Engine occasionally stalls after cold start.

[The NY Dad]

Heres a little history on the boat. 2010 185 sport 4.3tks 80 hours on it when we bought it last fall. Complete service and check over by dealer done right away. Put 20 hours on it last fall. Had dealer winterize it for Phoenix winter short term storage in December. Put it back in the water 3 months later no immediate problems. 120 hours on it now.

When it acts up the engine starts like normal, runs for about 30-45 seconds then stalls. It only happens when cold and it's only happened 3 times, but I would like to find out why, normally it starts right up (crank it 3-5 seconds) and idles fine.

The first time it did this the boat had been setting for a month and I figured the gas had probably drained out of the lines back to the tank and the fuel pump hadn't caught up by the time the carb bowl ran out. Pumped it once, and after extended cranking (3 tries, 10-15 seconds each) it started, but acted like it was flooded (barely running faster than the starter could turn it over and rough). Had to push the throttle only button and give it some gas, after a few seconds it straightened out and ran right the rest of the day. No problem restarting and idling all day.

Had the boat out the next 2 weekends and it started fine cold. 3rd weekend same stalling issue after only sitting a week. Same restarting sequence and again the boat ran and started fine the rest of the day.

The 3rd time was a repeat of the second boat only sat a week.

If it happens again I will try not pumping it when I restart to see if it fires up better.

I have read online about the oil sending unit wires loose or corroded causing stalling I don't believe this is the problem because it starts back up and runs after cranking a few times, which leads me believe its running the gas out of the bowl before the fuel pump catches up. if it was the sending unit wires it wouldn't restart and run fine after that.

I don't believe its a fuel filter problem either, filter was replaced when it was serviced and it only has 40 hours on it since then. Also if it was the fuel filter it would have problems picking up speed when taking off and it picks up speed just fine. Anybody have any ideas.

I don't know if the 4.3tks has a mechanical fuel pump or electric. I thought about adding a low pressure electric pump if it has a mechanical pump that way gas would get to the mechanical pump a lot faster.

Sorry this is so long.

 

[JohnV56]

I had similar problems with my 2006 260. 5.7 mpi.

When was iac valve last changed ?

I actually had bad fuel. Ended up putting a bunch of that 360 marine stabilizer and new fuel and she ran just fine no more stalling.

I’m thinking iac valve or bad fuel. How long has the fuel been in the tank for ?

 

[The NY Dad]

Fresh fuel each time it acted up. We usually have about a 1/4 tank left at the end of the day and put stabil 360 marine in each time we fill just before we head to the lake. 4.3tks is a carbed engine no IAC valve

 

[JohnV56]

I wish I could help but I’m not familiar with carburetors. Good luck hope you find a fix soon.

 

[scoflaw]

I would change the fuel filter again and inspect the contents in it. Carb probably needs to be overhauled.

 

[atrick]

check the choke

 

[BillK2632]

If the engine has TKS there is a carburetor, but no choke. I don't know all the technicalities of how TKS works, but in general there is no throttle pumping or choke setting like a traditional carburetor / choke arrangement. The TKS richens the fuel supply automatically and when working correctly you just turn the key like a fuel injected engine - at least that's what is supposed to happen. I would suspect the problem is in your TKS system. I don't have much experience with it, but I know it needs 12v power to work correctly, I would start with making sure the wiring connections are good since it is an intermittent thing.

And you have an electric fuel pump - it's a cylinder looking thing near the fuel filter. You know the oil pressure switch and fuel pump are working when after turning the engine over a few times to build oil pressure, if you release the start but leave the key on, you will notice the warning buzzer stops (because you have some oil pressure), but you hear a buzzing sound, this is the fuel pump running. The purpose of the oil pressure switch is to stop the fuel pump if the engine looses oil pressure.

 

[The NY Dad]

Carb was completely gone through when we had the dealer service it. We bought the boat from the original owner, it had very low hours and had been prepped for long term storage by the Sea Ray dealer he bought it from new.
That dealer is no longer around and we had it serviced by the current Sea Ray dealer in the area when we bought it. The dealer went through the entire boat bow to stern, to set up a baseline since we didn't have any maintenance records. The carb was completely torn down, inspected, cleaned reassembled and adjusted. Ill try a new filter they are cheap and easy to replace, and check the connection on the oil sending unit. I'd take it back to the dealer but it's right in the middle of boating season and if I take it to the dealer it will be there awhile. The stalling is only occasional and is more of a nuisance than anything else. It's just that when it doesn't start right up at the boat ramp you always get a little nervous.

 

[Little Ducky]

When I had my 1998 180 with the 4 cylinder motor it would need a little rev or two before it would be good to go when started for the 1st time.

If it runs great after a few revs (don't go red lining the darn thing)...... I would not worry about it.

 

[The NY Dad]

Haven't had the boat out in the boat out in a couple weeks started it on the muffs this morning before heading for the lake. It started and ran without stalling. I cleaned the connection on the oil pressure sending unit, I'll change the fuel filter in the fall when I winterize the boat. It's just weird how it's random when it stalls.

 

[Bt Doctur]

There is an accel pump circuit in there and Yes you pump it for a squirt of gas
Next I would get the special tool or grind off the anti-tamper cover and open the idle screw about 2-4 turns richer

 

[The NY Dad]

2-4 full turns is an awful lot. I would think that any engine that needed that much richening of the idle mixture would be hesitating when you hit the gas from being to lean, and the boat doesn't do that it takes off very smooth and quickly with no hesitation.