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Noel Schembri, Marine Technician
Category: Boat
Positive Feedback: 97 %
Satisfied Customers: 1591
Experience: Advanced technical diploma
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My 1996 Sea Ray 175 boat started up but then would die within

Customer Question

My 1996 Sea Ray 175 boat started up but then would die within seconds. We thought it was the battery and continued to jump start it with a portable charger very few minutes but the engine would die like it wasn't getting enough fuel-like it was out of gas, but it wasn't. There is oil on the dipstick but the plastic reservoir (sp?) is bone dry. I think the book calls that the "gear lube" monitor. Could that be the source of the problem?

Submitted: 10 months ago.
Category: Boat
Expert:  Clamp-onTech replied 10 months ago.

Hi my name isXXXXX will assist you today. These questions require a rating. If you are satisfied with my answer please rate 3 or more smilies.

Does the prop spin free when on the trailer if you spun it by hand? Are you getting an alarm? You should be if the bottle is empty.

This could be the cause, you will need to check the oil in the lower unit. You will need to remove part 5 and see if there is metal on the magnet, or if the oil that comes out has a milky look.

If the oil has metal in it, the drive will need to be torn down to see what has failed.

If you get milky oil the case will need to be resealed.

Check on the oil and let me know.

Customer: replied 10 months ago.

did you send the diagram to show what part 5 is? Is there more than 1 place to put oil? The dipstick that I see to check appeared to look like good oil. Could the fuel filter have anything to do with it? What kind of damage does a bone dry gear lube monitor do?

Customer: replied 10 months ago.

, to answer your first question, yes the prop spins just fine on or off trailer. Could the fuel filter cause the engine to shut off? Or are there lines that should be blown or cleared out? Or could the idle being set too high or low cause it to shut down? Thanks so much for responding at such a late hour, we had planned to take boat out this coming morning.

Customer: replied 10 months ago.

Relist: Incomplete answer.
the initial response asked for additional info from me, which I replied with (twice) but have not received any answers yet.

Expert:  Noel Schembri replied 10 months ago.

Hello my name is XXXXX XXXXX X will assist you. Most probably the problem you have is a defective pressure switch that is not switching on the fuel pump when the engine builds up oil pressure. Try bypassing the oil pressure switch wire that goes to the fuel pump and see if the engine keeps running. If it does then the switch would require to be replaced.

IF you still need further assistance let me know.

Noel

Customer: replied 10 months ago.


so you don't think a clogged or bad fuel filter or oil fitler would have caused the engine to shut off after a few seconds and evenually not start (but still turn over)? I just want to be sure and start with the least difficult/time consuming fix and work my way up -- ntm I don't know if I can find a replacement switch in time to go fishing...

Expert:  Noel Schembri replied 10 months ago.

the system works like this, when you turn the ignition key to on the fuel pump gets primed for a few seconds to allow the engine to start, as soon as it cranks and builds up oil pressure the pressure switch continues to supply the pump with 12 volts and keep the engine running. In your case i dont think this is happening. To be sure try using a voltmeter verifying that there is 12volts while the engine is cranking. if not then the switch would need to be replaced.

Noel

Noel Schembri, Marine Technician
Category: Boat
Positive Feedback: 97 %
Satisfied Customers: 1591
Experience: Advanced technical diploma
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