one closer to the centerline of the engine, i assume it is the high pressure one) and is on when the ignition switch is first turn on ( I am assuming that the pump is priming the engine) but it stay on when the engine is running ( the 10-20 seconds that it actually run). Does anyone think it is a bad fuel pump? It does seem to squirt fuel at the injector like it suppose to. The fuel line seem to be free of any blockage, especially after I clean all the line from the fuel pump up to the injector. Please, please help if you know what I should do or should check next. Thank!

 

[Don S]

Re: Volvo Penta 5.7Gsi PEFS fuel pump problem?

Do you have spark when it won't start?

 

[Stingray240CS]

Re: Volvo Penta 5.7Gsi PEFS fuel pump problem?

Thank you very much for replying Don, I browsed the forum and see that you've help so many people, with your help, I am sure that we'll figure out what wrong with it.

I have to go to the dry storage to check it out. My home association does not allows me to bring the boat home. How do I check it? Should I remove one of the spark plug from the engine, ground the case and try to start the engine? Do I have to check all 8 or just one? The engine sometimes start for a few seconds at a time so I have assumed that it did spark so I have not check it yet.

Is there anything else I should check while I am there?

Thanks again!

 

[Don S]

Re: Volvo Penta 5.7Gsi PEFS fuel pump problem?

To be quite honest with you, without the OEM service manual (PN 7797354) a Scan tool of some kind (here is one possibility Rinda scan tool and a fuel pressure gauge for fuel injection systems, I don't know how you are going to track down the problem.
You could test each individual component without a scan tool, but you are still going to need the manual to see where and how things are tested.

 

[Stingray240CS]

Re: Volvo Penta 5.7Gsi PEFS fuel pump problem?

I actually have all workshop manuals, including the 7797354 you mention. It is a big book with at least 200 pages and I don't know where to start looking. I refer to the "code tool" to display DTC's that stored in the ECM but I don't have one. I guess I should get one Monday when the deal open. Since that hear that high pitch sound from the fuel pump while the engine is running ( for 10-20 seconds), I don't remember hearing that before while the engine is running. Do you think that there could be a problem with the fuel pump? I am going to the auto part store in a few minutes to pick up the pressure gauge to check the pressure on the pump. Even if the engine does not start, can I still read the pressure on the pump? during the 2 second that it prime the engine? I did not hear anything from the low pressure fuel pump but I am assuming that it is working since fuel is squirting out of the injector.

 

[Don S]

Re: Volvo Penta 5.7Gsi PEFS fuel pump problem?

Be sure you get a fuel pump pressure gauge desgned for the high pressures of EFI. Don't get the standard little gauge that goes to 10lbs of pressure/vacuum gauge, won't work. Plus you can't hook them up to a schrader valve. The fuel system manual will show you the type gauge you need.

 

[Don S]

Re: Volvo Penta 5.7Gsi PEFS fuel pump problem?

Here us the type gauge you need.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0009XQUKC?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&tag=nextag-auto-20&linkCode=asn

 

[Stingray240CS]

Re: Volvo Penta 5.7Gsi PEFS fuel pump problem?

Thanks Don,
I got the gauge from a local auto part store that similar to the one you show. It also has a scale from 0-100psi. I tested the fuel pressure. The fuel pressure on the high pressure pump is exactly 29psi as stated in the workshop manual. The fuel pressure on the low pressure is suppose to be 6psi but the pressure gauge did not even move (no pressure from the low pressure pump at all). I disconnect the high pressure pump and turn on ignition, I did hear the pump move but did not get any pressure. I disconnect the connector and measure voltage across connector terminal and it does have 12VDC for the first two seconds as it suppose to. At this point, I suppose the pump is bad. Do you have any suggestion? I remove the pump and bring it home now. Should I test the pump by itself before spending $200 for a replacement? Any suggestion on what the best way to test it? Thanks!!

 

[Don S]

Re: Volvo Penta 5.7Gsi PEFS fuel pump problem?

Did the low pressure pump even run?
I think you are going to find that the low pressure pump isn't available. The complete fuel cell has to be replaced. Don't have an exact price, but a couple of years ago it was almost $800. So you might want to stop taking things apart till you find the problem.
With the pump INSTALLED and fuel in the system, jump the 2 terminals on the pump directly to the battery and see if it runs and/or produces pressure.
DO NOT run the pump more than 10 seconds without fuel.

 

[Stingray240CS]

Re: Volvo Penta 5.7Gsi PEFS fuel pump problem?

I didn't have time to test the pump until now and the dry storage don't let me stay that late so I took the whole pump assembly home to test it now.

