Vovlo 4.3l PBYC Cranks but wont Start

[cozilla]

My 1998 Larson SEI 176 with Volvo 4.3l PBYC is currently not starting. It will crank but not start. I thought maybe it was a spark issue as but I tried a spark tester and it showed spark. I also checked the voltage on the purple wire at the coil and also out of the coil on the pink wire and there is matching battery voltage. I am beginning to think it could be a fuel pump issue.

Story of break down:
The boat had been running great all evening. It cut off on us once but came right back on and ran fine. We were out on the lake and were beached for an hour or so and as we go to leave the boat starts up and we start to accelerate on plane then the boat dies just like it had earlier. Then the boat wouldnt start. I just cranks.

Any advice would be great. Thanks!

 

[HalfFish5087]

Re: Vovlo 4.3l PBYC Cranks but wont Start

Before buying a pump you need to make sure that your getting voltage to the fuel pump relay and the relay is working correctly. Go here to find guidance: Boatinfo - Volvo Penta WT series Engine Electrical and Ignition Service Manual

You'll need to make sure that your getting 12V while cranking and while the engine is running. If that all checks then do a pressure test on the fuel pump you should be getting 8 +/- 4 psi.

 

[Don S]

Re: Vovlo 4.3l PBYC Cranks but wont Start

Squirt some gas into the carb and see if it starts. Even for a second or two. Just to confirm lack of fuel.

DO NOT go buying expensive pumps just yet.

 

[cozilla]

Re: Vovlo 4.3l PBYC Cranks but wont Start

Before buying a pump you need to make sure that your getting voltage to the fuel pump relay and the relay is working correctly. Go here to find guidance: Boatinfo - Volvo Penta WT series Engine Electrical and Ignition Service Manual

You'll need to make sure that your getting 12V while cranking and while the engine is running. If that all checks then do a pressure test on the fuel pump you should be getting 8 +/- 4 psi.

Last night when I was trouble shooting i switched relays with the trim since they are the same and still nothing. I also unhooked the connector on the pump that has a yellow wire and black wire to it. I tested the yellow wire while cranking and it was showing volts. This is an electric fuel pump I suspect after searching the boards correct? So it should prime in the run position?

 

[Don S]

Re: Vovlo 4.3l PBYC Cranks but wont Start

This is an electric fuel pump I suspect after searching the boards correct? So it should prime in the run position?

No, carbed engine pumps do not prime when the key is in the run position. Did you try putting some fuel in the carb to see if the engine will actually run?

I am assuming this is a carbed engine, you seem to have missed the first part of the model number. Is it a 4.3GL or 4.3Gi

 

[cozilla]

Re: Vovlo 4.3l PBYC Cranks but wont Start

No, carbed engine pumps do not prime when the key is in the run position. Did you try putting some fuel in the carb to see if the engine will actually run?

I am assuming this is a carbed engine, you seem to have missed the first part of the model number. Is it a 4.3GL or 4.3Gi

Don,

you are correct it is a GL carbed engine. I have not tried gas in the carb yet. I will try this afternoon after work. When I put fuel in the carb do I just drop some in and try to start? Butterfly on the carb should be closed?

 

[Maclin]

Re: Vovlo 4.3l PBYC Cranks but wont Start

I would hold the choke plate open and move the throttle briskly and see if two full streams of fuel squirt into the carb bores. Do that a couple of times. If no fuel or not full time good streams you will know there is not much fuel in the carb.

Then, as suggested, pour some into the bores and then try, it should sputter and try to start but probably would die almost immediately.

The best way to see if it would start and run normally if the carb could get fuel is to get a good amount into the carb fuel bowl itself. That used to be fairly easy with automotive carbs with a small small funnel and pouring into the fuel bowl vent tube, but on marine carb the vents usually have a J shape and vent down into the carb bores.

BTW, you do pump the throttle a couple of times just before starting, right? Standard carbed starting procedure

 

[cozilla]

Re: Vovlo 4.3l PBYC Cranks but wont Start

I would hold the choke plate open and move the throttle briskly and see if two full streams of fuel squirt into the carb bores. Do that a couple of times. If no fuel or not full time good streams you will know there is not much fuel in the carb.

Then, as suggested, pour some into the bores and then try, it should sputter and try to start but probably would die almost immediately.

The best way to see if it would start and run normally if the carb could get fuel is to get a good amount into the carb fuel bowl itself. That used to be fairly easy with automotive carbs with a small small funnel and pouring into the fuel bowl vent tube, but on marine carb the vents usually have a J shape and vent down into the carb bores.

BTW, you do pump the throttle a couple of times just before starting, right? Standard carbed starting procedure

We always pump the throttle a couple times before starting. I checked that last night as well to see if fuel was spraying but didn't look to me like anything was being sprayed. Usually you can hear it being sprayed in as well but I didn't see or hear it.

