1990dtgl98
Member
- Sep 21, 2020
- 37
- Boat Info
- 1999 bowrider
- Engines
- Mercruiser
So I bought a new to me 1999 sea ray 230 bowrider with a mercruiser 7.4 and bravo 3. I'm not new to boats but mainly outboards and diesels.
I bought it end of September. Had a rough idle and got it cheap. Replaced the iac and the boat idled smoothly and all seemed well. Didnt get out to test as I wanted someone besides my wife and kids on the boat in case there was any floatability issues. Finally found time between hunting to get a friend on. Got it to the local river and tried to start....nothing. Cranks over but no start.
Fast forward to this weekend. Sitting in my pole building I decided to work on it a bit. I really thought it may be bad gas (who knows how long its been in, I bought it 3/4 full and the previous owner said he didn't use it much this year). Gas looked rusty and old. Figured this was the problem.
I bought a new fuel/water filter. Changed that. Also ran a new section of fuel line (they had a small inline fuel filter from the tank out to the main filter for some reason, as well as a round inline piece with a wire, that i assume was some sort of fuel flow meter?). Ran that new line from the filter to a gas can with fresh gas. Primed everything with a dozen key toggles and....nothing. It'll turn over, occassionally cough like it wants to catch, but never turns over.
Hooked up a fuel pressure gauge, have 32psi key on. No leakdown in a 2-3 min span. When the pump primes with the key cycling, it flutters between 60-70psi. Looks like i should have about 41psi at the rail with the MEFI3 system.
Here's my issue. Cycling the key the fuel pump gives me a tone that almost sounds like it runs dry. The fuel/water filter stays about 3/4 full, and the clear line I am using to check flow will still get air pockets in it. Before I try to remove the cool fuel system (which looks like a bear to get out on my boat), is it possible its just an air pocket in the pump? I cleared air out of the rail using the pressure gauge, and have steady flow without any air bubbles or pockets, but toggling the key will still give me that empty pump sound maybe 2 or so key on flips out of a dozen times.
So my questions for anyone willing to help:
If you do think its priming issues, what is the best way to re-prime the system?
If not, could it be the relay?
If you don't think its that, would it just be beneficial to change the pressure regulator and pump at the same time? Seems like if I have to try to get this cool fuel system out, i might as well do both regardless on a 20 year old boat since it looks like a bear to get to.
Thanks for the help guys!
I bought it end of September. Had a rough idle and got it cheap. Replaced the iac and the boat idled smoothly and all seemed well. Didnt get out to test as I wanted someone besides my wife and kids on the boat in case there was any floatability issues. Finally found time between hunting to get a friend on. Got it to the local river and tried to start....nothing. Cranks over but no start.
Fast forward to this weekend. Sitting in my pole building I decided to work on it a bit. I really thought it may be bad gas (who knows how long its been in, I bought it 3/4 full and the previous owner said he didn't use it much this year). Gas looked rusty and old. Figured this was the problem.
I bought a new fuel/water filter. Changed that. Also ran a new section of fuel line (they had a small inline fuel filter from the tank out to the main filter for some reason, as well as a round inline piece with a wire, that i assume was some sort of fuel flow meter?). Ran that new line from the filter to a gas can with fresh gas. Primed everything with a dozen key toggles and....nothing. It'll turn over, occassionally cough like it wants to catch, but never turns over.
Hooked up a fuel pressure gauge, have 32psi key on. No leakdown in a 2-3 min span. When the pump primes with the key cycling, it flutters between 60-70psi. Looks like i should have about 41psi at the rail with the MEFI3 system.
Here's my issue. Cycling the key the fuel pump gives me a tone that almost sounds like it runs dry. The fuel/water filter stays about 3/4 full, and the clear line I am using to check flow will still get air pockets in it. Before I try to remove the cool fuel system (which looks like a bear to get out on my boat), is it possible its just an air pocket in the pump? I cleared air out of the rail using the pressure gauge, and have steady flow without any air bubbles or pockets, but toggling the key will still give me that empty pump sound maybe 2 or so key on flips out of a dozen times.
So my questions for anyone willing to help:
If you do think its priming issues, what is the best way to re-prime the system?
If not, could it be the relay?
If you don't think its that, would it just be beneficial to change the pressure regulator and pump at the same time? Seems like if I have to try to get this cool fuel system out, i might as well do both regardless on a 20 year old boat since it looks like a bear to get to.
Thanks for the help guys!
