www.iFourWinns.com

1998 H200, 4.3 Volvo sx drive.

Boat has been running well if not enough this summer...work getting in the way. Today it had a definite whine that changed with engine speed, almost inaudible at idle but loud enough to hear around 2500 rpm with a load on the engine. Steering works, no obvious trauma to the pump/belt. didn't check fluid as I was in a hurry to get off the lake...will be first thing I look at next time. I took a video for sound but it just sounds like a normal idling 6 cylinder.

lets assume its the power steering pump...and assume I am not interested in changing it until after the season. Will a complete failure do anything more than take the belt with it? We don't live on a big lake but don't want to get stuck on the wrong side of it. any guesses how long these things will make noise before finally giving up, any other troubleshooting ideas.

Enjoy the summer....pics for clicks

Untitled by Jon Miller, on Flickr

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Jon Miller
1998 four Winns Horizon H200
Volvo Penta 4.3 GL
Newtown, CT

untitled-545 by millerjont, on Flickr

The whine is your fuel pump which was ruined by running government mandated gas (E10).

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Current Boat: 2000 Four Winns 298 Vista
Previous Boat: 2000 Carver 406MY

on a carbureted 4.3? (have been loosely following the other thread)

I did use fuel additive for the first season but haven't been good about it this one....

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Jon Miller
1998 four Winns Horizon H200
Volvo Penta 4.3 GL
Newtown, CT

untitled-545 by millerjont, on Flickr

The GM style pump can whine for a while before it fails, but if it locks up, depending on your belt set up, you could wind up with an overheated engine. Try this, loosen the belt enough to turn the P/S pulley. If its getting stiff, its near failure. Our old '98 Jeep has a GM style Saginaw pump. It whined for about 3 months and then I decided that it was time. By then it was my son's vehicle and I did not want him to get stranded out on the beaches of Long Island with a busted P/S pump. Replaced it with a Mopar reman for about 100 bucks. Easy job. The bearing in the new one was much smoother and turned much easier than the old. Lasted 16 years and 140000 miles.

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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

Shoot! I was hoping to trash the government again. Glad to hear it is an easy fix.

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Current Boat: 2000 Four Winns 298 Vista
Previous Boat: 2000 Carver 406MY

Its crazy how many fuel injection problems have been seen over the past few years. After about the first year, when I had to replace the anti siphon valve and have the Q-Jet rebuilt, I have not had problems that I could have associated to E-10 fuel and that's all we could get here since about 04 or so.
I don't think all of it is E-10, to some extent I think its the nature of marine fuel systems. Here's why:
in an automotive system, you can have a pump that is in the tank, push the fuel forward to the engine, and this does not put stress on the pump. This is not allowed in marine systems, because if the fuel line leaked fuel could be pumped into the bilge pretty quickly. So the marine system has to suck fuel forward from the tank, which is much more work for the pumps. So marine pumps should be made to be much more durable than an automotive style pump. Seems like that they still need improvement in this area.

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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

The whine of a fuel pump would not change with RPM.

Lou: I have to disagree with you on one small point: The work performed by a fuel pump is exactly the same no matter if it is pushing or pulling (unless it is sucking bubbles into the system or cavitating).

Alternator bearings could also make a whine, but most likely the power steering pump. Just being low on PS fluid can cause whining, so adding fluid might be your fix.

Regarding catastrophic failure of the PS pump... I think in 1988 you would have one belt running the PS pump (and circulating pump), and another belt running the alternator (and circulating pump also), so the loss of one belt would not leave you stranded. I've had it happen and it just takes some muscle to steer the boat.

Ray

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"Knot Easy" 2000 Horizon 240 Volvo 5.7GS /SX
tow: 2017 Honda PILOT EXL-AWD
prev. boats:
'87 Chaparral 198CXL 4.3 OMC Cobra
'69 Jetstar 16ft Ski Boat, 115hp Yamaha
'68 Aluminum Jon Boat, 3hp Sears
'64 Water Wings

There is a whine in my boat that increases with rpm but its the wife telling me to slow down.

LOL
Ask here if she wants a little cheese with that whine

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"Knot Easy" 2000 Horizon 240 Volvo 5.7GS /SX
tow: 2017 Honda PILOT EXL-AWD
prev. boats:
'87 Chaparral 198CXL 4.3 OMC Cobra
'69 Jetstar 16ft Ski Boat, 115hp Yamaha
'68 Aluminum Jon Boat, 3hp Sears
'64 Water Wings

lol. Well if I drive too fast, I don't hear any whine. Its more of a howl & growl lol.

Back to the noise. The GM Saginaw pump makes a low pitched whine as I can best describe it, more of a growl than a whine. At least the one on the Jeep did.

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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

yea it sounds like my neighbors old expedition that had a gimpy power steering pump....sounded like that for about 3 years at last count.

appreciate the responses...will post results when I have time to investigate more in the next few days...off to work now

_________________
Jon Miller
1998 four Winns Horizon H200
Volvo Penta 4.3 GL
Newtown, CT

untitled-545 by millerjont, on Flickr

UPDATE....

Power steering fluid was low enough not to register on dip stick...added about 1/4 quart maybe less, Noise gone, no obvious leaks or anything...put about two hours on it and will re-check next time out.

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Jon Miller
1998 four Winns Horizon H200
Volvo Penta 4.3 GL
Newtown, CT

untitled-545 by millerjont, on Flickr

Fyi....it's crazy but mine leaks dieing off season when not in use. ..more than likely the seals on steering ram on mine but I can't locate the leak.....I just wash the bilge out with soap and water and refill every season....not worth breaking the back for 3 dollars in fluid a year.

Glad that's all it was but feel the lines to make sure not spewing....for what is worth I noticed the cap has vacuum pressure on it after running it....I started opening and closing cap to relieve the vacuum and it leaks less during winter....it's a mind twister for me

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http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o71 ... wqm355.jpg


08' H210SS
VP 5.7Gi

Wait .. did we marry the same woman.. She is also located in my boat.

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1997 Horizon RS 180
5.7 GL Volvo Penta /SX drive. (1.60)
2018 Ford F-150 super crew 4x4