When hooking up the pump to the car battery, the pump run and is pumping fuel. I can tell this afternoon when I still had it hook up to the boat that it is running the first 2 seconds that the ignition switch is turn on but there isn't any pressure at the test port. Since I had it remove from the boat, I have the fuel pick up insert into a portable tank just to make sure that it doesn't run dry. The pump shoot fuel up around 6" from the output. To test the pressure, I put a finger covering the output port to block the fuel to see if it produce any pressure at the test port but still no pressure. What does it mean? Is the pump still good or bad? Does it just work but just not producing enough pressure? Please let me know your opinion. Thanks!

 

[Reel Poor]

Re: Volvo Penta 5.7Gsi PEFS fuel pump problem?

Check the fuel pressure on the outlet side of the pump instead of at the test port. There may be some kind of problem with your test port connector/connection.

 

[Stingray240CS]

Re: Volvo Penta 5.7Gsi PEFS fuel pump problem?

I've just check the output of the low pressure pump but no pressure shown on the gauge either. Do you know how often does a low pressure pump go bad? I did some search and see a few people replaced their fuel pump. I'll bring the pump assembly to the dealer tomorrow for them to check it for me. That way I'll know for sure if the pump are good or bad. I hope they'll check it instead of just trying to sell me a new one.

 

[Don S]

Re: Volvo Penta 5.7Gsi PEFS fuel pump problem?

The older models had a different fuel pump setup. The EF models (5.7GSiPEFS) so what others had in other threads aren't the same setup. You need to have it "On The Engine" so the system that controls the pump can be checked. Just because the boat is in storage doesn't mean the methods of troubleshooting changes.
If you are going to take it to the dealer, they will need the boat to.

 

[Stingray240CS]

Re: Volvo Penta 5.7Gsi PEFS fuel pump problem?

I bought the new pump today. They only sell the complete assembly which includes the fuel cell and high pressure pump. I could buy only the low pressure pump made by Seirra for $160 but I'd rather go with Volvo. My local dealer has it for $615. The engine start as soon as I turn the key and run perfectly. It is the fuel pump from the beginning as suspected. The dealer told me that many mechanics come to buy fuel pump from them to fix other people boats and said that if you leave the fuel pump unused for even three or four months, the pump could already go bad.

 

[fljrc3]

Re: Volvo Penta 5.7Gsi PEFS fuel pump problem?

I have a similar problem. I just took apart the fuel cell, even though you arent supposed to.

I found my inlet water coolant nipple plugged with scale that feeds the fuel cell. The pump was not getting cool water at idle and low speeds.

I cleared the coolant nipple and water will be able to flow now. Do you think I can put this thing back together with the old gaskets and o rings, or do I have to buy a whole new fuel cell?

Thanks

 

[thebenzmane55]

Re: Volvo Penta 5.7Gsi PEFS fuel pump problem?

I had the same problem with my 1997 5.7 volvo GI and it was the low pressure pump, and to buy the whole "fuel cell" is not true, i bought the pump for $123.00 and it was very simple to replace. to buy both pumps and the rail was a huge waste of money. run a couple of bottles of good fuel injector cleaner through it, you find that the better spray the nozzles have the better the boat will run.

 

[moeski]

Re: Volvo Penta 5.7Gsi PEFS fuel pump problem?

I had the same problem with my 1997 5.7 volvo GI and it was the low pressure pump, and to buy the whole "fuel cell" is not true, i bought the pump for $123.00 and it was very simple to replace. to buy both pumps and the rail was a huge waste of money. run a couple of bottles of good fuel injector cleaner through it, you find that the better spray the nozzles have the better the boat will run.

I have what i think is a similiar problem......I have a 4.3 fuel injection.....I took off the fule filter dumped some and no new fuel was getting pumped into it. Therefore i assume the low pressure pump is bad. It is very obvious how the high pressure gets removed and replaced not sure how the low side gets replaced
thanks for your emidiate reply

 

[Limited-Time]

Re: Volvo Penta 5.7Gsi PEFS fuel pump problem?

I have what i think is a similiar problem......I have a 4.3 fuel injection.....I took off the fule filter dumped some and no new fuel was getting pumped into it. Therefore i assume the low pressure pump is bad. It is very obvious how the high pressure gets removed and replaced not sure how the low side gets replaced
thanks for your emidiate reply

moeski,
Welcome aboard. You'll want to start your own thread. Tagging a new/different problem on to an existing thread is never a good go. No matter how similuar it seems. Read this and start a new thread.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=220416

Good luck.