Won't start - 2003 Tige 24V

[Bendog]

I bought a boat and this is my third time out. The first two times, it stalled a couple of times but would start back up right away. It would generally do this while we had been going at low speeds or trying to get someone up wakeboarding... so basically extended times of low RPM. But the first two trips it stalled maybe three times each trip but would start back up right away. This trip, it did it and wouldn't start up right away. The first time it finally started after like 5 minutes of trying... ran great for a few hours and then stalled again and would not start.

Didn't seem like it was overheating or doing anything strange right up until it would stall out and die. So I got towed back in as I tried to start for 20 minutes or so to no avail. Shot in the dark, but maybe hoping one of you have had something similar happen and might point me in the right direction where to start.

Any help is greatly appreciated! Thanks!!!

[Bendog]

Oh, it's a PCM 330 motor if that helps any.

[IDBoating]

Since it will start and run, that proves that a lot of things are working properly.

Start with the basics. First guess would be fuel or fuel system. Just your third time out... are you running fuel that was already in the tank from the previous owner? Have you drained/replaced the fuel filter(s) and the fuel/water separating filter (if it has one)? Did the previous owner use ethanol-contaminated fuel?

[duffymahoney]

My guess is fuel pump or gas. There is a spot on the fuel rail to put a test meter and you can disconnect the gas line and see if it pumps. These boats have two fuel pumps, low pressure and high pressure

[WakenSki]

I am not familiar with the 24V but I had a 20i (2004) that did the same thing. Found out the fuel hose was getting pinched between the tank and the trunk wallboard (a wakeboard in the trunk was wedging down at an angle and pushing the wallboard). Just had to turn the fuel elbow 90 degrees so the fuel line went down along the side of the tank (not the back). Long story short - it sure sounds like a pinched fuel line. Good luck to you...

[cclarke89]

Dude i just fixed my problem like that today. Not saying yours is the same but check out your main circuit breaker before you spend a lot of money at the boat mechanic like i did. I installed a $15 dollar circuit breaker and it fixed everything.

[IDBoating]

My guess is fuel pump or gas. There is a spot on the fuel rail to put a test meter and you can disconnect the gas line and see if it pumps. These boats have two fuel pumps, low pressure and high pressure

Agreed. I figured we should get him thinking about the fuel itself, and if that's not the problem the next step is whether known good fuel is getting to the engine via the pumps.

[boatwakes]

We're the rpms consistent with time of shut down (I.e. Wake surfing at 2700 rpm all day or just idling around)? Or did it shut down at random times?

[Bendog]

First, thanks so much for all the replies! I am mechanically inclined but first boat so a bit lost. I was thinking fuel also, so will try the tips here. Dumb question - where is the fuel rail? I'll try and google that now too. Second dumb question - is the pump in the gas tank? is that difficult to get to? I know in my truck I had to replace the pump once and had to drop the tank and it was a huge pain, but thinking since you can't drop the tank in a boat it might be actually fairly accessible.

Boatwakes - it happened at very consistent RPMs. Basically, if the boat is going and above 1500 RPM then no issue at all. Every time it has happened it has been at very low RPM's. Most times it was idle or was just coming off idle like just about to punch it but going slow to get the rope tight or something. Also, it happened a few times when I was in a no wake zone so was going really slow (again, very low RPMs). It has never happened when I've been above 2000 RPMs, towing someone, etc. Even wakesurfing at that slow speed and it's fine.

I will check the pump tomorrow. I haven't done anything to it, just put gas in (I have been going to a gas station that I've always trusted and being the third time out, if it was bad gas I would think I'd have gone through it all by now? I used about 3/4 of a tank each trip). I should have done a tune up/service but the guy just had it done (showed receipts for the parts, but did do it himself). I trust he did it so I didn't... normally when I buy a new vehicle I do all that stuff regardless but I believe he did the service.

Again guys, thank you so much for your help. Being the third time out I am a bit stressed like "did I buy a lemon" or something. But to WABoatings point, when it's running it's running tip top so I have to believe that's a great thing. Hopefully it's just the pump or a kinked line or clogged filter or something.

[IDBoating]

If you can accelerate hard and maintain speed, it's less likely to be a fuel pump or fuel delivery problem. Idle is the time of lowest fuel consumption; if it's able to accelerate (highest fuel demand) and maintain speed (midrange fuel demand) then your fuel delivery system is likely working fine.

Still... I'd check your fuel filters, especially a fuel/water separating filter if you have one.

There's a great bunch of helpful, friendly people on this site. We'll get you going!

[Stingreye]

These guys will be way more helpful than me but my Pcm (2004 6l). If you follow the line from the tank to a low pressure pump. It then goes to a cylinder called the fcc or something like that. That is your full water separator and filter. It also has your high pressure pump on it. Good luck and congratulations on the boat. I love my 24v!

Also, If you go to planet Nautique they have the old Pcm manuals from that year and they are really good with diagrams and part numbers.

Sent from my SM-N900T using Tapatalk

[IDBoating]

Stingreye is correct, and on the bottom of the FCC (wasn't sure if your engine would have it) there is a brass screw just like on traditional fuel/water separating filters. Put an appropriate container below that and remove the screw. You'll get a surprising amount of fuel and water out of it. Put the screw back in and then turn the key to ON (but not start) to power up the fuel pumps and refill the canister. Do that a couple of times, then you can run the engine again. This will at least get any latent water out of the FCC.

EDIT: The screw is a 7/16th's hex head. Use some thread sealant when you reinstall it, but keep the sealant off of the first couple of turns of thread so it doesn't get into the FCC and mix with the fuel.

[boatwakes]

If it's only happening at low rpm you're most likely having a problem with the idle air control valve. If the boat starts with throttle applied (25% or so) then dies when you pull it back, that's the problem.

[Bendog]

Is there a way to try and start with throttle applied? Anytime I tried to do that their must be a mechanism that stops the starter from cranking.

It's hard to describe how it happens, but it seems like it happens when we have a rookie trying to wakeboarding so it's like I try and pull him out, he doesn't get up, I turn around... all low speed lugging and then when I'm barely in gear to tighten the rope... that's when it dies. If I get to a point where I have more than like 1500 - 2000 RPM... no issues with the boat ever, runs like a top.

It does seem like a low idle issue.... but then yesterday when it wouldn't start back up at all, that made me think it was a bigger issue. But the first two trips when it would die and I could start it right back up I was thinking it was just idling too low and was going to look into a way to raise it a hair.

[IDBoating]

Is there a way to try and start with throttle applied? Anytime I tried to do that their must be a mechanism that stops the starter from cranking.

I thought about that when boatwakes suggested it. There is a lockout switch in the throttle lever intended to prevent exactly that condition. You may have to bypass that switch to do it (short or disconnect, depending upon whether it's NO or NC). Maybe there's a clever way to bypass it without removal... hopefully boatwakes will chime in if so.

It's hard to describe how it happens, but it seems like it happens when we have a rookie trying to wakeboarding so it's like I try and pull him out, he doesn't get up, I turn around... all low speed lugging and then when I'm barely in gear to tighten the rope... that's when it dies. If I get to a point where I have more than like 1500 - 2000 RPM... no issues with the boat ever, runs like a top.

If it were a carbed engine, that set of symptoms would make the answer obvious!