Official 280 Sundancer Thread

I have a new issue as of yesterday. The motor started kind of ruff and at low RPM ran ruff. Had a gas smell coming out of the exhaust as well. Never smelled that before. At high RPM boat ran well. I searched and didn't see threads that were similar. Anyone have a similar experience?

9-18 Update: checked the fuel psi regulator as recommended by scoflaw and all looked good. Another symptom is boat speed. Would not go over 10mph. Next, I'll try some fuel/injector cleaner to see if that helps. If not, I'll change the in-line fuel filter and spark plugs. I changed all the plugs just last season.
Keeping my fingers crossed this will take care of problem. fuel filter.jpg Fuel System Injctr Cleaner.JPG
 
Next, I'll try some fuel/injector cleaner to see if that helps. If not, I'll change the in-line fuel filter and spark plugs. I changed all the plugs just last season.
Keeping my fingers crossed this will take care of problem.


9-25 Update: Replaced spark plugs, replaced spark plug wires (mine were 18yrs old) added fuel injector cleaner and gas treatment. Problem Gone! Boat runs great. Got 40-41 mph. Gas smell gone too.
 
After having engines pulled for some bilge work, the engines are back in and I have a single “pink” wire connector from the port engine harness that I cannot seem to find the place to connect it. I believe it has something to do with the fuel gauge as it is not working. Everything else is working fine. I am attaching photos of the connector. Does anyone have an idea where it connects?
2005 280DA 4.3 MPI Engines.

Thanks,
Eddie
4DC690BA-DE71-467F-AC99-9C3B5285F9EA.jpeg 293180E8-83A7-445E-9844-2B70C1DE19AB.jpeg
 
After having engines pulled for some bilge work, the engines are back in and I have a single “pink” wire connector from the port engine harness that I cannot seem to find the place to connect it. I believe it has something to do with the fuel gauge as it is not working. Everything else is working fine. I am attaching photos of the connector. Does anyone have an idea where it connects?
2005 280DA 4.3 MPI Engines.

Thanks,
Eddie
View attachment 134919 View attachment 134920
Hey Eddie, I have the same setup on my 04 280. I am heading down on Friday to change out the exhaust manifolds. Can you give me a better proximity of where that harness is and I will look and see if I have that same connector and what it connects to.
 
Hey Eddie, I have the same setup on my 04 280. I am heading down on Friday to change out the exhaust manifolds. Can you give me a better proximity of where that harness is and I will look and see if I have that same connector and what it connects to.
It is part of the main harness that comes from the upper transom area for the port side engine. The same harness with the round connector. Thanks for responding. If you need more photos I can take some this weekend.
 
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I looked for that plug, I think I found it. Picture attached. Not sure if that will help you or not.
 

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I looked for that plug, I think I found it. Picture attached. Not sure if that will help you or not.
That looks like it. Where is that located? Side of engine? Starter side? Fuel pump side? Thank you so much for looking.
 
Is it ok to replace original A/C pump PML500L with "SEAFLO Marine Air Conditioning/Seawater Circulation AC Pump 500GPH Submersible - 115V"? Or any other suggestions are welcome. Thanks
 
Can anyone confirm this would be a direct replacement for the obsolete Depth finder on the 2003 280DA?
I understand I would have to run the new transducer all the way to where the old one sits. If there is enough space I rather put it beside it than deal with removing the old transducer.
Screen Shot 2022-11-26 at 10.39.44 AM.png
 
Can anyone confirm this would be a direct replacement for the obsolete Depth finder on the 2003 280DA?
I understand I would have to run the new transducer all the way to where the old one sits. If there is enough space I rather put it beside it than deal with removing the old transducer.
View attachment 137178
The dash hole will fit the new one.

It would be better to remove the old transducer and install that one in it's place. It would be easier to just replace it, too. It sounds like may not know this, but... you would have to drill a new hole in the hull to fit the new one and... you might get lucky and have the new ducer fit into the same hole in the hull.
 
The dash hole will fit the new one.

It would be better to remove the old transducer and install that one in it's place. It would be easier to just replace it, too. It sounds like may not know this, but... you would have to drill a new hole in the hull to fit the new one and... you might get lucky and have the new ducer fit into the same hole in the hull.

From my research, the old transducer was actually glued down and and there is no hole when removed.
Can anyone confirm this please.
Not know the depth of water all season long actually bothered me a lot. I know This is something a lot of members would love to change given how the oem depth finder doesn't have an oem replacement.
Can anyone confirm the location of the transducer on a 2003 280DA for me.
 
What "research" is that?

If it was installed by Sea Ray it's as I said.

Location is easy - you'll see it when you look down there (or underneath the boat if it's not hidden by a bunk... which is unlikely).

I don't mean this in a rude way so please don't take it that way... if your research is all "online", go take an actual look at things. It will probably take all of 1 minute to confirm what I'm saying :)
 
It's in plain view in the bilge. Not glued in and mine had a plug chained to it for blocking the hole if removed
 
Not glued on mine either, easy enough to remove and install a new one.
 
What "research" is that?

If it was installed by Sea Ray it's as I said.

Location is easy - you'll see it when you look down there (or underneath the boat if it's not hidden by a bunk... which is unlikely).

I don't mean this in a rude way so please don't take it that way... if your research is all "online", go take an actual look at things. It will probably take all of 1 minute to confirm what I'm saying :)

No offence taken. I actually appreciate the input. And you are correct. Boat is stored away for the winter so I have to go to the storage one day to access it. Besides that the research I did was online and I found that the 2003DA transducer was in-hull and as such glued down.
If you are correct about it being going through a hole, then I stand corrected and learned something new on my path towards getting a new depth finder.

Question, if in fact the OEM transducer is a thru-hall and is through a hole , will this new transducer in fact work and fit in same hole? Would prefer to not drill a new hole.
 
I installed a new transducer when upgrading to a Garmin setup the factory unit came right out and was in bad need of re bedding. No modifications needed as the new one fit perfectly in the existing 2” hole.
 
No offence taken. I actually appreciate the input. And you are correct. Boat is stored away for the winter so I have to go to the storage one day to access it. Besides that the research I did was online and I found that the 2003DA transducer was in-hull and as such glued down.
If you are correct about it being going through a hole, then I stand corrected and learned something new on my path towards getting a new depth finder.

Question, if in fact the OEM transducer is a thru-hall and is through a hole , will this new transducer in fact work and fit in same hole? Would prefer to not drill a new hole.
Good - thank you for not taking things the wrong way.

Sea Ray has been using a thru-hull transducer for a long, l-o-n-g time. Even much earlier than 2003. If you found someone with a glued-in ducer it was aftermarket.

I would say that the chances are very good that the ducer you pictured will work. I can't say for sure - but it looks the same... and nearly all transducers are made by Airmar so it's a good bet that they share the same dimensions. It'll be easy to check since you're on the hard and can just pull it out and try.
 

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