Eddie B
Member
Hey folks. Hopping to get some input on what happened to me yesterday. 2003 Sundancer 240 with 2003 5.0 MPI.
she was launched Wednesday, commissions,tuned up and a new belt put on by a reputable large marina in my area where I store her for the winter.
Yesterday I ran through my checklist, started her, let her come up to temp and then gave her some fast idle. I saw the RPMs dip then jump back up a few times. I thought it was odd but Figure it might just have been some air in the lines. 
. Otherwise she seemed fine.
Was heading out of the marina and the boat stalled. Was not able to get it to start. Turned the key didn’t hear the fuel pump priming and just a click from the starter. Batteries showed 12.4 V. Checked the kill switch. Gear shift in neutral, turned batts off and back on, everything. Nothing. Anchored cause I could not make it back to the dock the. Climbed in the Bilge once it was safe. Hit the fuel pump a few times with a ratchet. Hit the battery terminals a few times and used the wrench on the two slave solenoid contacts above the engine and she started turning over. Was able to get her started and back to the dock thankfully.
My first though is “what would make the fuel pump not prime AND the started not to engage. Seems odd to have had both of those at the same time. Could poor batt connections cause the pump not to prime? I know that can cause the lack of cranking (or the solenoid). And a bad pump or other pump related issue could cause the stall, rpm fluctuations at the dock I say and lack of prime. But both?
it was a good 20-30 mins I tried to get her. Started before “jumping”. Trying to avoid emptying my pockets at the start of another season.
she was launched Wednesday, commissions,tuned up and a new belt put on by a reputable large marina in my area where I store her for the winter.
Yesterday I ran through my checklist, started her, let her come up to temp and then gave her some fast idle. I saw the RPMs dip then jump back up a few times. I thought it was odd but Figure it might just have been some air in the lines.
. Otherwise she seemed fine. Was heading out of the marina and the boat stalled. Was not able to get it to start. Turned the key didn’t hear the fuel pump priming and just a click from the starter. Batteries showed 12.4 V. Checked the kill switch. Gear shift in neutral, turned batts off and back on, everything. Nothing. Anchored cause I could not make it back to the dock the. Climbed in the Bilge once it was safe. Hit the fuel pump a few times with a ratchet. Hit the battery terminals a few times and used the wrench on the two slave solenoid contacts above the engine and she started turning over. Was able to get her started and back to the dock thankfully.
My first though is “what would make the fuel pump not prime AND the started not to engage. Seems odd to have had both of those at the same time. Could poor batt connections cause the pump not to prime? I know that can cause the lack of cranking (or the solenoid). And a bad pump or other pump related issue could cause the stall, rpm fluctuations at the dock I say and lack of prime. But both?
it was a good 20-30 mins I tried to get her. Started before “jumping”. Trying to avoid emptying my pockets at the start of another season.
