Restart problems

[grady0156]

Ok I need help quick! I have a 325 monsoon that starts right up when getting in the lake. After running( it doesn't matter how long) I stop to switch boarders or to swim boat will not restart. I get the rrr.rrr. nothing. I wait a little bit try again to same then finally starts. Both batteries have been checked, charged and are good, they read 13.2-13.5 volt when running. Is this a alternator problem, starter problem or vapor lock? When running idle is smooth. I turn off all accessories when restarting to no avail

[Sippi]

What are your batteries reading when boat is not running? Also you mentioned "batteries" do u have a perko switch or something? If so have you tried running one battery then when you try to restart switching to the other? You may be doing this I don't know. If your running both all the time try that first. I thought you could only get vapor lock on carb engines not EFI could be wrong. I wouldn't think it'd be the alternator since they read in the 13s after u finally get it started, I'd say your starter. Mine went out a few years ago. Worth it to replace and with your symptoms that's exactly what mine did, until one day it just wouldn't start. Somebody on here might be able to tell you how to check it, or if you have a place around you that works on boats or something you can pull it out real quick and take it in and swap it for a new one(or rebuilt one). Good luck man

[Baddog]

By rr . . .rrr do you mean the starter is turning but the engine won't start? Sounds like another case of vapor lock. There are 3 or 4 threads going right now on the same subject. Concensus seems to be that the crappy gasahol they are making us buy is the culprit.

[grady0156]

By rr . . .rrr do you mean the starter is turning but the engine won't start? Sounds like another case of vapor lock. There are 3 or 4 threads going right now on the same subject. Concensus seems to be that the crappy gasahol they are making us buy is the culprit.

I found out that EFI do not vapor lock, possible starter

[Ndawg12]

By rr . . .rrr do you mean the starter is turning but the engine won't start? Sounds like another case of vapor lock. There are 3 or 4 threads going right now on the same subject. Concensus seems to be that the crappy gasahol they are making us buy is the culprit.

I found out that EFI do not vapor lock, possible starter

??? Where did you get that info???

[WakeGirl]

By rr . . .rrr do you mean the starter is turning but the engine won't start? Sounds like another case of vapor lock. There are 3 or 4 threads going right now on the same subject. Concensus seems to be that the crappy gasahol they are making us buy is the culprit.

It's not a coincidence that all of those threads turned up as the weather heated up either. Happens every summer, the weather gets warm & we see an inundation of threads on the subject. It does seem to be more common this year & last, & I really think that the blends are a contributing factor.

By rr . . .rrr do you mean the starter is turning but the engine won't start? Sounds like another case of vapor lock. There are 3 or 4 threads going right now on the same subject. Concensus seems to be that the crappy gasahol they are making us buy is the culprit.

I found out that EFI do not vapor lock, possible starter

An old wive's tale. Do a search, it happens to be very common.

[Baddog]

I'm hanging tough with my recommendation to insulate the fuel lines in the engine compartment. Cheap and effective.

[nuttyskier2002]

My boat does not have fuel injection and I've never experienced vapor lock on any of my vehicles that do. But I would think that when this does happen you could get the vapor to escape by cycling the ignition switch on and off and then releasing the pressure by using the schrader valve on the fuel rail (it's just like letting air out of a tire with the valve stim). Do this several times until you start to see liquid fuel coming out. Be very carefull though. Leave the engine compartment open and the blower going for several minutes after you get it started back up. Hope this helps! //Brian

[dalt1]

By rr . . .rrr do you mean the starter is turning but the engine won't start? Sounds like another case of vapor lock. There are 3 or 4 threads going right now on the same subject. Concensus seems to be that the crappy gasahol they are making us buy is the culprit.

I found out that EFI do not vapor lock, possible starter

Come ride with me in my EFI Monsoon, I can prove they will.

[dalt1]

Ice cold towel wrapped around fuel pump and it will restart in 5 minutes or less. Just open hatch to let out heat and it takes over 30 minutes to restart. That is how it works on mine anyway.

[Baddog]

Insulate the fuel lines. Gonna keep saying it until someone besides me does and says: "oh yeah that worked wonderfully."

[Chia]

Insulate the fuel lines. Gonna keep saying it until someone besides me does and says: "oh yeah that worked wonderfully."

I have another solution: Only use the boat when it is not so hot out.

[Baddog]

Insulate the fuel lines. Gonna keep saying it until someone besides me does and says: "oh yeah that worked wonderfully."

I have another solution: Only use the boat when it is not so hot out.

January?

[MalibuNation]

All good advice ... also if running WOT let it idle for a couple of minutes to let it cool down. I had it vapor lock 3 times for the first time last year and again yesterday ... someone accidently shut the motor off ... it was cloudy and in the 70s out and the water is cooler than normal.

Took my wet glove and ran it up and down the fuel line and it started in 5 minutes. Lift the hatch really helps too as stated earlier.

