Need Help!

[cablackburn]

I have a Volvo Penta 4.3 GL I took it out Memorial Day weekend and it ran great for the first 3 days. On the last day it had been running fine and then I shut it off and it wouldn't start again. It cranks but won't start. If you prime it a little it acts like it wants to start but then dies immediately. I have changed the fuel filter but that didn't help at all. I am trying to avoid having to take it to the shop, I am hoping it is something simple that I can fix myself. Any ideas????

 

[Bondo]

Re: Need Help!

Ayuh,... Ya got somemore #s, or letters for that Volvo,..??
Is it Carbed,..?? 2bbl. or 4bbl.,..??

You have to Check to see if Fuel,+ Fire are present....

 

[Don S]

Re: Need Help!

Have you check the fuel pump relay? or fuses/circuit breakers?

 

[cablackburn]

Re: Need Help!

I have checked th fuses, but not the relay yet, that is my next task this weekend, and it that doesn't work I guess I will replace the fuel pump and see if that works. I know that after I replaced the fuel filter I tried to start it a couple of times and then took the filter back off and there was no gas present in it, not sure if there should be until after it actually starts or not. Is the relay pretty easy to change?

 

[Cptkid570]

Re: Need Help!

Can you spray some starting fluid into the carb and see if it starts? If it starts on starting fluid, then you know it's not a spark problem. If it doesn't start of starting fluid, then you may have a spark problem.

(note: Yes, I know you aren't supposed to use starting fluid, but in this case, to use it to help diagnose may not be bad).

 

[madurodave]

Re: Need Help!

pop the distributor cap and make sure rotor not corroded. same symptoms happened to a friend last week and that was the prob.

 

[Don S]

Re: Need Help!

(note: Yes, I know you aren't supposed to use starting fluid, but in this case, to use it to help diagnose may not be bad).

You shouldn't use it for testing either.
A couple tablespoons full of gas poured directly onto the throttle plates will do the same thing and is a lot safer for the engine.

 

[Cptkid570]

Re: Need Help!

You shouldn't use it for testing either.
A couple tablespoons full of gas poured directly onto the throttle plates will do the same thing and is a lot safer for the engine.

Good point. I'm just thinking that there are ways to test and see if it's a fuel or spark problem without having to keep disconnecting the fuel line... But, if the fuel line is disconnected, can he put it over a jar or bucket and crank the engine and see if gas comes out?

 

[Don S]

Re: Need Help!

Here is how you can test to find out what's wrong.
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.

 

[cablackburn]

Re: Need Help!

Ok, so I changed the fuel pump relay, and that didn't help, I also poured a little bit of gasoline into the carborator but it still wouldn't start. It asks like it wants to start, and if you give it full throtle it will briefly start but dies immediately. Any other ideas, or should I just try changing the fuel pump?

 

[myx17]

Re: Need Help!

Ok so stupid question, did you check your spark plugs to make sure they are good and not fouled out or burned out ?

 

[Don S]

Re: Need Help!

Ok, so I changed the fuel pump relay, and that didn't help,

Did you do any of the tests I outlined? Obviously not, or you would know what to ask.

 

[rkilpa]

Re: Need Help!

I know that after I replaced the fuel filter I tried to start it a couple of times and then took the filter back off and there was no gas present in it, not sure if there should be until after it actually starts or not.

Have you added gas to the inside of the fuel filter yet? My 4.3GL won't start if the filter is empty (when changed it doesn't prime itself)

 

[cablackburn]

Re: Need Help!

No Don, I hadn't done any of the tests you suggested, I hadn't read your post until after I changed the relay. I will give them a try today.

 

[flyhigh123]

Hi don, would you happen to know where the diode or fuse would be on a 7.3gl engine? Also any idea how it would look?

Hard to follow my wires as they are all tightly bundled in tape.

Also is the diagram you posted above the same for a 7.4gl?

 

[jbcurt00]

Flying,
Please take note of the tip at the top of the forum page, and avoide posting into inactive topics. This is well after the 90day inactive status.

FYI: Sadly Don has left us, he and his advice and posts are greatly missed. He sails the endless sea w fair weather and the wind at his back.

Closed