 

[Don S]

Re: Vovlo 4.3l PBYC Cranks but wont Start

If the pump isn't working, and the carb is empty, you can pump the throttle all day and get no gas.

That is why I say pour some gas in it. Just to make sure fuel is the issue or not.
Just open the choke plate and pour a shotglass or two of gas in and hit the starter and see if it runs. Or maybe it keeps running. So put the muffs on when you try.
It's just a method of quickly troubleshooting something without going through a lot of explaining.

 

[cozilla]

Re: Vovlo 4.3l PBYC Cranks but wont Start

If the pump isn't working, and the carb is empty, you can pump the throttle all day and get no gas.

That is why I say pour some gas in it. Just to make sure fuel is the issue or not.
Just open the choke plate and pour a shotglass or two of gas in and hit the starter and see if it runs. Or maybe it keeps running. So put the muffs on when you try.
It's just a method of quickly troubleshooting something without going through a lot of explaining.

Sounds good Don. I will try that this afternoon and report back.

This would make sense since the boat started and ran, probably using up the fuel in the bowl, then shut down and would not restart.

 

[Maclin]

Re: Vovlo 4.3l PBYC Cranks but wont Start

Cozilla, I gave my suggestion because it did not require much, and is not too messy, your eyes and ears confirmed the carb is empty, now on to the messy part...

 

[cozilla]

Re: Vovlo 4.3l PBYC Cranks but wont Start

Cozilla, I gave my suggestion because it did not require much, and is not too messy, your eyes and ears confirmed the carb is empty, now on to the messy part...

Maclin,

Thanks for suggestion! You are correct about the messy part lol.

Colin

 

[Don S]

Re: Vovlo 4.3l PBYC Cranks but wont Start

Messy ?????? I never make a mess doing that.

 

[cozilla]

Re: Vovlo 4.3l PBYC Cranks but wont Start

Hey guys. The engine started when I poured gas in the carb. It tried to keep going but it sputtered out. I was able to restart it again and it did the same thing. So does this mean the pump is dead?

 

[Don S]

Re: Vovlo 4.3l PBYC Cranks but wont Start

Hey guys. The engine started when I poured gas in the carb. It tried to keep going but it sputtered out. I was able to restart it again and it did the same thing. So does this mean the pump is dead?

No, but it does mean it's not running. Now we get to find out why it's not running.


Remove the fuel pump relay.
With your meter, find a good clean ground for your black test lead, and with the red, check terminal 30 in the pic below.
You should show battery voltage, if you do, put the black test lead on terminal 86 with red still on 30. Should still show battery voltage.
If those are ok, make a short jumper wire with a 10A fuse in it, and male spade terminals on each end. Then jump between terminals 30 and 87. The pump should run. If not, check the fuse. If it blew,remove the electrical connector from the pump, replace your fuse and hook the jumper back up between 30 & 87. With your meter check to see if you have battery voltage across the pump connector terminals. If you do, your pump is bad.
If, when you jumpered from 30 to 87 the pump did run, it's now time to check the other wiring and relay.
First, pull the coil wire from the distributor cap and ground the loose end so the engine will not start. With your meter, put the black test lead on the 86 terminal and the red on the 85 terminal and have someone crank the engine over. You should see voltage while the engine is cranking. If you do, you need a relay. If no voltage while cranking, the diode in the Yellow/red wire is open or the wiring is bad.

 

[cozilla]

Re: Vovlo 4.3l PBYC Cranks but wont Start

Disregard didnt have the batter switch on. Moving on..

 

[Don S]

Re: Vovlo 4.3l PBYC Cranks but wont Start

Disregard didnt have the batter switch on. Moving on..

If you didn't have the battery switch on, how did it start?

 

[cozilla]

Re: Vovlo 4.3l PBYC Cranks but wont Start

I turned it off then came in for a bit and responded then studied your reply then went back out there. It just down poured for a few minutes. Going to get out there in a little bit and continue the testing. I was able to do the first test to the 30 terminal and it showed battery voltage.

Is it imperative to have a 10 amp fuse in the jumper wire?

Thanks

 

[Don S]

Re: Vovlo 4.3l PBYC Cranks but wont Start

Is it imperative to have a 10 amp fuse in the jumper wire?

Not really, just a jumper wire between those two terminals will tell you if the pump runs or not. If you get big sparks and the pump doesn't run, then the pump would probably have blown the fuse.

 

[cozilla]

Re: Vovlo 4.3l PBYC Cranks but wont Start

Not really, just a jumper wire between those two terminals will tell you if the pump runs or not. If you get big sparks and the pump doesn't run, then the pump would probably have blown the fuse.

Don,
The pump ran when I jumped the terminals. I then put the relay back in and tried the start the engine. It fired right up.... Any ideas?