98 405 Port Engine Will Not Start

[Serendipity]

Thanks Viper and yes the filter was full of fuel. No I cannot hear a fuel pump cycle on but my hearing is not what it use to be. I will get in the engine bay and have my wife cycle it for me.
I did notice I only got a trickle of fuel when trying to start the port engine with the water separator off. I had my wife cycle it at this point and I did not hear anything then as well come to think of it.
I would have thought it would push fuel to the filter but there is no water separator on a car. Lol
So what do I know...?

[Viper]

If you don't hear the pump cycle, you have a bad pump, bad ignition switch, poor connection, bad oil pressure switch, or bad pump relay. Start with the relay, they use the same relay for a few things so swap the pump relay with another one on the engine or one from the other engine. If you then hear the pump on key ON, then it's a bad relay and you're in luck so go to the closest casino as fast as you can Oh wait a minute, they're all closed

If the pump is working, then there's another issue. Check for pressure at the rail. If nothing there, check the anti-siphon valve and fuel solenoid at the tank if applicable.

You should also confirm whether you're actually getting spark.

[Serendipity]

Viper and everyone,

So a month later and I am back working on the boat.
I have attached some pictures and it appears my Starboard engine is 0L004179 as shown. I didnt move my couch to the other side to take a picture but the serial number showing is 0L004177 for the port engine that is giving me a starting problem. It just spins over but want start.
Ironically now my 10k Koehler generator is spinning over but will not stay running as well.

Both were running fine prior to the engine stopping at 21 mph headed back to my dock.
Just a reminder, the boat is on a 30,000 acre freshwater landlocked reservoir.

I do not see, nor could I find a fuel pump. Fuel water separator yes, if that is the pump. This water separator is located where the fuel pump should go, but not internally of the engine?

I am going to try some of your other suggestions and see where that leads. You mentioned if I could get you engine serial numbers that would tell you something?

So here are the pictures and any suggestions or ideas would be greatly appreciated

[RGrew176]

My last boat I was cruising across Lake Erie at about 30 MPH. Suddenly my starboard engine just quit. Would crank over but no start. It ended up being a dead electronic control module. It died and the engine with it. About $900 later I was back up and running. If you have electronic ignition that could be your problem too.

[Viper]

I will check the serial number when I get a chance but I'm pretty sure that model will have the second generation Cool Fuel system that is low on the right side of the block when you're facing the front of the engine. In that assembly, there is the fuel pump, a cooler, and a fuel pressure regulator. Under the regulator is a tiny screen as well that sometimes gets clogged. The regulator has to be removed to see it. Going to the regulator is a vacuum line, follow and check it to ensure it is hooked up and not punctured anywhere. The pump should cycle when you turn the ignition switch to the ON position. Check your other engine to confirm.

[Viper]

On the electrical bracket by the ECM, I believe there are 2 ATO fuses, I can't recall if they are in water proof holders or not. One is for the fuel pump so check and insure it hasn't blown. I also see a couple of relays in your pics right in front of the coil, one will be for the fuel pump. They're both the same relay and you could swap one with the other just to see if the fuel pump cycles with key ON position, or swap from the other engine and see if that changes anything. Can you hear the fuel pump cycle on the running engine when you key ON?

Have you checked the fuel rail for pressure as I mentioned above? It should be at the front of the engine, behind the heat exchanger in the cavity under the intake plenum, I think I can see it in a couple of front view pics. There should be a brass thread-on cap over it but it looks like the cap might be missing.

BTW, you're missing the insulator housing assembly that should be surrounding your fuel filter/water separator. It was put there to help isolate the filter from heat in hopes of minimizing vapour lock.

[Serendipity]

Thanks Viper and I will double check all of these and report back.
Great ideas and I hope and pray one of them is the issue.

I am glad the pictures were of some use and I will keep you updated.

Thanks again

[bud37]

Source of the post Thanks Viper and I will double check all of these and report back.
Great ideas and I hope and pray one of them is the issue.

I am glad the pictures were of some use and I will keep you updated.

Thanks again

I know this is not the look at the pics and slam the owner, I wasn't going to mention it, but got to thinking about it......

So in the one pic there ( 201935 ) you will see someone has replaced an exhaust hose, looks like recent risers...the ribbed looking one on the left side of the engine....... anyway the clamps are not fitted properly, it appears the one clamp is not holding the hose on the riser fitting ......please correct that, the hose needs to be put on straight and both clamps need to be holding the hose. As it is that hose could be blown off while underway, at the least it will not be cooled the way it is designed.

At least thats the way it looks in the pics there, just check it out to double check.

[tomschauer]

That may be an optical delusion. The merc elbows have a significant downward angle and the hose connection is a few inches long. They are probably ok, but never hurts to double check.

[bud37]

It is hard to tell with any certainty from a pic that is for sure...... but the hose angle does not seem to match the angle of the riser.....also those particular hose clamps are wide and installed crooked. I can say from experience as well, that style clamp will barely fit with almost no space between even with the hose pushed all the way on the riser, which that one is not.