Electric Fuel Pump Not Energizing and Low-Oil Pressure Warning NOT Sounding

[mark guthrie]

On my 280 Sundancer, with twin 4.3 IOs.

During pre-start, ignition on, but not cranking - normally the fuel pump energizes and the low oil pressure warning horn sounds...neither is happening.

In doing research, I found there is an inline fuse for the pump relay...can't find it. But then I remembered the low oil pressure is not sounding, so I don't think the fuse is the issue.

What would be common between the two?

The engine will turnover but of course won't start without fuel. but a weird thing, when I crank, my Garmin resets...what the heck???

Thanks for any ideas.

Mark in St. Pete

 

[Espos4]

Did you have a kill switch on the base of the throttle lever?

 

[mark guthrie]

Thanks for the reply. No kill switch on her. Any other thoughts?

 

[rondds]

So one engine is fine, the other won't start and you don't hear the electric fuel pump run when you put the ignition switch in the first position...right?

Do these engines have Cool Fuel fuel pumps? There is a plug that connects to a harness plug near the pump. Could it possibly have come undone? Maybe you were doing some work in the ER and bumped it? Can you measure voltage at the plug?

Maybe even before that, do IOs have neutral kill switches? If the shift lever is not in neutral (or if the switch is temperamental) nothing electrical will reach the motor. Try jiggling that lever as you're trying to start.

Not sure about the oil pressure alarm, but doubt these are connected issues.

 

[scoflaw]

If the Garmin resets that indicates low voltage.

 

[mark guthrie]

So one engine is fine, the other won't start and you don't hear the electric fuel pump run when you put the ignition switch in the first position...right?

Do these engines have Cool Fuel fuel pumps? There is a plug that connects to a harness plug near the pump. Could it possibly have come undone? Maybe you were doing some work in the ER and bumped it? Can you measure voltage at the plug?

Maybe even before that, do IOs have neutral kill switches? If the shift lever is not in neutral (or if the switch is temperamental) nothing electrical will reach the motor. Try jiggling that lever as you're trying to start.

Not sure about the oil pressure alarm, but doubt these are connected issues.

Thanks.
1) I checked the plug already, and used CorrisionX
2) no kill switch
3) Shift lever, I don't think it will crank if it's not in nuetral, but I need to double check that.

 

[mark guthrie]

If the Garmin resets that indicates low voltage.

Thanks, Yes I agree, but there are plenty of AMPS to turn the engine, turns over strong.

 

[scoflaw]

Bust out the DVM, your losing voltage somewhere along the line.

 

[mark guthrie]

Thanks for the input. So I just did the following testing:
- swapped the ECMs starboard (problem) to port - no change, no fuel pump, no low pressure warning
- plugged the wire from starboard fuel pump to port - fuel pump energized. So finally eliminated that, the fuel pump works
- verified, if not in nuetral, motor will turn, but fuel pump and no low pressure does NOT. So this could be the problem, except the problem first occured at cruise speed, so nuetral detection was not involved...so probably not.

Any other ideas? All appreciated!

Thanks, Mark

 

[cfd95]

Thanks for the input. So I just did the following testing:
- swapped the ECMs starboard (problem) to port - no change, no fuel pump, no low pressure warning
- plugged the wire from starboard fuel pump to port - fuel pump energized. So finally eliminated that, the fuel pump works
- verified, if not in nuetral, motor will turn, but fuel pump and no low pressure does NOT. So this could be the problem, except the problem first occured at cruise speed, so nuetral detection was not involved...so probably not.

Any other ideas? All appreciated!

Thanks, Mark

There should be 2 relays 1 for the ECM 1 For the Fuel Pump
Don't know where they are located on a sterndrive.
On my Inboards they are located above the ECM on the Riser.
I would check them with the ignition on with a meter.
Swap them with ones from other engine and try.

 

[dmorin]

Happened to mine two years ago had to remove and replace wires on ignition switch on dash just loose connection.

 

[mark guthrie]

Bust out the DVM, your losing voltage somewhere along the line.

Yes, but which wire and to what? And the wires go into a bundle. I'm still thinking there is a fuse or breaker that is controlling the pre-start, ignition on.

 

[mark guthrie]

There should be 2 relays 1 for the ECM 1 For the Fuel Pump
Don't know where they are located on a sterndrive.
On my Inboards they are located above the ECM on the Riser.
I would check them with the ignition on with a meter.
Swap them with ones from other engine and try.

That is a great idea.

 

[mark guthrie]

Happened to mine two years ago had to remove and replace wires on ignition switch on dash just loose connection.

Interesting, I could also swamp the ignition switches. So in your case, the start mode still turned the engine but no fuel pump or audible non-pressure warning?

 

[dmorin]

No alarm beep and no fuel pump energizing and would not turn over. Mine worked after removing plug wires off switch a couple times. second year I had mine port engine would not start almost would but wouldn't searched everything it was the common problem of bad iac valve have pop three in last five years drove me nuts so good luck!

 

[mark guthrie]

Good news. Problem is fixed. I do feel like a dope though. It was the most obvious problem, fuse going to the fuel pump (which goes to the fuel pump relay first). I read there was an in-line fuse for fuel pump, but I couldn't find it. Turns out it was right in front of my face, I didn't recognize it. In my experience, an in-line fuse is cylindrical, with a wire in and a wire out. this one is a rectangle with 3 different fuses.

The other thing that threw me is that the low-oil pressure warning horn was not sounding. Turns out it is controlled by the same fuse. And it turns out, the same relay.

 

[Espos4]

Thanks for the follow up.
Good to hear that you figured it out.
Maybe this will help someone with a similar problem in the future.

 

[joeyleggz]

Glad you fixed it I wish I would’ve seen this post a few days ago I knew exactly where those fuses are hidden usually underneath the door of the ECM box sometimes on the newer models they are one plug containing three fuses I have a 97 so mine or three individual plug style fuse holders attached to the underside of the ECM door

 

[techmitch]

Good news. Problem is fixed. I do feel like a dope though. It was the most obvious problem, fuse going to the fuel pump (which goes to the fuel pump relay first). I read there was an in-line fuse for fuel pump, but I couldn't find it. Turns out it was right in front of my face, I didn't recognize it. In my experience, an in-line fuse is cylindrical, with a wire in and a wire out. this one is a rectangle with 3 different fuses.

The other thing that threw me is that the low-oil pressure warning horn was not sounding. Turns out it is controlled by the same fuse. And it turns out, the same relay.

Great news that you found the "what" now to find the "why" before it happens again in a not so convenient location/situation.

 

[LGrunwald]

We are having a similar problem and switched all of our fuses even though they looked ok. The alarm sounded for a few moments and it tried to start but did not. We are back to square one. Is this a bad fuel pump?