Bought a used boat and it won't start!

[JJReynolds]

Ok so I just bought a used 2000 Four Winns with Volvo 5.0 v8 engine. The previous owner had it winterized in his barn for 6 years! We siphened the gas and added a full tank of new fuel with Sea Foam and changed the fuel filter. It started right up, but after a few seconds it stalled. We did this over and over until the battery died. It was like the gas was being cut off from the engine. And every time we turned the key the high oil pressure alarm would go off.

Today, we tried to start it but it wouldn't start at all. Again, the high oil pressure alarm would go as soon as we turned the key. Now we noticed that the engine gauge reads hot as soon as we turn the key, and it appears as though the computer is resetting itself as the clock resets shortly after we turnover the engine. We aren't sure if this happened yesterday because it was kind of dark.

Please help before my husband has a nervous breakdown!

 

[madurodave]

Re: Bought a used boat and it won't start!

that alarm you are hearing, is due to low oil pressure not high. Also note, the alarm will sound until the boat is started. This alarm indicates three things, low oil pressure, high water temp and low gear lube for the outdrive.

Others will chime in to help you out as I am a novice myself. Surely you didn't buy a 10 year old boat that you didn't test on the water or have a mechanic look at first.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Bought a used boat and it won't start!

Please help before my husband has a nervous breakdown!

Sounds like me

My initial "guess" would be that the fuel system has been seriously clogged. 6 year old fuel was in the EFI system down stream from the filter. When the "new" fuel reached the system it could have broken loose some varnish.


After ensuring the ignition system hasn't coincidentally failed, I would probably work on ensureing the fuel injection system is clear.


I cannot explain the "high" oil pressure alarm....(I don't think there is one) There's a LOW pressure alarm and that should activate any time he pressure is low. (like before you start the engine! It's a great way to test it!!)

My suggestions are fairly "general". The Volvo experts will be along in a min.....probably typing as I type!




Cheers,


Rick

 

[Don S]

Re: Bought a used boat and it won't start!

First off, lets get either a full model number or a serial number for the engine. Then I can see exactly what system you have and figure out what is wrong.

 

[JJReynolds]

Re: Bought a used boat and it won't start!

My husband just corrected me...it is a low pressure alarm...I'm learning

 

[JJReynolds]

Re: Bought a used boat and it won't start!

Volvo Penta 5.0L GI...is that enough info?

 

[Juniinc]

Re: Bought a used boat and it won't start!

loosen/remove the gas tank cap & start her up then see what happens,,,,

 

[Don S]

Re: Bought a used boat and it won't start!

Volvo Penta 5.0L GI...is that enough info?

Nope, need the full model number, should be a bunch of letters after the Gi.
The SN would be best (for me) if you have it. Should be a metal tag near the oil filter housing on the block if the decal is missing.

 

[JJReynolds]

Re: Bought a used boat and it won't start!

Ok here goes:
The serial number is 4012008740
The Type is 5.0 GI PEFS

Thanks for all your help. My husband is about to blow a gasket...and I'm not talking about on the boat

 

[Juniinc]

Re: Bought a used boat and it won't start!

My hunch says U got a clogged fuel tank vent,,,

 

[Don S]

Re: Bought a used boat and it won't start!

My hunch says U got a clogged fuel tank vent,,,

Fuel tank vents are't going to let it run for a few seconds then die, and start back up and do the same thing time after time.

You need to get some fuel pump pressure gauges for EFI engines. It sounds like the low pressure pump is not pumping enough fuel when running. The high pressure pump seems to be working because it starts, but doesn't have fuel supplied to it to keep running.

If you go to the link below, it has the OEM service manuals you can download for free.

http://www.4shared.com/dir/14518190/c08a758e/EFsharing.html

 

[TahoeQ4Pilot]

Re: Bought a used boat and it won't start!

I had the same problem on the ramp once, I also almost lost it trying to figure it out, too. Come to find out the "deadman" switch was tripped.

Check it if you havent, just in case. Good luck.

 

[gill]

Re: Bought a used boat and it won't start!

the alarm is probably a temp sensor stuck.

 

[tractoman]

Re: Bought a used boat and it won't start!

It sounds like fuel delivery to me too. Check the fuel pressure while cranking and while running if you can get it going. Also make sure you have a fully charged or new battery. It makes a difference with injection. Clock resetting while cranking sounds like a low battery. Don't worry about the alarm for now.

 

[JJReynolds]

Re: Bought a used boat and it won't start!

We were thinking the same thing about the battery. . . We don't think it was charged fully so it never recovered from trying to start it the night before. If we can get it to start again after we have a fully charged battery, we will have to take it from there.

Someone else suggested it could be the oil pressure switch? Does that sound like a possibility??

 

[tractoman]

Re: Bought a used boat and it won't start!

Oil pressure switch will make the alarm sound when there is no oil pressure. That seems to work. You don't have the kill switch off do you? It shouldn't start at all if the kill switch is set to off. That would keep it from running. It's probably on the control somewhere. It's worth a look.

 

[Philster]

Re: Bought a used boat and it won't start!

Okay, I see no process in place to eliminate variables.

First, you established that it can run. So, the electrical/ignition system has what it takes to fire the engine and burn fuel.

Then, you go off track and chase every possibility. However, we should be at step two: eliminate or confirm fuel-related variables.

Have you even pulled the fuel filter and replaced it? Now that junk fuel has hit it, it needs to go. Heck, you might destroy a number of them rapidly. You have got to get this engine fuel, because it aint' getting it. Even partial amounts of fuel would result in some sort of crappy, jerky running or almost running with stalling.

 

[JJReynolds]

Re: Bought a used boat and it won't start!

We replaced the fuel filter after we started it a few times. We ended up killing the battery the first day in the attempt to get it running. The second day we couldn't get it to start at all and also noticed that the clock would reset everytime we turned it over, so we took the battery to get charged. So we are hoping that was the cause for it not starting on the second day. If that's the case we will be back to the original problem of why the fuel isn't getting to the engine.

My husband looked at all the wiring and didn't see a problem. He check all the hoses and didn't see any sign of damage. I mentioned the oil pressure switch because of another thread of a person who had a similar situation as us and the oil pressure switch ended up being the problem.

I'll let everyone know how today gos.

Thanks for all the advice!

 

[JJReynolds]

Re: Bought a used boat and it won't start!

Ok so with a fully charged battery we are back to square one: the boat starts for about 1 second (and only with the use of starter fluid) and then it dies. He bypassed the oil pressure switch and no different. Pulling my hair out!

 

[tractoman]

Re: Bought a used boat and it won't start!

Don't use starting fluid. It is bad for you and the engine. Have you checked the kill switch? This is a process but you need to eliminate some potential problems. Is there spark? What do the plugs look like? What is the fuel pressure?