stalling from idle

[mdeswert]

Our '03 20V started shutting off after idling back to pick up a down rider. It dies for about a second and you can see the tach drop, then without touching the starter it begins running again. One time I did have to use the starter to restart it. The circumstances that were different were that we were at 6200 ft elevation when we ussually operate at between 2700 and 3400 ft elevation. Does anyone have any ideas?

Thanks for any help,

Mike

[mdeswert]

To update this thread, I will say that today at our 3400 feet elevation home lake the boat didnt miss a beat.

The only advice that we recieved about the nature of this malfunction was a suggestion that the control module wasnt used to the elevation and that we should disconnect the battery for a few minutes then reconnect so the module would start with a clean slate and perhaps adjust to the altitude? Since I didnt get this suggestion in time to try it, We wont know. Unfortunately for us we wont get back to Tahoe this season to experiment.

[JASON739]

see my previous post on idle surge and drop. Let me know if it is the same as what you are seeing.

[mdeswert]

Jason, I looked at that other thread and it does sound similar. In part, because our boat also will race a little if you go to nuetral near the end of deceleration. We like to slow down completely prior to turning around to pick up a down rider, if I accidentally go to nuetral in the process it will not come down to an idle for a few seconds. When ours was shutting down from idle, it would only be for about one second, then it would begin running again without hitting the starter most of the time. I was surprised by that other thread to see that others had experienced the same thing, because it seemed very unusual to me. One thing to bear in mind, is that once back at our home lake it hasnt done it since. It seems to me like its related to the control module being unhappy about something??? In our case Im assuming the big change in operating altitude???? What do you think?

[NICKYPOO]

I spend quite a bit of time at Tahoe so I know what your talking about. The air is pretty thin up there. I had the same issue when we first started going up there. All I did was set my idle up a tick higher and it seemed to cure everything. Mine is a 2000 so I'm not sure what electronic upgrades yours might have. Where were you at Tahoe? Where do you ride in Or. My dad just moved from Bend to Redmond so he is only about 45 min. away from Billy Chinook. I can't wait to get up there with my Tige. Which way did you come down/go up?

[mdeswert]

We were at Tahoe Park on the west shore. The first part of our trip is a stop at Lake Almanor where we ride with our friends from Reno. We live between Bend and Redmond and ride at Prineville Reservoir and Lake Billy Chinook. Our best part of the season is coming up because the air gets very still here in the fall, (compared to spring and early summer).
Thanks for the info on your boats behavior at altitude. Is your 2000 fuel injected?

To answer your question on the travel, when northbound we turn left at Alturas and go about 20 miles west, just past Canby turn right and go through the modoc mountains into Klamath Falls then the rest of the way up 97. The other way, turning right in Alturas and going thru Lakeview and Valley falls, Paisley, Summer Lake and into Lapine is windier and the pavement is not as good and the time is so close to the same, I prefer the better asphalt and straighter/wider highway when trailering the boat.

If you can catch Billy Chinook on a weekday morning like we do you will think you died and gone to boarding/slalom heaven.

[NICKYPOO]

My 2000 has the Merc. 350 mag mpi so yes, it's injected.

The west shore at Tahoe is the only place to be. Can you believe the water temp. this year? Do you guys do the usuall booze cruise? Chambers>Sunnyside>ect.>ect. The weather this year has been phenominal. From the huge winter to the extra hot summer, it has really made Tahoe nice (and all the other lakes around here for that matter). Dream seasons for the Sierras.

Our first big trip of the year for the past three years has been Almanor. If you check out some of the pics in my member galleries you can get a pretty good idea of where we are at while we are there. The east side of the peninsula is the opposite shore line from where we stay. Perfect view of Lassen from the dock.

Thanks for the travel tip. I usaully go right at Alturas and head up that way but you are right, it is a rockin' and rollin' ride. I have yet to tow the boat up there and I was a bit worried about that route, so once again, thanks. The weather tip is also huge. The one time I was on Billy Chinook it was a Sunday in October and the place was dead. 80 degrees, sun shine, no wind and nobody on the water. I think we saw three other boats (all fishermen) that day.Unfortunatly,
I was out on my dad's fishing boat and all we did was toss lures at the shore line all day. Not even a nibble. I would have killed to have my Tige there. That would have been heaven.