Need help with 1998 Volvo Penta 7.4 GI

Markrhoyt

Cadet
Joined
Sep 1, 2011
Messages
20
Need help please! I have been working on a friends 1998 7.4 GI and we are at the point of pulling each other's hair out. We have replaced every sender, sensor, and everything except the wiring harness and nothing helps. All new TPS, IAC motor, IAT, MAP, injectors, fuel pumps and lines, fuel pressure regulator, spark module, cap, rotor, plugs, plug wires. We even swapped the ECM from my engine and it made no difference. Compression checked out good. Base timing is correct.
It won't start without giving it lots of throttle (like happens when you over pump a carb and flood it).
Once you get it to start, you have to keep it around 2000 rpm for a minute or so just to get it to idle without dying, then when you try to open the throttle it starts to die unless you're really quick to catch it and occasionally pops through the intake. The IAC motor seems to be overdoing it too.
I have never been stumped on one of these GM MPI engines before, but I guess there's a first time for everything. Any ideas?
 

Scott Danforth

Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats
Staff member
Joined
Jul 23, 2011
Messages
50,417
Instead of throwing parts at it, why not check the basics?

What is your fuel pressure? Did you check the contents of the fuel filter?

You may simply have crappy fuel

The pop thru the intake is a lean sneeze.
 

Markrhoyt

Cadet
Joined
Sep 1, 2011
Messages
20
Yes we've checked all that and all is good. Filter was clean and water free. Put new one on. Fuel pressure is a little higher than spec but within range. Those were the first things we checked. I've been a marine mechanic for almost 30 years, I know what to check first. But this one has me stumped. No fault codes, all sensors are within operating parameters. About the only thing we haven't done is change the distributor. Also he said it started giving him trouble last season and has progressively gotten worse to the point that it only runs good at high rpms( after it gets on plane) cruising. And the fuel tank was drained, cleaned and filled with fresh fuel 2 weeks ago.
 

Kylebro65

Recruit
Joined
Jul 11, 2021
Messages
1
Yes we've checked all that and all is good. Filter was clean and water free. Put new one on. Fuel pressure is a little higher than spec but within range. Those were the first things we checked. I've been a marine mechanic for almost 30 years, I know what to check first. But this one has me stumped. No fault codes, all sensors are within operating parameters. About the only thing we haven't done is change the distributor. Also he said it started giving him trouble last season and has progressively gotten worse to the point that it only runs good at high rpms( after it gets on plane) cruising. And the fuel tank was drained, cleaned and filled with fresh fuel 2 weeks ago.
Hello,

did you ever figure out the issue? We are having the same exact problem you had and are currently trying to solve it. Any advice would help!
 
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