boatingbob
New member
I have a 1994 Carver with twin Crusader 454XLs. Saturday I had one engine die when I brought it down to idle, and limped back to the slip on one engine. It would fire briefly, but by the time I got to the slip, it would crank but that's it. Pouring gas down the carb gets it to fire up, so I know it's not ignition. I disconnected the fuel line between the fuel pump and the carb, but do gas came out when I cranked it. The fuel filter was full of gas, and it had no water or crap in it.
I fiddled with it a bit, but have had no luck, and no indication that the fuel pump is getting power. I did learn that there's a pressure switch that keeps the fuel pump from coming on if there's no oil pressure in the crankcase. I haven't checked that (don't know how).
I decided to check out the starboard engine fuel pump, and disconnected that lead and jammed my voltmeter leads in, but go no power when I cranked that motor. After I reconnected the lead and tried to start that motor, it failed in the same way the port engine did!!! Once again, pouring a little gas down the carb gets it to fire, but that's it. I may have goobered up the contacts by forcing voltmeter leads in the socket, but who knows.
Here's one more clue: besides the 4 - 6v 'house' batteries, the boat has 3 Costco combo deep-cycle/cranking batteries which I assume are for the motors. Two of them are 10 years old, and may not be holding a charge very well. I did read on another thread that if there's a power drop across the fuel pump pressure switch circuit, it won't close and allow the fuel pump to start.
That said, if I have enough juice to turn the motor over, there should be enough to turn the fuel pump on, right?
I got tired of stabbing in the dark, so my local Crusader mechanic is scheduling a visit. If I can fix this myself, I'd be delighted, but right now, I feel like I'm stabbing in the dark. The mechanic wonders if one of my alternators isn't putting out enough power, but I don't see how that relates.
I wonder if I should try replacing the 10 yo batteries. They charge up when it's on the boat's trickle charger, but may not be holding a charge very well, as sometimes I have to switch to 'both' to get enough 'oomph' to turn the motor over.
I just can't understand how two fuel pumps can go tits up one after the other. Any thoughts?
I fiddled with it a bit, but have had no luck, and no indication that the fuel pump is getting power. I did learn that there's a pressure switch that keeps the fuel pump from coming on if there's no oil pressure in the crankcase. I haven't checked that (don't know how).
I decided to check out the starboard engine fuel pump, and disconnected that lead and jammed my voltmeter leads in, but go no power when I cranked that motor. After I reconnected the lead and tried to start that motor, it failed in the same way the port engine did!!! Once again, pouring a little gas down the carb gets it to fire, but that's it. I may have goobered up the contacts by forcing voltmeter leads in the socket, but who knows.
Here's one more clue: besides the 4 - 6v 'house' batteries, the boat has 3 Costco combo deep-cycle/cranking batteries which I assume are for the motors. Two of them are 10 years old, and may not be holding a charge very well. I did read on another thread that if there's a power drop across the fuel pump pressure switch circuit, it won't close and allow the fuel pump to start.
That said, if I have enough juice to turn the motor over, there should be enough to turn the fuel pump on, right?
I got tired of stabbing in the dark, so my local Crusader mechanic is scheduling a visit. If I can fix this myself, I'd be delighted, but right now, I feel like I'm stabbing in the dark. The mechanic wonders if one of my alternators isn't putting out enough power, but I don't see how that relates.
I wonder if I should try replacing the 10 yo batteries. They charge up when it's on the boat's trickle charger, but may not be holding a charge very well, as sometimes I have to switch to 'both' to get enough 'oomph' to turn the motor over.
I just can't understand how two fuel pumps can go tits up one after the other. Any thoughts?