engine starts and then dies

[boatswaiyn]

We had our boat out all week at lake powell. It is a 02 VLX with HH engine. This problem only happened 3 times the entire week but was very frustrating. The engine would turn over and start easily and then immediately die. I tried starting 10-15 times before taking off the fuel filter and checking it and also the fuel pump screen to see if there were any clogs and everything looked good. Both had been replaced no more than a month ago. After a couple hours of letting it sit, it finally started and ran great. The next 2 times that it wouldn't start we turned off the switch to the batteries and let it sit for 15 minutes and then it would start. I was thinking that it had to be something electrical or a sensor of some sort. The strange part is that it runs fine after it starts. Anyone have any ideas? I don't want to take it into the dealer unless I absolutely have to. At $100+ an hour I could be into it $500 before they have even found the problem.

[XTI04]

We had our boat out all week at lake powell. It is a 02 VLX with HH engine. This problem only happened 3 times the entire week but was very frustrating. The engine would turn over and start easily and then immediately die. I tried starting 10-15 times before taking off the fuel filter and checking it and also the fuel pump screen to see if there were any clogs and everything looked good. Both had been replaced no more than a month ago. After a couple hours of letting it sit, it finally started and ran great. The next 2 times that it wouldn't start we turned off the switch to the batteries and let it sit for 15 minutes and then it would start. I was thinking that it had to be something electrical or a sensor of some sort. The strange part is that it runs fine after it starts. Anyone have any ideas? I don't want to take it into the dealer unless I absolutely have to. At $100+ an hour I could be into it $500 before they have even found the problem.

Do a search on here for vapor lock

[boatswaiyn]

Do a search on here for vapor lock

Is vapor lock when the fuel overheats? If that is the case then that probably isn't my problem. The first time it happened it was about 6:30 in the morning after sitting all night. Would vapor lock occur early in the morning when it is not hot?

[68Slalom]

Does it stumble or just cut off quickly before dying?

[boatswaiyn]

Does it stumble or just cut off quickly before dying?

It cuts off quickly. Even faster if you try and give it some gas.

[68Slalom]

Does it stumble or just cut off quickly before dying?

It cuts off quickly. Even faster if you try and give it some gas.

Have you checked your fuel pressure? I would start there if you know you filters are clean.

Edited August 3, 2009 by 68Slalom

[boatswaiyn]

Does it stumble or just cut off quickly before dying?

It cuts off quickly. Even faster if you try and give it some gas.

Have you checked your fuel pressure? I would start there if you know you filters are clean.

I haven't checked the fuel pressure, but it is a brand new fuel pump and it seems to be running fine once we get it going.

[XTI04]

Kill switch problem?

[boatswaiyn]

Kill switch problem?

Will the engine even turn over if the kill switch is popped out? Has anyone ever tried to start their boat after the saftey landyard has been pulled off? I assumed if it was a kill switch problem that it would act the same as if you try to start the engine when it is gear.

[Baddog]

Boat will turn over but not fire if the lanyard is pulled.

When it does start/restart is there copious whiteish smoke coming out of the exhaust? Does it seem like it has been flooded? If so, could be the engine water temperature sensor.

[boatswaiyn]

Boat will turn over but not fire if the lanyard is pulled.

When it does start/restart is there copious whiteish smoke coming out of the exhaust? Does it seem like it has been flooded? If so, could be the engine water temperature sensor.

I didn't notice the exhaust when I was trying to get it started, but I know that when I am in the water and the boats starts there is a little bit of whiteish smoke coming out. I thought this was normal. It didn't seem like it was flooded. I would turn the key and hear the fuel pump priming and then it would start up and die as if it was only getting the primed amount of fuel. If I tried to restart with out turning it off and back on again it would just turn over and not start. Is their some sort of sensor that tells the fuel pump when and how much fuel to pump (fuel regulator)?

