www.iFourWinns.com

Hello,
I was out on the lake today having fun with the boat and kids when suddenly my motor just cut off and stopped. I thought maybe I was out of gas or at least that’s what it felt like!
Got it back on the trailer after being towed by another boat and drove it to the gas station filled it up but it only took 4 gallons!! Obviously not empty. I tried to get it started there but to no avail. Got home cranked it again nothing, until I heard a buzz noise inside the gas tank, banged on the area the sound was coming with my hand, buzz went away, turned the key and now the motor runs again like nothing was ever wrong!
What could it be? Is there a gas pump inside the tank?
What is the buzz sound?

My boat is a 1984 Four Winns Marquise 160 I/O - Mercruiser 4 cyl./carburator.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Peter

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Peter Ferreira
http://www.peterferreira.com

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1984 Four Winns Marquise 160 I/O - Mercruiser 4 cyl./carb.

With questions like this, it'll help if you add your boat year/model, and specific engine & drive models to your signature in your profile. Then people will have a lot more to go on when trying to help.

If your engine is fuel injected, then your fuel pump is inside your tank. And they can eventually fail. By the way, you did have it on muffs when cranking it at the gas station and at home... right?

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

I'm not going to lie...

knowing nothing about your boat, it sounds EXACTLY like a dying fuel pump. It's a common knowledge thing with GM trucks/cars that when the pump dies, you can hit it really hard and about 75% of the time it will start back up again.

If this is the case, it's time for a new fuel pump.

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1995 Four Winns Freedom 170
4.3-GL, Volvo SX

It does sound like a pump but I wouldn't think that your setup has an electric fuel pump.

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Troy
2008 Centurion Avalanche
1994 Four Winns Horizon 180 SE 5.0L OMC Cobra (Sold)
2002 Ford F150 Harley Davidson Edition (http://www.nhtoc.com) 378 hp & 465 tq at rear wheels
2008 Honda Accord EX-L w/Nav

Double post, Sorry.

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Troy
2008 Centurion Avalanche
1994 Four Winns Horizon 180 SE 5.0L OMC Cobra (Sold)
2002 Ford F150 Harley Davidson Edition (http://www.nhtoc.com) 378 hp & 465 tq at rear wheels
2008 Honda Accord EX-L w/Nav

No, I have a mechanical pump on the side of the motor.

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Peter Ferreira
http://www.peterferreira.com

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1984 Four Winns Marquise 160 I/O - Mercruiser 4 cyl./carb.

I wonder if the tank is not venting or venting intermittently? Buzzing noise could be the vacuum sucked by the mechanical fuel pump slooowly leaking away (hard to tell without actually hearing it). Maybe something caught on the fuel pickup or check valve?

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Alec

2006 Horizon 190
VP 4.3GL/SX, Sunsport

Have you owned the boat since new? Or is there the likelihood that someone else in the past made possible alterations to the fuel system? It's extremely unlikely a boat would have an in-tank fuel pump, but with a used boat you never know what a previous owner might have had done...

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

I just got this boat about a month ago. I'm the 3rd owner.
I'm going to open the tank by removing the 3 screws from this part that made the buzz sound, I think it's just the fuel gauge sending unit, but maybe it's arching or maybe there is a pump in there also???? I don't know.

I'm also having problems with stalling when I give it gas... sometimes it goes, most times I can only cruze at 10, 15 mph. I think I need to clean or replace the carbs and the mechanical fuel pump. I'm starting to think I have a fuel supply problem! Most likely a dirty carburator!

Peter

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Peter Ferreira
http://www.peterferreira.com

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1984 Four Winns Marquise 160 I/O - Mercruiser 4 cyl./carb.

Yea you probably removed the fuel gauge sending unit. It might be buzzing.?.? Easy/cheap enough to get a new one. As for your fuel supply problem. Have you changed your fuel filter or fuel/water separator yet? And make sure your fuel tank can vent. If you are drawing fuel out of the tank and no air is going in to replace the fuel coming out you will create a vacuum which after a short time will over power the old mechanical pump and keep fuel from making it to the Carb. (I think) I would start there.

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Troy
2008 Centurion Avalanche
1994 Four Winns Horizon 180 SE 5.0L OMC Cobra (Sold)
2002 Ford F150 Harley Davidson Edition (http://www.nhtoc.com) 378 hp & 465 tq at rear wheels
2008 Honda Accord EX-L w/Nav

I think Alec is right - you either have a vent problem or a check-valve or pick-up tube that is jammed with debris or varnish. Unfortunately, I've had plenty of experience with the check-valves on both of my engines the last couple of seasons. If you have a check-valve and it's the culprit, it's an easy fix - just clean it up with carb cleaner and verify it's working as it should. If it's a vent problem, it shouldn't be that hard to figure out. Maybe the vent itself is plugged up, maybe with spider webs or something like that, or perhaps the hose is kinked somewhere between the vent and tank.

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USCG 50 Ton Master Inland/OUPV Endorsement+Towing

1998 278 Vista - Twin 4.3 GLs, Kohler 4KW Gen, AC/Heat.
1999 Yamaha Waverunner SUV
2003 Yamaha Waverunner SUV w/MR-1 HO conversion

check-valves??

That's inside the tank right?

I will check the vent...

Thank you!

Peter

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Peter Ferreira
http://www.peterferreira.com

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1984 Four Winns Marquise 160 I/O - Mercruiser 4 cyl./carb.

Good thought on the clogged fuel pick up tube - many have mesh type filters at the business end. Pull, clean, replace. Conceptually, a clogged pick up tube would give you more problems at high throttle opposed to low throttle, but you never know. Something to look at while you're "in there". Good luck!

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2007 Horizon 200
4.3L GXi/ SX 225 HP

You generally only see limited throttle top-end when the engine gets starved for fuel. I had an old Jeep that would do this. When it's aftermarket electric fuel pump was about to die (again) it would suddenly cease being able to go more than about 25mph, no matter how much throttle I gave it. Fortunately it was an easy replacement.

I'd concentrate on establishing that your fuel system is working properly. Start from the tank and work your way up from there.

Fuel hoses are rubber (more or less) and DO wear out over time. New hose is cheap, certainly less than the cost of a tow. It might be good to just plan on replacing all the fuel hoses. Eye up what size you've got in there now and measure how much length you'll need. Buy new hose along with a bunch of stainless hose clamps (in the appropriate size of course).

Is your fuel filter OK? Replace it if you don't know when it was last installed.

Since the boat has a number of years on it you might want to look into cleaning out any debris that might have collected in the bottom of the tank. And then there's the check valves already mentioned.

Once you're sure the hoses and tank are in good working order then you may want to look into replacing the fuel pump. I'd leave rebuilding or replacing the carb to the very last. Before you put in a new carb you'd have to do all the other stuff first anyway.

BUT BE CAREFUL. Gasoline is dangerous if handled improperly! Most of all you want to avoid any collection of fumes developing. Make sure any work you do is outdoors and well ventilated! I won't run down a whole list of warnings, you'd do well to search for that yourself.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

Thank you all for your help.

I am going to look at it tomorrow. I did replace the fuel line and filter on the line. Will replace the filter on the carb. tomorrow along with the possible filter in the tank. I have disconected the battery and will do the work outside with a fire E. on hand.

Peter

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Peter Ferreira
http://www.peterferreira.com

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1984 Four Winns Marquise 160 I/O - Mercruiser 4 cyl./carb.