Failed fuel pump #4 and counting

jimmythemufflers · **Joined:** Tue Aug 05, 2014 8:26 pm **Posts:** 40

2014 H190 RS with a VP 4.3 225hp efi.

My wife and I bought the boat new, barely 1 hour on the clock August of 2014. 3 weeks and about 25 hours with the brand new boat the fuel pump started whining louder than my kids do. Dealer replaced it and we were back in the water. First time out 2015 the boat was lacking power and the fuel pump was whining again. The dealer replaced the pump. This one lasted about 2 months and 25 hours before it started to whine yet again but no loss of power. I took it to a different certified volvo repair/warranty marina and they replaced it. Now the first time out 2016 the boat again was lacking power and whining.

The dealer is picking the boat up thursday to put fuel pump #5 on. All of this has been covered under warranty and has not cost me any money, however it has been a huge headache and I am left for weeks without a boat.

1) I have taken the boat to two different places.
2) Dealer winterized the 1st year & I winterized the 2nd year 1st time on the water after both times winterized the pump whined and noticeably lost power.
3) Twice the entire fuel pump assembly was replaced, low side once and high side once.
4) fuel quality is tested at each pump replacement.
5) All fuel lines on the boat and motor have been vacuum and pressure tested including fuel tank vent.
6) I typically fill up on the water which should be ethanol free gas, each fill up I add the Volvo brand fuel treatment.

What the hell is going on here folks? Does the lemon law apply to boats?

GottWhat · **Posted:** Tue Jun 07, 2016 5:41 pm

That is a big bummer. Lemon laws are state dependent. If you decide to go that route, make sure you contact a lawyer that specializes in lemon laws.

TX H210SS · **Joined:** Thu May 27, 2010 9:10 am **Posts:** 1488

Check to see if they changed out the filter screen in the regulator and replaced with stainless c clamp. Not sure if applies to the 2014s but did for my model. It's a repair notice they sent out.

After they replace I would want to see them measure the low and high side pressure on the fuel rail...if not within limits then there is blockage and this will continue to burn them up. Could be clog at tank pickup, rail, regulator or shitty pumps.....hell. ..that's 5,000 worth of pumps and that's parts alone

Jsyphil · **Posted:** Wed Jun 08, 2016 7:34 am

wow

I can't help with your question, but good luck.

LouC · **Posted:** Wed Jun 08, 2016 7:57 am

Have they checked the wiring & connectors for the pump?
Loose terminals might cause a low voltage condition causing the pumps to fail prematurely.
The same can happen with starters. First check the charging system voltage to make sure the whole system is where it should be (about 14.2V at idle). Then make sure there is no voltage drop at the terminals for the pump.

BTW my boat still has the original 28 year old mechanical pump and 4 bbl Quadrajet. Is this progress??

Cap'n Morgan · **Posted:** Wed Jun 08, 2016 8:07 am

Had VP power in our 268 Vista, pump was replaced after 2 years before we bought the boat. It was fine for the
5 years we owned it. Fuel pump issues are one reason I would never have a Volvo powered boat again.

Have had 3 boats with Merc power, never a fuel pump issues on them. But, Merc's do have issues too, but not nearly as
much as Volvo.

Good luck with the next pump, hope it is the last time you have to worry about it.

grant570 · **Joined:** Wed Jun 01, 2016 3:09 pm **Posts:** 1

I bought a 2016 200h with the VP 225hp....hopefully I do not end up in the same situation..... I am no expert, but back in the day I burned up a fuel pump in a car by being cheap and not filling the tank often running near empty, hence it was probably sucking air. I assume you don't run your tank low, but it seems with the series of pump failures, the problem can't be the pump, and you check fuel quality, so maybe somewhere your fuel system is picking up too much air(in the tank?(bad float?)) thats my wild guess.....

LouC · **Posted:** Wed Jun 08, 2016 10:55 am

Also did they check the anti siphon valve on the gas tank?

ThaScoobs · **Posted:** Wed Jun 08, 2016 11:09 am

That is terrible! How can you have any confidence in a brand new boat if that keeps happening. There has to be some other issue, how could you get that many bad pumps?

babbot1 · **Joined:** Tue Mar 12, 2013 3:46 pm **Posts:** 570

Sorry to hear. Its terrible bringing a boat to the mechanic. Such a headache. I have been waiting for almost a month myself.
Wild guess for me is the pickup line has a kink or it's too high in the tank but Lou has a good guess too with voltage.

jimmythemufflers · **Joined:** Tue Aug 05, 2014 8:26 pm **Posts:** 40

Thank you all for your ideas and support. The dealer told me a rep from Volvo is coming out today to personally look at my boat and one other boat at the dealer. The service rep gave me the boat back telling me it was safe to use and will not break down. So far so good. I was cleaning the boat after taking the kids out and noticed something ive never seen.

There is 2 metal 90 degree fittings off the fuel pump and one of them looks to be pinched or bent too far as it is thinner than the other and has stress cracks in the metal, no leaks though. That same fitting connects to a rubber hose which goes to the port side of the engine, just before the connection to the engine it makes a 180 degree turn and looks to me like it has a slight kink. These 2 things can cause a fuel restriction however I am no pro. I dont know how I noticed this and a shop full of volvo certified mechanics did not so Maybe its not the problem. I will try to upload pictures if i can.

jimmythemufflers · **Joined:** Tue Aug 05, 2014 8:26 pm **Posts:** 40

I made a mistake, the metal fitting and rubber hose are not the same they are 2 different lines. the rubber hose hooks to the port side of the engine and the other end is clamped to the top of the fuel pump. Could somebody please help me out on how to post pictures? it says I cant share a picture if it is just on my computer?

rpengr · **Posted:** Fri Jul 15, 2016 9:07 am

jimmythemufflers wrote:

...Could somebody please help me out on how to post pictures? it says I cant share a picture if it is just on my computer?

Short version: You have to upload your picture to a free service like Photobucket or many other choices. Photobucket has a way to copy a link to the photo, and you put that link in your post.

Long version: http://www.smwebhead.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=1877&hilit=posting+photos

Jdpber · **Posted:** Fri Jul 15, 2016 10:06 am

wow it seems like that model pump may be the issue

Flyer51 · **Posted:** Fri Jul 15, 2016 10:19 am

What model is your fuel pump? The top photo is the old fuel pump and the bottom is the new fuel pump. Volvo has had at least two fuel pump numbers on my engine that superseded the old one. This is on my 8.1 but I thought I read that the smaller engines used the same pump.

Regarding the line with the clamp on your fuel pump you may be referring to the line for the coolant for the pump.

www.iFourWinns.com

Failed fuel pump #4 and counting

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