[srock]

My vapor lock issues happened after sitting for a few hours never immediately. The engine does get hotter once turned off and I was storing enough heat to last up to 4 hours. Running the blower to remove heat or cracking the cover solved my problem. You never know.

[boatswaiyn]

Hopefully we can get the boat out this weekend and look into it a little further. I bought a fuel pressure tester, so I can see if I still have a fuel related problem.

[kajones502]

Was there ever any resolution to this issue? I am having the same problem with my 1999 Malibu Sunsetter LXI.

[Eagleboy99]

33 minutes ago, kajones502 said:

Was there ever any resolution to this issue? I am having the same problem with my 1999 Malibu Sunsetter LXI.

When my fuel pump was going out, this was one of the signs.

[Bozboat]

1 hour ago, kajones502 said:

Was there ever any resolution to this issue? I am having the same problem with my 1999 Malibu Sunsetter LXI.

Check the fuel pressure.

Prepare yourself for the idea that you need a new fuel pump. I get about 4 seasons out of them.

Edited May 30, 2019 by Bozboat

[Eagleboy99]

4 Years?   You running diesel in them??  But how many hours?  A fuel pump should be good for 10-15 years/1000 hrs - whichever comes first. Assuming filters changed, good gas etc.

[hawaiianstyln]

something else is causing the issues if you are having a fuel pump go out every 4 years.

[Bozboat]

13 hours ago, Eagleboy99 said:

4 Years?   You running diesel in them??  But how many hours?  A fuel pump should be good for 10-15 years/1000 hrs - whichever comes first. Assuming filters changed, good gas etc.

IDK,  I bought the boat with 495 hours on it, 8 or 9 years ago.

I have replaced the fuel pump twice.   I could blame the first failure on the prior owner, why not.  The second failure, maybe bad luck.

I change both filters every Spring.

I run 89 octane from name brand gas stations. 

I add stabil blue to each tank of gas.

I drain the gas when winterizing the boat.

Probably put no more than 30-50 hours per year on the boat

It is stored indoors.

[formulaben]

Have you added a secondary fuel pump?  When I was researching the vapor lock issue I found that many of the pumps were failing due to vapor lock; lot of people throwing new pumps at it and the secondary pump fixed the issue on a more permanent basis.  Compared to the price of the primary fuel pump, I think it's well worth looking into.  Mine was under $80, just had to swap out the nipples.

[Bozboat]

3 minutes ago, formulaben said:

Have you added a secondary fuel pump?  When I was researching the vapor lock issue I found that many of the pumps were failing due to vapor lock; lot of people throwing new pumps at it and the secondary pump fixed the issue on a more permanent basis.  Compared to the price of the primary fuel pump, I think it's well worth looking into.  Mine was under $80, just had to swap out the nipples.

that is something I should do, the boat is sensitive to vapor lock on hot days.  Did you just mount the secondary pump between the tank and the hi pressure pump and connect its power to ?

[formulaben]

Yes, initially that's exactly what I did, tapping into the same connector of the primary pump. Later I moved it up to the frame.

https://www.themalibucrew.com/index.php?/forums/topic/62970-diy-oil-and-fuel-filter-relocation-installation/

 

[Eagleboy99]

10 hours ago, Bozboat said:

IDK,  I bought the boat with 495 hours on it, 8 or 9 years ago.

I have replaced the fuel pump twice.   I could blame the first failure on the prior owner, why not.  The second failure, maybe bad luck.

I change both filters every Spring.

I run 89 octane from name brand gas stations. 

I add stabil blue to each tank of gas.

I drain the gas when winterizing the boat.

Probably put no more than 30-50 hours per year on the boat

It is stored indoors.

Your situation is sorta similar to mine - but I am at one pump on a 99.  Weird how some pumps go out. (But I always leave a full tank for the winter and use regular Stabil Red)

[DrDonzi]

Did you check for spark at the plugs and going into the distributor cap?