www.iFourWinns.com

Im diagnosing a hard cold start problem on my 278 Vista with the 4.3GI (TBI) engines.

I cleaned my anti-siphon valve. It was mostly clean but there were a few small pieces of stuff in it. I took my new (1.5 months old) fuel filter and emptied it. A few particles came out. I put it back on the housing, after I refilled it with fuel.

As usual, turn the key and no priming sound from the fuel pump. It took about 3-4 tries to get the pump to come on. Boat starts, stalls right out. Starts back up and I can hear the low pressure fuel pump making this whining/electrical buzzing sound that Ive never heard before. Tap it with the handle of a screwdriver a few times and it lessens. Ive always noticed that the low pressure fuel pump has always been very hot to the touch and today was no exception. The high pressure was cool to the touch.

Did I just diagnose my low pressure fuel pump failing?? Do I just unscrew the pump from the housing? Any tips?

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1997 Four Winns Vista 278
T - 4.3l EFI
Kohler 4esz Genset
379 hours as of 8/8/21

OK got the low pressure fuel pump OFF the engine.

Both screens really clean. Ok, next check.

I put 12v DC to the pump. It just makes a faint click sound. Shouldnt it buzz/whir??

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1997 Four Winns Vista 278
T - 4.3l EFI
Kohler 4esz Genset
379 hours as of 8/8/21

There is a lot of information on fuel sytem issues in the Volvo Penta section of iBoats.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=283269

http://forums.iboats.com/forumdisplay.php?f=444

http://forums.iboats.com/Volvo-Penta/Fuel-Pump

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2004 Vista 298
Twin 5.7L Volvo Penta GXi-E

Thanks! Ive been hanging out over there for a while.

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1997 Four Winns Vista 278
T - 4.3l EFI
Kohler 4esz Genset
379 hours as of 8/8/21

Also there is a long thread at the Seaswirl Owners Club but you have to register to read it.
I don't get why these pumps are so troublesome. I would love to have FI on the boat but honestly I am glad I have a muscle car era Quadra-Jet and mechanical fuel pump. The Q-Jet has been rebuilt 2x in 10 years worth of boating (could be ethanol related) and the pump is original, untouched.
In 23 years of having cars with electric fuel pumps, we replaced one, on an '88 Toyota Camry but it had 115000 miles on it and was about 7 years old. Our 2 older vehicles are both going on 15 years old with a bit more than 140000 miles each, both still have the OE electric pumps.

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

I have a friend who can get a handsome discount at West Marine on the low pressure fuel pump (Sierra brand). $112. So Im going to pick that up and replace it, save the old one as an emergency spare as its still intermittently working.

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1997 Four Winns Vista 278
T - 4.3l EFI
Kohler 4esz Genset
379 hours as of 8/8/21

You know with all the controversy about E-10 fuels (are you using that, we have no choice here in southern NY) there are companies that sell E-10 testing kits so you can find out what's really in the gas you are using. I would get one of these if I was having repeated fuel problems.

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

Ok my friend works at a very popular boating store that rhymes with Rest Rarine...lol.

I got the low pressure fuel pump for $112 with his employee discount - list price was $212

Installed it, started right up. Ill let you know if it solved the problem tomorrow. Its only when I cold start it that I get problems.

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1997 Four Winns Vista 278
T - 4.3l EFI
Kohler 4esz Genset
379 hours as of 8/8/21