Hatterasnutt
New member
New to forum. Have been trying to figure this out for a while now, using suggestions I've found on this forum as well as others. Late last year I started experiencing issues with the motor cutting off at idle or low rpms. Would struggle to start, and when put in gear sometimes would cut off. Once you got going, would run great as long as I was running above 1000 - 1200 RPM. Did not seem to be any issue with WOT either. No sag, struggle, nothing. Motor would run great, however returning to the dock or putting it in neutral and it would cut off. Start whole process over again. I figured it may be a fuel issue, water in gas? Replaced Fuel/Water Separator, Fuel Filter, treated gas. Next I pulled all carbs and cleaned. One carb was leaking gas so I bought a carp replacement kit and that fixed that issue. Still, same issues. All this time I had no alarms.
Finally, this spring took to a mechanic. He said he didn't think it was fuel issue but rather an electrical ignition problem. One of the coils on the stator had melted. He replaced that and subsequently I needed a new power pack as well. Half the motor wouldn't fire. So we replaced that. Also had a tear in the VRO diaphragm so we replaced that as well. Motor using oil and plugs don't appear fouled. He also pulled, cleaned, and readjusted all carbs.
Picked boat up, first trip worked great. Started easy, no stalls when shifting into gear or placing in neutral. Ran good at low idle and WOT. Getting around 5700 RPMs at WOT. Next trip, started great, left dock, pulled into no wake zone, slowed down, Check Engine Light and horn alarm comes on. I do not experience any issue with running. Still 5700 RPMs at WOT, does not cut off at idle, just alarm light.
So, I read that this means fuel restriction of some sort. However most if not all of the forums I've read pertaining to this issue, the person also experiences some sort of motor performance issue.... and I'm not. At least not yet.
I've replaced the Primer bulb (OMC), water separator, fuel filter, all with Johnson OEM models. Still have issue with alarm. Bulb primes great, gets hard as expected. I do notice that after running a little the bulb is no longer hard. It's not flat by any strectch but I can if wanted pump it again. Not sure if it is supposed to stay hard and firm once the motor is running. I've checked for the presence of the anti-siphon valve at the fuel tank. Does not appear to be one on this boat. Maybe replaced already. Just appears to be a barb connector fitting. I've pulled the fuel pickup lines, not cloggs. Screens clean. All fuel lines are A1 marine grade Black hoses. All appear firm and not collapsing. I have not replaced any lines.... yet.
I read to check the Gas vent for obstruction, but it appears to be fine. Screens in place on through hull vent. I've started the motor with the gas cap off, same issue. I am going to check the system to see if I am getting proper vacuum this weekend. My neighbor says we can check that.
I'm starting to wonder if maybe I have a faulty vacuum switch. That's next on my list. The thing that is driving me nuts is the motor is performing great, just the check engine alarm which is somewhat concerning to me because I can't seem to locate why it thinks I have a fuel restriction. I like to go offshore fishing and don't want to have a restriction that is small become something large and then I have performance problems.
One other thing, I know notice (and maybe it has done this all along and I just didn't see it), but when I turn the key to the ON position, the system goes through its pre-checks as normal, No Oil, Hot, Check Engine, Low Oil, all flash and then go off. The Check Engine light comes back on. I have not yet attempted to choke or turn the motor to the crank or run position. Seems odd to me that the light would come on before I even try to start the motor.
Any ideas? I've already missed 5 weeks of fishing time with the boat at the mechanic. Not sure what else to do. Don't know if I need to replace the VRO or not. Seems to be functioning properly.
Frustrated!!! Thanks for any suggestions.
Nutt
Finally, this spring took to a mechanic. He said he didn't think it was fuel issue but rather an electrical ignition problem. One of the coils on the stator had melted. He replaced that and subsequently I needed a new power pack as well. Half the motor wouldn't fire. So we replaced that. Also had a tear in the VRO diaphragm so we replaced that as well. Motor using oil and plugs don't appear fouled. He also pulled, cleaned, and readjusted all carbs.
Picked boat up, first trip worked great. Started easy, no stalls when shifting into gear or placing in neutral. Ran good at low idle and WOT. Getting around 5700 RPMs at WOT. Next trip, started great, left dock, pulled into no wake zone, slowed down, Check Engine Light and horn alarm comes on. I do not experience any issue with running. Still 5700 RPMs at WOT, does not cut off at idle, just alarm light.
So, I read that this means fuel restriction of some sort. However most if not all of the forums I've read pertaining to this issue, the person also experiences some sort of motor performance issue.... and I'm not. At least not yet.
I've replaced the Primer bulb (OMC), water separator, fuel filter, all with Johnson OEM models. Still have issue with alarm. Bulb primes great, gets hard as expected. I do notice that after running a little the bulb is no longer hard. It's not flat by any strectch but I can if wanted pump it again. Not sure if it is supposed to stay hard and firm once the motor is running. I've checked for the presence of the anti-siphon valve at the fuel tank. Does not appear to be one on this boat. Maybe replaced already. Just appears to be a barb connector fitting. I've pulled the fuel pickup lines, not cloggs. Screens clean. All fuel lines are A1 marine grade Black hoses. All appear firm and not collapsing. I have not replaced any lines.... yet.
I read to check the Gas vent for obstruction, but it appears to be fine. Screens in place on through hull vent. I've started the motor with the gas cap off, same issue. I am going to check the system to see if I am getting proper vacuum this weekend. My neighbor says we can check that.
I'm starting to wonder if maybe I have a faulty vacuum switch. That's next on my list. The thing that is driving me nuts is the motor is performing great, just the check engine alarm which is somewhat concerning to me because I can't seem to locate why it thinks I have a fuel restriction. I like to go offshore fishing and don't want to have a restriction that is small become something large and then I have performance problems.
One other thing, I know notice (and maybe it has done this all along and I just didn't see it), but when I turn the key to the ON position, the system goes through its pre-checks as normal, No Oil, Hot, Check Engine, Low Oil, all flash and then go off. The Check Engine light comes back on. I have not yet attempted to choke or turn the motor to the crank or run position. Seems odd to me that the light would come on before I even try to start the motor.
Any ideas? I've already missed 5 weeks of fishing time with the boat at the mechanic. Not sure what else to do. Don't know if I need to replace the VRO or not. Seems to be functioning properly.
Frustrated!!! Thanks for any suggestions.
Nutt