5.0 mpi no start

M

Madifonzo

New Member
Sep 30, 2013
716
Boston, Ma
Boat Info
2005 280
Zodiac Zoom 310 9.9 Honda
Engines
Twin 5.0 MPI with Bravo III Drives
Let boat sit for 3 weeks. Went today to head out. Port engine fires and runs with no issue but starboard engine only cranks and does not fire.

facts of the situations:
full tune up completed this spring
i have not run stabilizer since the winter as I use the boat weekly.
i have changed IAC filters and installed new IAC to rule that out as the issue.
Attmpeted to use starter fluid. Engine starts for a moment but then peters out. I assuming no fuel at this point.

any threads or input appreciated.
 
Follow the fuel line towards the tank and you should come across a small, goldish colored, cylindrical, electrical device with a small, knurled-grip stem. Make sure the slot is positioned the same as Port.

Pull fuel filter and see if container is full (should at least be close to full).

I sometimes lose track of the finer points between boats. Does your 280 have a kill switch? I should know this, but I'm not sure if it kills spark, fuel or both.
 
Last edited:
Check your fuel pressure at the rail. The CF3 doesn't even come close to being full, half maybe.
 
No kill switch. I have cool fuel 3. Is there a way to check it?
 
Madifonzo said:
No kill switch. I have cool fuel 3. Is there a way to check it?
Click to expand...

Remove (loosen but do not remove completely) the little bolts on top (10mm or 12mm, if memory serves) and use the handle to pull the assembly up. CF3 might be pretty close to full if the engine was recently run (or at least the fuel pump was). Can you hear the fuel pump running when you turn the key to "on" (not "start")? Compare to the port engine. Checking fuel pressure requires a fuel pressure gauge - I'm assuming you don't have one otherwise you wouldn't be asking about this? How comfortable are you working around fuel under pressure?
 
Last edited:
I have replaced the fuel filters during winter layup. Based on the direction I am thinking a mechanic should be called. I am not comfortable working around pressurized fuel. Hopefully this is something simple. While the mechanic is at the boat I am going to ask them to go through the engine vitals such as compression, leak down etc, to get a baseline. Engines are 9 years old now.
 
You, me, whoever... skill or ability aside, at some point our time is worth something. There's times that I don't do stuff myself, either. Sometimes I just don't have the time to do things. This isn't necessarily a 'hard' thing to do, but by the time you buy the tool, do enough research to feel comfortable attempting the work, second guessing yourself when you're down in the bilge... You'd have been better off giving your mechanic some bread for his table. Plus, what if you go through all that and still don't know what's going on? You're back to getting the mechanic involved anyways and he'll need to redo what you've already done, as well. At that point, you've bought a tool that you won't need, spent countless hours on the internet researching, plus your time at the boat - all for not. I'm all for DIY, but I'm also for knowing limits. Good luck - I hope it's something simple!
 
Autozone will lend out the tool for free. There is nothing in the CF3 that is under pressure. A fuel pressure check can eliminate things from your list an would be a very good starting point
 
Lazy Daze said:
Follow the fuel line towards the tank and you should come across a small, goldish colored, cylindrical, electrical device with a small, knurled-grip stem. Make sure the slot is positioned the same as Port.

Pull fuel filter and see if container is full (should at least be close to full).

I sometimes lose track of the finer points between boats. Does your 280 have a kill switch? I should know this, but I'm not sure if it kills spark, fuel or both.
Click to expand...
To add to this you could make sure this fuel shut off hasn't malfunctioned interrupting the fuel flow. Just turn the knurled knob so the inscribed arrow is pointing to bypass.
 
Yea there is a kill switch yours just doesn't have a lanyard on it.

Some have it right in front of the throttle handle.

So say it's in run position, pull a plug wire off, insert a spare plug hold it to the block and crank the engine see a spark ?

Yes you have spark, then it"s fuel that you ain't getting.

Post back what you find.
 
Do you hear the fuel pump running when you first turn on the ignition? If no. unplug the fuel wiring harness and confirm you have voltage going to the pump. DO NOT force the feeler guage into the female connector. Just check to see if you have power. If you do not, change the relay up on the top of the engine and check it again. I have been dealing with a similar issue for the past 2 years where my port engine wouldnt start and I show power at the pump, but the pump wouldnt start. I finally figured out the that female plug had been stretched open my the marina that I took it to when it first happened. Replaced the plug with this and I am working again. BTW if you need to replace the plug there are a few special tools you need. A crimping tool and a pin removal tool.


http://www.bmotorsports.com/shop/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=walbro+450+delphi
.
 
Funny you should ask that:

heres the update: while away I asked my marina to quote me on installing new impellers. They said they had to look around the engine bay to see how much room there was and based the quote off that. Well, they disconnected the fuel pump connection. After checking just about everything I could I noticed the pump was not priming. Started to feel around and sure enough the connection was broken. Reconnected and engine fired right up.

side note: every other place I called quoted under 4 hours to do the impellers on both engines. My home marina claims 8. Needless to say I am all set with giving them busieness. They have screwed up too many times, left me hanging and now causing other issues. Missed a whole day of boating yesterday for some thing so stupid.


thanks to all for the advise...while reading and testing I did learn a lot about my boat!!
 
Madifonzo said:
Funny you should ask that:

heres the update: while away I asked my marina to quote me on installing new impellers. They said they had to look around the engine bay to see how much room there was and based the quote off that. Well, they disconnected the fuel pump connection. After checking just about everything I could I noticed the pump was not priming. Started to feel around and sure enough the connection was broken. Reconnected and engine fired right up.

side note: every other place I called quoted under 4 hours to do the impellers on both engines. My home marina claims 8. Needless to say I am all set with giving them busieness. They have screwed up too many times, left me hanging and now causing other issues. Missed a whole day of boating yesterday for some thing so stupid.


thanks to all for the advise...while reading and testing I did learn a lot about my boat!!
Click to expand...

Good to hear it was something simple! Although it shouldn't have been an issue to start with. We all make mistakes - but it's how we deal with them that sets us apart. I just had my old 528 in to the shop for some paint work and while there had new taillights put in. Got the call that everything was done and I could pick it up. Picked it up after hours and when I turned the key on I immediately noticed the idiot lights for the two rear taillights were glowing bright red at me. Went out back to look at the lights and sure enough they weren't on - only the third brake light worked. Looked a little closer and it turns out there were no bulbs in the sockets! Unbelievable.
 
Lazy Daze said:
You, me, whoever... skill or ability aside, at some point our time is worth something. There's times that I don't do stuff myself, either. Sometimes I just don't have the time to do things. This isn't necessarily a 'hard' thing to do, but by the time you buy the tool, do enough research to feel comfortable attempting the work, second guessing yourself when you're down in the bilge... You'd have been better off giving your mechanic some bread for his table. Plus, what if you go through all that and still don't know what's going on? You're back to getting the mechanic involved anyways and he'll need to redo what you've already done, as well. At that point, you've bought a tool that you won't need, spent countless hours on the internet researching, plus your time at the boat - all for not. I'm all for DIY, but I'm also for knowing limits. Good luck - I hope it's something simple!
Click to expand...

Excellent point. I cost myself a whole season because I thought I could do it myself and get it done in a timely manner.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
113,251
Messages
1,429,300
Members
61,128
Latest member
greenworld
Back
Top