boater2018
Member
- Feb 26, 2018
- 150
- Boat Info
- 2000 Sea Ray 210 Sundeck
- Engines
- Mercruiser 5.0 EFI
2000 Sundeck 210 5.0 efi. I’ve been dealing with this issue all summer. I have changed the IAC valve, fuel pump, and fuel regulator so far. I just water tested for the first time since changing the fuel pump and regulator. The problem: Before changing the fuel pump, the boat starts fine first thing, runs great to the swimming hole, after it sits for a while, starts up and runs a few seconds, then the idle surges several times and it goes dead and will not run. The next day will start up fine and repeat the same issue.
Today was the first test after changing the fuel pump and regulator. It started up and ran fine for a short run to the store for lunch. After only sitting 10 minutes or so, it was a little hard to start. When it did start, it was at a very low idle then I gave a little gas and it leveled out and ran fine to the swimming hole. After sitting and swimming for 1.5 hours or so, it was very hard to start. I tried putting some fuel to it through neutral and the engine alarm beeped a couple of times. Don’t know why. After finally getting it to start, the engine alarm sounded 1 second on and 1 second off although it was idling fine. I turned it off and started it again and no alarm, but the idle surged a few times, then leveled out and it ran fine again back to the dock. We went on my brother’s boat for a couple of hours and came back and it started right up and idled to the ramp and took it out.
I really thought the fuel pump was the problem, but now wonder if it’s vapor locking and needs the booster pump kit from Mercruiser. The only thing strange is that this is year 5 with this boat and we haven’t had this issue before. I have had some hard starts before, but not been stranded and not hard starts like today. The only thing different about today from before replacing the fuel pump was that it did correct itself after surging and ran fine after that. Is there anything else that makes sense other than vapor lock? The kit costs $750 just for the parts. I’ll do it if it will fix it, just seems odd it hasn’t done this the last 4 summers and all of a sudden it’s doing it now. Also, i don’t think the regulator hose was connected to anything most of the summer. It is now connected to the flame arrestor. Also, I did run a few tanks of ethanol gas through it, but it never sat longer than a couple of weeks. I recently pumped most of the ethanol out and replaced with non ethanol with fuel stabilizer and octane booster. I have not ran any ethanol prior to this summer. Would it have somehow corrected itself and running a little while since the fuel pump is new? I have no idea what’s going on if it’s not vapor lock, but also don’t know why it hasn’t done it before now if it is vapor lock. Thank you!
Today was the first test after changing the fuel pump and regulator. It started up and ran fine for a short run to the store for lunch. After only sitting 10 minutes or so, it was a little hard to start. When it did start, it was at a very low idle then I gave a little gas and it leveled out and ran fine to the swimming hole. After sitting and swimming for 1.5 hours or so, it was very hard to start. I tried putting some fuel to it through neutral and the engine alarm beeped a couple of times. Don’t know why. After finally getting it to start, the engine alarm sounded 1 second on and 1 second off although it was idling fine. I turned it off and started it again and no alarm, but the idle surged a few times, then leveled out and it ran fine again back to the dock. We went on my brother’s boat for a couple of hours and came back and it started right up and idled to the ramp and took it out.
I really thought the fuel pump was the problem, but now wonder if it’s vapor locking and needs the booster pump kit from Mercruiser. The only thing strange is that this is year 5 with this boat and we haven’t had this issue before. I have had some hard starts before, but not been stranded and not hard starts like today. The only thing different about today from before replacing the fuel pump was that it did correct itself after surging and ran fine after that. Is there anything else that makes sense other than vapor lock? The kit costs $750 just for the parts. I’ll do it if it will fix it, just seems odd it hasn’t done this the last 4 summers and all of a sudden it’s doing it now. Also, i don’t think the regulator hose was connected to anything most of the summer. It is now connected to the flame arrestor. Also, I did run a few tanks of ethanol gas through it, but it never sat longer than a couple of weeks. I recently pumped most of the ethanol out and replaced with non ethanol with fuel stabilizer and octane booster. I have not ran any ethanol prior to this summer. Would it have somehow corrected itself and running a little while since the fuel pump is new? I have no idea what’s going on if it’s not vapor lock, but also don’t know why it hasn’t done it before now if it is vapor lock. Thank you!