[dalt1]

Insulate the fuel lines. Gonna keep saying it until someone besides me does and says: "oh yeah that worked wonderfully."

I tried that and it did not work for mine. I think once the heat got through the insulation it was even longer to cool it off. Open hatch and cool pump off works every time. I have only locked it 1 time this year helped by remembering to open hatch to let out heat.

[nuttyskier2002]

With so many here stating that cooling the fuel pump gets them going,...... this leads me to believe that the fuel pump (or its location) may be part of the problem. FI cars have the fuel pump in the fuel tank where it stays cool. Just wondering if boat builders should re-think where they locate the pump on boats.

[Bill_AirJunky]

Insulate the fuel lines. Gonna keep saying it until someone besides me does and says: "oh yeah that worked wonderfully."

Yep, worked for me on my 94 MC 205 with the 350 TBI. Skidim.com had the kit for under $20. I know Denny didn't have the same results but for that price, it's worth a shot.

Maybe insulating or relocating the fuel pump to a cooler part of the boat would do the trick too. But cooling it by hand everytime you want to start the thing is a PITA.

[ucontrol]

Insulate the fuel lines. Gonna keep saying it until someone besides me does and says: "oh yeah that worked wonderfully."

Yep, worked for me on my 94 MC 205 with the 350 TBI. Skidim.com had the kit for under $20. I know Denny didn't have the same results but for that price, it's worth a shot.

Maybe insulating or relocating the fuel pump to a cooler part of the boat would do the trick too. But cooling it by hand everytime you want to start the thing is a PITA.

I was under the belief that the EFI engines did have the fuel pump in the tank. If the pump is not in the tank, then where is it located on an 04 Sportster with the efi Indomar engine? I have not had any issues yet, but it might be best for me to be prepared just in case.

[dalt1]

07 vlx moved pump in tank 06 and older mounted to engine block.

[nuttyskier2002]

07 vlx moved pump in tank 06 and older mounted to engine block.

Would be interesting to get some data on which models are more prone to vapor lock.

[srock]

Vapor lock on my Moonsoon EFI. Fuel heats in the lines.

[Mwho]

Having same issue with 06 XTI 340 but seems to get really bad with less then 1/2 tank of fuel.

[Dwho]

Ok I need help quick! I have a 325 monsoon that starts right up when getting in the lake. After running( it doesn't matter how long) I stop to switch boarders or to swim boat will not restart. I get the rrr.rrr. nothing. I wait a little bit try again to same then finally starts. Both batteries have been checked, charged and are good, they read 13.2-13.5 volt when running. Is this a alternator problem, starter problem or vapor lock? When running idle is smooth. I turn off all accessories when restarting to no avail

It is vapor lock......... It is the ethanol that there adding to gas these days, they keep adding a little more % each year & it is starting to cause problems. We have some EFI vehicles coming to the shop with some VL probs. Try to fill up with some fuel that does not have any ethanol & you'll see the difference.

[Dwho]

By rr . . .rrr do you mean the starter is turning but the engine won't start? Sounds like another case of vapor lock. There are 3 or 4 threads going right now on the same subject. Concensus seems to be that the crappy gasahol they are making us buy is the culprit.

I found out that EFI do not vapor lock, possible starter

??? Where did you get that info???

It is vapor lock......... It is the ethanol that there adding to gas these days, they keep adding a little more % each year & it is starting to cause problems. We have some EFI vehicles coming to the shop with some VL probs. Try to fill up with some fuel that does not have any ethanol & you'll see the difference.

[Bake's Marine]

Ok I need help quick! I have a 325 monsoon that starts right up when getting in the lake. After running( it doesn't matter how long) I stop to switch boarders or to swim boat will not restart. I get the rrr.rrr. nothing. I wait a little bit try again to same then finally starts. Both batteries have been checked, charged and are good, they read 13.2-13.5 volt when running. Is this a alternator problem, starter problem or vapor lock? When running idle is smooth. I turn off all accessories when restarting to no avail

Before i would assume it's vapor lock, which can happen on EFI but I wouldn't say that was it with out diagnosing the issue.

2 Things to check....

You need to find out what the voltage drop is between your batteries and starter. Figure out Reference voltage (at the battery) then take your meter and go back to the starter, when cranking find out what the voltage drop is. Check for loose connections at the battery, battery switch, alternator starter and main ground. You shouldn't be able to move any of these terminals by hand.

Vapor lock is easy to diagnose, if the symptom happens again. Turn your key on for ten seconds (with out cranking), turn off for ten seconds, repeat 4 or 5 times then try to crank. This will prime your fuel system and help get rid of the air in your fuel rail system. The other way is to depress the shrader valve on your fuel rail, if a bunch of air comes out. You know you have a vapor lock issue. Prime the system and you should be good to go.

Hope you get it squared away.

-Paul