DoubleDown
Recruit
- Joined
- Jul 6, 2020
- Messages
- 1
Starting here to see if anyone has experienced this situation before... The engine on our boat is randomly turning off with no alarms, etc. It’s now happened three times and I’m hoping someone here may have an idea of what might be the issue when I describe these specifics. TIA, if you take the time to read this. Much appreciated!
Boat: Cobalt 2007 232 (242 hull and layout)
Engine: 8.1 VP (375hp) – 295 hours (Full service at 285hrs, including impeller and two new batteries)
Run the blower for 4min. Turn the key to start position. Get the two beeps letting me know the ECM is operating. Crank the engine and she starts right up. Idle in neutral for 4-5min and away we go. That’s our normal. Here is what’s happened the three times the engine turned off (without me turning it off)...
First time: Running at 3200 RPMs up to a cove and pull back throttle to come off plane. We continue into cove at idle speed for 100 yards or so and the engine cuts off. No alarms and all gauges were reading just fine. First thing I look at while pulling throttle into neutral... kill switch. Nope, it’s on and intact. Turn key to off position and try to start... no ECM beeps when I put key in start position. Engine will turnover just fine but will not start. Try this a few more times and I can smell gas fumes so I stop. Turn on blower and wait. Lift hatch checked everything I could check (all fine) and switched batteries with key in off position. Waited and tried again. Cranks but won’t start. Threw an anchor and waited 30min. while kiddos ate a sandwich. Turn key to start and “beep beep” the ECM engages and it starts right up!! Pull the anchor and headed back to house. Boat ran perfect all the home.
Went 5-6 times out with friends cruising, tubing, fast, slow. All good. All gauges, levels, drive, etc. All good. Figure first time it was fluke.
Second Time: At the fuel dock 3 weeks ago. Come in and tie off no problem. Fill the tank. Run the blower. Starts right up. Cast off and 10 yards off the dock… Engine cuts out and same scenario unfolds as before. Another Cobalt kindly towed me into and open area and I waited about 15min and tried to start it... Got the initial beeps and she started right up. Went back home. I’m thinking at this point maybe I’m bumping the kill switch but I was testing it in the slip and it was working how it should. It takes more than a bump to engage.
Go out 4-5 more times with no problems.
Third time (yesterday): Long run 15 miles down the lake with my kiddo and on way home we pull off plane for a bridge. Cruise at idle for about 100 yards and, you guessed it, she stopped again. Same scenario unfolds. Engine will turnover but will not start. No ECM beeps when I put ignition into start position. So, my neighbor towed us the two miles back to our dock. He says, hey let’s see if it will start. You guessed it, dang thing starts right up!! I pulled the kill switch and it stops, put switch back on and it beeps twice and lets me restart it.
So, I’ve been reading a lot. Trying to find some answers. Hoping this is something I can get figured out. It’s so random (to me) when it happens but thought maybe someone here had experienced the same and have some insight. Is it fuel related, is it a relay switch or ECM, is it the IAC or ??? Thank in advance for any thoughts before I start diving in over the next couple days. Hope y’all had a great 4th!!!
Boat: Cobalt 2007 232 (242 hull and layout)
Engine: 8.1 VP (375hp) – 295 hours (Full service at 285hrs, including impeller and two new batteries)
Run the blower for 4min. Turn the key to start position. Get the two beeps letting me know the ECM is operating. Crank the engine and she starts right up. Idle in neutral for 4-5min and away we go. That’s our normal. Here is what’s happened the three times the engine turned off (without me turning it off)...
First time: Running at 3200 RPMs up to a cove and pull back throttle to come off plane. We continue into cove at idle speed for 100 yards or so and the engine cuts off. No alarms and all gauges were reading just fine. First thing I look at while pulling throttle into neutral... kill switch. Nope, it’s on and intact. Turn key to off position and try to start... no ECM beeps when I put key in start position. Engine will turnover just fine but will not start. Try this a few more times and I can smell gas fumes so I stop. Turn on blower and wait. Lift hatch checked everything I could check (all fine) and switched batteries with key in off position. Waited and tried again. Cranks but won’t start. Threw an anchor and waited 30min. while kiddos ate a sandwich. Turn key to start and “beep beep” the ECM engages and it starts right up!! Pull the anchor and headed back to house. Boat ran perfect all the home.
Went 5-6 times out with friends cruising, tubing, fast, slow. All good. All gauges, levels, drive, etc. All good. Figure first time it was fluke.
Second Time: At the fuel dock 3 weeks ago. Come in and tie off no problem. Fill the tank. Run the blower. Starts right up. Cast off and 10 yards off the dock… Engine cuts out and same scenario unfolds as before. Another Cobalt kindly towed me into and open area and I waited about 15min and tried to start it... Got the initial beeps and she started right up. Went back home. I’m thinking at this point maybe I’m bumping the kill switch but I was testing it in the slip and it was working how it should. It takes more than a bump to engage.
Go out 4-5 more times with no problems.
Third time (yesterday): Long run 15 miles down the lake with my kiddo and on way home we pull off plane for a bridge. Cruise at idle for about 100 yards and, you guessed it, she stopped again. Same scenario unfolds. Engine will turnover but will not start. No ECM beeps when I put ignition into start position. So, my neighbor towed us the two miles back to our dock. He says, hey let’s see if it will start. You guessed it, dang thing starts right up!! I pulled the kill switch and it stops, put switch back on and it beeps twice and lets me restart it.
So, I’ve been reading a lot. Trying to find some answers. Hoping this is something I can get figured out. It’s so random (to me) when it happens but thought maybe someone here had experienced the same and have some insight. Is it fuel related, is it a relay switch or ECM, is it the IAC or ??? Thank in advance for any thoughts before I start diving in over the next couple days. Hope y’all had a great 4th!!!