4.3GL-E, ran fine, stalled, now won't run at all

[knelson]

My boat is a 2005 Reinell 186 FNS with 70 hours on it - engine is a Volvo Penta 4.3GL-E.

I had the boat out with my family on Friday - it ran well for a couple of hours. At the end of the day, it began to stall. RPMs would drop slightly, occasionally stalling the boat altogether. Starting was difficult, but I was able to limp it back in while the engine continued to stall.

Once home, there wasn't much fuel left - I siphoned it out, then refilled it would new and swapped out the fuel filter.

The boat wouldn't start at first. I checked the fuel pump - it seems to be working. I am getting fuel up to the pump. A ran the pump to make sure and was able to get the boat to run for about 5 minutes. Shut if off at that point and it would no longer restart.

From some of the other forums, I checked the fuel relay - it seems to be good. I also shorted the pump at the relay and it pumps without difficulty. I've disconnected the fuel line at the carb and fuel is present there as well. I verified the accelerator pump was working as well, which it is.

Up to this point, the boat would diesel when stopping on occasion. I am not sure this will help or not, but I thought I should add it.

I'm not sure where to go from here and am hoping for some professional advice.

For what it's worth, the boat has been used only twice last year and the year before (new son). The boat and fuel was winterized properly, but it has been sitting. The part that is throwing me off is it started up right away (after replacing a starter). I ran it at home a couple times, then in the river until it started to give out on me.

Thank you!

 

[Don S]

Re: 4.3GL-E, ran fine, stalled, now won't run at all

The dieseling isn't going to help, it can suck water back in through the exhaust and wet out the plugs so it won't fire.
Might want to check the idle rpm on your engine when running. High idle is a big problem causing dieseling on the 3.0 and 4.3L engines.

Did you check the old filter for water and dirt? If it made it's way into the carb, then it's could be only pumping water out of the accelerator pump.

Might also want to pull the pump and see if the inlet screen in the pump is plugged up.

 

[knelson]

Re: 4.3GL-E, ran fine, stalled, now won't run at all

Thank you Don. I did check the filter and no water was present.

The part that is frustrating is it worked fine, then quit, even with the new fuel. I will pull the pump and check it per your recommendation. Once I am done, I will post back (later today).

Thank you!

 

[knelson]

Re: 4.3GL-E, ran fine, stalled, now won't run at all

I have a bit of an update, at least on the fuel aspect.

Inlet screen not plugged - not plugged at the carb either. Cleared the fuel lines and disconnected the fuel line at the carb. Tried to start the boat after connecting the outlet of the pump (at the carb) to a bottle. Fuel makes it all the way to the carb without any trouble.

Not sure where to go from here...any thoughts?