New to MalibuCrew Just bought 2001 Response LX

[seldomright]

Hi All!

Purchased a 2001 Malibu Response LX with 357 hours Sunday. Took it out yesterday for the first time after the initial test drive with the previous owner. Here is what I found:

Neutral Safety Switch is not working. I can start the engine in gear. This will be the first thing fixed.

Oil gauge seem to bounce between 40 psi and 60 psi at low to medium rpm's.

Transmission in reverse is a little noiser (whines) than my previous boat (1990 Malibu Sunsetter)

Other than that everything seemed ok. It has the Monsoon 5.7 325 horse motor. The computer, fuel pump and starter had been replaced bu the previous owner and he gave me the old parts. Topped out at 50 mph with two people in the boat. Is there anything I should be on the lookout for?

Thanks for your help.

Seldomright

[WoodyBC]

Congrats on the new boat. From what i have found out through the crew, the oil gauge issue and trans whining in reverse is common for this era boat. My 01 SSLXI does exactly the same thing. Im unsure about your neutral safety switch. Id get that checked. Again congrats!

[racer808]

The oil gauge just needs a new sender unit, $20 part, threads in, very easy fix. My reverse is whiny but everyone says it is normal. 50mph seems fast for these boats? If you are planning on surfing or carrying lots of weight you are going to need a different prop

[happypappy]

The oil gauge just needs a new sender unit, $20 part, threads in, very easy fix. My reverse is whiny but everyone says it is normal. 50mph seems fast for these boats? If you are planning on surfing or carrying lots of weight you are going to need a different prop

The LX is a tad smaller than the LXI, narrower by about 4-6 inches, and lighter. If running well and a non dinged up prop, 50+ is to be expected. The LX has a great ski wake and are like a sports car on the water. A great all around boat.

Not sure if the wedge was avail then, but if you have a manual wedge you have a boat that can do almost everything you'll ever want out on the water.

Just as Racer said, replace the sending unit. That would be the first place to start. Good oil pressure though even with a shakey sending unit. Use teflon tape when installing the new sending unit.

Edited September 12, 2013 by happypappy

[LUV2SKI]

I thought you don't use teflon tape on the sending unit because you won't get a proper ground with teflon...

[seldomright]

Thanks everyone! I think I failed to mention that the oil sending unit has been changed recently. I read on another thread that if you use too much teflon tape you do not get good contact with the block and that can cause jumpy readings on the oil pressure. I will look at these things. Could the previous owner somehow have bypassed the neutral safety switch? I will uncover the boat this weekend and take a closer look now that I know where the neutral safety switch is located.

[BlastRlxi]

You'll have to pull the ECM on the rear of the engine to get to the neutral safety switch. My guess is that it failed and the PO just jumped it out.