At A Loss
- Thread starter jrock1062
- Start date
Check your outdrive fluid bottle to see if it is low because the ECM will not allow the motor to run over a specific RPM if that is the case. It could be other things like a dirty fuel filter as well.
Dave
Dave
- Oct 3, 2006
- 4,404
- Boat Info
- 280 Sundancer, Westerbeke MPV generator
- Engines
- twin 5.0's w/BIII drives
Since you have a 2002 year boat I am going to assume you have analogue gauges and do not have smartcraft therefore you are not in guardian mode (smartcraft enabled safe mode – limiting power)
So that leaves fuel, air or ignition.
I’m in agreement with Dave about the fuel filters.
Change both the fuel filter (small, round, metal looking in your fuel line) and the fuel water separating fuel filter. These are easy to change and not very expensive.
If it’s not the fuel the next inexpensive thing to check is air. Have you cleaned your flame arrester lately? If not, remove, spray with carb cleaner, wash in soapy water, rinse, dry, let it dry in the sun and reinstall.
If it’s not these two, you are down to ignition. Spark plugs, rotor, cap, auto timing advance could all be at issue.
Start with the fuel filters and flame arrester.
Please post a followup letting us know the result.
ghuskin
New Member
- Jul 10, 2007
- 1,089
- Boat Info
- SRV225 Cuddy Cabin, 1983
- Engines
- 228 Mercruiser w/ pre-Alpha1 "R" Drive
after checking these, and you still experience the same problem, you'll need to check the following:
anti-syphon valve
fuel pickup
fuel pump
this is from experience.
Good luck, and let us know what you find!
As far as I know even a pre-smartcraft boat will limit power as long as it has an ECM which a 2002 model should have.
Thank You all for the help, I did have someone install a fuel flow sensor which may be the issue I changed out the fuel filter before it hit the water so i dont think thats it I will get over there today and see what I find I will keep you posted
- Oct 3, 2006
- 4,404
- Boat Info
- 280 Sundancer, Westerbeke MPV generator
- Engines
- twin 5.0's w/BIII drives
Two fuel filters.
One is a true fuel filter, this one is very small, one is a water seperator. Normally they only change the big one that is about the same size as a oil filter.
I didn't check this but it may be the case and here is why if I can keep the boat in neutral I can rev the engine up to 3500rpms with out issue but putting it in gear it I cant get it over 2000 :huh: tomorrow I will check the out drive fluid If anyone has any other thought I would appreciate it and thanks again
Sman0624
New Member
You can't compare RPM's when in neutral vs under load. If you can't exceed 2000 RPM under load then as stated by others it's most likely running fuel starved and has a dirty filter. Is there any backfire from the engine under load?
You say you just splashed it the other day, did you treat the old fuel prior to storage? How?
You might consider adding a can of Sea Foam to the tank and some fresh fuel. If you have the ability to run from a remote 5 gal tank you can try that to eliminate the concern of bad fuel.
Start with the basics, check plugs, cap, rotor, seperator (drain and check fuel)...if those don't address the issue then look deeper, ignition control module, pressure check your electric fuel pump...etc.
Good luck...it's always easy after a few bucks.
You say you just splashed it the other day, did you treat the old fuel prior to storage? How?
You might consider adding a can of Sea Foam to the tank and some fresh fuel. If you have the ability to run from a remote 5 gal tank you can try that to eliminate the concern of bad fuel.
Start with the basics, check plugs, cap, rotor, seperator (drain and check fuel)...if those don't address the issue then look deeper, ignition control module, pressure check your electric fuel pump...etc.
Good luck...it's always easy after a few bucks.
Thanks for the help
Yes there is back fire under load, I did treat the fuel with stablizer and before I splashed in I filled it with fresh fuel. I dont think it is the gas, it starts right up and runs fine up until I put it in gear. If fuel was the issue wouldnt it effect how the engine runs al the time :huh: just a question ?
Sman0624
New Member
Jrock,
Like others here have stated, first start by removing the fuel water seperator. Pour the fuel into a clear jar and let it settle, do you see any signs of water? Replace with a new seperator.
Engine surge and backfire are most likely signs of a fuel starved engine (this will show-up under load, not running in neutral and please let's not run 3,000+ RPM in neutral. not sure if the SeaRay 225 has an anti-siphon valve but if it does that is worth checking.
I had a similar issue with not being able to run over 3,000RPM without backfire and engine surge. I started in steps with each of these followed by a test drive... Fuel water seperator, clean flame arrester, plugs, cap, rotor, wires, pressure checked electric fuel pump (replaced as it was under spec) then finally the ignition control module inside the distributer cap. All with no improvement.
Finally I got it...I had an ignition interrupter switch that was failing intermittently. This switch is designed to momentarily kill the engine so that you can shift out of gear. This switch was changing states (on-off-on-off) but only when hot and only under load..since i've replaced it I have had no issues.
Not saying that this is the case for you, just giving you ideas.
Like others here have stated, first start by removing the fuel water seperator. Pour the fuel into a clear jar and let it settle, do you see any signs of water? Replace with a new seperator.
Engine surge and backfire are most likely signs of a fuel starved engine (this will show-up under load, not running in neutral and please let's not run 3,000+ RPM in neutral. not sure if the SeaRay 225 has an anti-siphon valve but if it does that is worth checking.
I had a similar issue with not being able to run over 3,000RPM without backfire and engine surge. I started in steps with each of these followed by a test drive... Fuel water seperator, clean flame arrester, plugs, cap, rotor, wires, pressure checked electric fuel pump (replaced as it was under spec) then finally the ignition control module inside the distributer cap. All with no improvement.
Finally I got it...I had an ignition interrupter switch that was failing intermittently. This switch is designed to momentarily kill the engine so that you can shift out of gear. This switch was changing states (on-off-on-off) but only when hot and only under load..since i've replaced it I have had no issues.
Not saying that this is the case for you, just giving you ideas.
Thanks for the ideas I will start tomorrow afternoon in steps to see if I can get it worked out
FYI the 02 does have a anti-siphon valve which I will check tomorrow as well as cleaning the vent and changing the gas filter, I have already changed the water separator and have treated the gas
Thanks again for the help I will post tomorrow after I get a few hours under the hood :smt024
shinsr
Member
Dave, you are correct - engines have guardian mode even if not smart craft, as long as have the ECM - an 02 boat should have it, my last boat was 03 and had it.
I want to thank everyone for your help .... here was the outcome I wasn't getting enough gas PSI at the rail under load the boat needs to get between 43-50 I was getting about 30 so it was enough to run but not enough to get over 2000 rpms. This is a smart craft so I checked all the fluid levels I bypassed the fuel flow monitor still the same ... the diagnoses is either a fuel pump fuel filter or a censor. the pump and filter is buried under the engine and if its a censorI don't have the equipment to determine which one so after trying all weekend to figure it out I brought it to a mechanic he will let me know in a few days again I want to thank everyone for there help