Mercruiser 350 poor performance

Mazdarx

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Okay so the boat is a 2002 Calabria Pro V with a fuel injected mercruiser 383 in it. Present issue is very poor performance. From a stand still I can't get full throttle on it. It seems to perform better if I roll into the throttle slow and only up to maybe 3/4 throttle. It still hits a wall at about 2800 rpm and usually won't rev past there especially with a few people on board. It feels like there's one spot in the throttle travel where it actually works and if can get it right without too much weight on board it will rev out past that point. But not consistently. And it still will only hit about 4200 rpm wide open. So a little background on what I have done to the boat. The motor was fully rebuilt and has about 13 hours on it now, has been this way the whole time. Prior to the motor build everything was working but the motor had huge blow by and oil leaking from everywhere it shouldn't. New parts at the time of the swap was the knock sensor and oil pressure switch. Parts with only a handful of hours before the swap is ignition coil, plugs wires cap and rotor, thermostat, fuel filter, water pump kit. I can't figure out what is causing my issue given it actually performed better with the old worn out motor than it does now.
 

Mazdarx

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Jul 21, 2008
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I never had it unfortunately. I can say that it has what I believe is the thunderbolt 5 ignition and the MEFI 3 or 4 fuel injection if that helps.
 

alldodge

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Being a 2002 it could have 30 psi (2001 motor in 2002 boat) or 43 psi system. If you can get the part number off the ECM, this would help. It can be a MEFI 1 or 3 and the good thing is a MEFI can be reprogrammed easy.

Do you know if fuel pressure is staying up from idle thru WOT?
What do the plugs look like?
My thought is it might be running lean
 

Mazdarx

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I seem to recall seeing about 25 psi on the rail with the key switched on but engine off. I never thought to look while I was under way but next time out I will check it. A previous owner has installed a fuel pressure gauge on the rail somewhere along the way. Next time out I will have someone else drive while I watch the gauge and see if it does go up. I will get the part number from the ECM tonight when I get home. Can also take a picture of a spark plug as I wouldn't be able to tell if it's lean from those. Or I don't know how to tell I mean.
 

alldodge

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Plugs should look a cream or light brown color. If their more white then its running lean
 

Mazdarx

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Okay I will update when I have a look at one. If it helps it will rev up in neutral easily enough. Also not sure if this matters or not. There had been a small rubber vent line coming out of the bottom of the throttle body that didn't seem to go to anything, when I put the motor back in it seemed to line up with one that was coming from the cool fuel unit so I connected it to that.
 

alldodge

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The vacuum line goes from the intake and Throttle body and is Tee'd into the fuel pressure regulator. The pressure should be 30 psi when key is turned ON and not running and while running. When the vacuum line is removed from the regulator while running the pressure should increase 2 to 3 psi
 

Mazdarx

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It doesn't have a tee fitting it just went straight to the fuel unit. It was never connected the entire time I had it, so is that 2 to 3 psi enough to cause issues?
 

alldodge

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It doesn't have a tee fitting it just went straight to the fuel unit. It was never connected the entire time I had it, so is that 2 to 3 psi enough to cause issues?
Would have a better idea once we figure out which motor you have. If your running 25 now, then your to low. The 2 to 3 helps when the motor gets closer to WOT. The vacuum in the intake lowers so this is when it needs more fuel
 

Mazdarx

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Hmm okay. It's one of the only things I can think of that's actually different from before the swap. It'll be a few hours before I am able to update with what ecm it has.
 

Bondo

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Parts with only a handful of hours before the swap is ignition coil, plugs wires cap and rotor, thermostat, fuel filter, water pump kit

Ayuh,...... You reused the fuel filter,..??..?? :rolleyes:
 

Mazdarx

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Given it had only been on the boat a couple of weeks and maybe an hour run time, I did reuse the fuel filter yes.
 

Scott Danforth

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your low on fuel pressure for both a 2-bar and 3-bar system

never re-use a fuel filter (its like putting on a used diaper)

re-check your fuel pressure under load at WOT
 

Mazdarx

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Okay so here is the computer that's in the boat.
 

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Mazdarx

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Fuel pressure this was key on engine off, with the vacuum line still connected. It would spike higher when I first hit the key then settle back to this point.
 

alldodge

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Its hot riding a tractor

You have a MEFI-3 but not positive its 30 or 43. The Reg spiking is ok so long as it doesn't go above 30 for a 30 or 43 for a 43. With the motor running it should be steady at spec. Merc used 16236009 first and then 16236999 later, just not sure when they changed. Back where we were.

The fuel pressure regulator part numbers and color script. Look for the Blue or Pink mark on the Reg
861126A1 Cool Fuel Gen 2 (43 psi) BLUE Mallory 9-33206, Merc 892681
807952A1 Mallory 9-33205 (30 psi) PINK
 
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