8.1 Horizon will not run for more than a min!!

Feet From Satisfied

Feet From Satisfied

New Member
Jun 5, 2008
29
Sayville NY
Boat Info
2001 Sun Dancer 380
180 triumph
Engines
8.1 Horizon
2001 Dancer 8.1 Horizon starboard motor..One morning last week idled out of the river, went on to plane boom engine shuts off like a switch! Drop anchor, change fuel filter (no FOD or water) cranks all day but wont re start. Called marina, put lap top on it every code you can get.. they clear codes and try to restart NG:smt021swap from port motor ECU, oil press sender, all 3 relays nothing. Next day go to boat hit key, starts for about a min, stalls wont start again! They swap IAC, NG Next day put lap top on again before we start, everything check out OK says nothings wrong:huh: Start engine, runs for a min, stalls. Change lift pump from port, no start. Replace high pressures cool fuel pump, starts for a min, stalls NG. Next day starts, runs, stalls they check for spark, no spark! Push ignition switch get all relays and fuel pump, lap top says coil packs are all good to go.. No spark, marina want to change the engine harness next with no guarantee that thats the problem $1000.00 plus labor :smt089 ANY one have any ideas??
 
Today we check the alt and its good too.. Cleaned all the grounds and now it will run but has real bad miss fire...No sure where else to go with it..
 
The engine is suppose to have an inline fuel filter before the fuel pump. The screens would get clogged with debris and cause the engine to die out. Please check.

Also - need to get a volt meter and check each connection starting from the battery, solenoid, slave solenoid, starter etc. Be nice to hook up the DDT and record the vitals of the engine when it happens. Also check the can line plug to make sure all the connections are good.

Need to spend time on something like this. Good luck.
 
I went crazy looking for an in line filter.. I followed the gas line from the tank it goes into the fuel shut off selenoid, then goes right to the canister fuel filter... This is a 38 Dancer maybe there is none? Does somebody know for sure? We also used a temporary harness to start the engine with out it being connected to the rest on the boat. The missfire sounds like a dead cylinder, put a spark check on each plug and all are firing.. Changes all the plugs ..still have the mis...Maybe an injector took a crap on me.. Going to get the marina to put a lap top back on it Monday:smt021
 
Sometimes it helps to step back from a perplexing engine problem and look at the basics...fuel, fire and compression...especially since you are not throwing wild codes. Sounds like fuel, but rather than wondering about filters and fuel pumps...check the pressure at the manifold on an EFI engine. If fuel pressure is good at the manifold, move to a quick compression check on all cylinders. When you pull the original plugs...look at them...is there a difference? If you have fuel and compression, you have a fire problem. Since its sounding like one cylinder...an ohm meter will check resistance on the plug wires...if one is wildly out...that could be your baby. It sounds like a lot of work, but with an injector pressure gauge, compression set and DVOM, in a couple hours you can have all the basics rock solid...

Guarantee I would be putting that level of inquiry in before screwing with $1000 wiring harnesses that no one is sure will solve the problem.
 
That sounds good.. I took the day away from it and we are supose to have the computer tomorrow to check again for codes now that the engine will at least run. When it failed the first time there was all kinds of codes.. The spark checker I had on it didnt give me any clue that any wire were bad, but ya never know...Anyone else with a shot at this?? To much information will never hurt! I still am wondering if anyone else with the 38 has an in line filter??:huh:
 
Any update?
 
On my boat, the inline filter is mounted to the stringer under the port side of each engine. It's a silver cannister, about the size of a small oil filter, but narrower.
 
Inline micro filter on the old style 340DA mounted below hatch opening towards the bow of the boat. You can see it in the top of this picture of the port engine right below the hatch opening looking forward.

P1000716_1024x768.jpg
 
Reminds me of when on my 260 - the fuel pump lost prime after I changed the fuel filter.
 
Couple of days ago The marina mechanic came by to look at the misfire, they found that there other mechanic mixed up two coil connections.. fixed that, Ran nice...They put the Merc box on it and everything looked good, oil, temp etc. no codes again. Took it out today ran for about 25 Min's. Engine shut off. Put a spark checker on right away -no spark. waited a few min's with the checker still in place had spark for 30 seconds ran, stalled, then none. Before I went out.. I checked compression all around 170, ran out all the plug wires, all ok. Installed all new plugs, cleaned all the grounds...and hot leads to the starter... :smt021 I am now thinking I'll change the ignition coil harness and see what happens... Don't know what else to do
 
Since it only happens when the engines are finally fully warmed up it sounds like the engine heat eventually causes some electrical component to miss or fail.
 
With the wild codes that the engine threw, I too would lean towards the harness. Next time you pull the codes, read each code and go to a wiring schematic. See if you can trace what each code has in common. It may be a grounding wire that is common between all the sensors for the codes being thrown. It's quite possible the male/female pin connection on the on the ECU or any other similar connection is not making a sufficient connection. If this is the case, the codes will vary from one time to the next.

Doug
 
Thats whats happening as well.. Never getting the same codes except the ones that have nothing to do with my boat. I'm thinking about swapping the port ignition harness as a new one is not available until mid Aug!!! Just to see if the problem follows the harness...
 
Had a similar problem like yours on a 36 foot Searay. When out in the ocean after thirty minutes of running the engine would just die out. A few minutes later it would start up and run then die out. The cause of it was a bad connection on the solenoid that is against the firewall. There is a fuse attached to it. If you wiggled it then the light on the battery switch would turn green. Each time a wave hit the boat it would jar it just enough to cut battery voltage to the engine and die out. You really need a wiring schem and check voltage from battery all the way to starter. If that checks out good then it could be the harness. You can check to see if the pin connections are bent or pushed in. Be nice to have a break out box to check this stuff. Good luck.
 
Ran out all the wiring from the harness plug to the PCM no opens..Replaced the 90amp fusable link at the starter..At the dock it wouldnt stay running. Took it out anyway to hang out on the hook for a beer or two.. When I came back in, it ran perfect!! I have no clue... Havent been back out on it yet to see if it will run or not...
 
Too complex for a post. Check the factory service manual and run the troubleshooting charts for stalls and starts then stalls, etc. Also, get rid of that &@#^*$@ stupid mechanic.

Damned fool does not know how to troubleshoot or diagnose problems. Too many "mechanics" just run the computer and swap parts until the problem goes away. Why not? It saves the moron from thinking (if he even can) and it is easier to swap parts. He'll swap parts for the rest of the summer as long as you are paying the bill. There's no downside for him.

There's competent guys out there. You'll save money in the long run since he won't needlessly swap parts until he guesses the right one.

Best regards,
Frank
 
Hopefully you're keeping all of the old ones as spares?
 
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