Volvo Penta won't start when warm

[InPursuit]

Does anyone have any suggestions as to why I can't get my 5.7 VP (EFI) to start after it warms up? It's not just that it won't start, it won't even turn over. When you turn the key to "on," all the normal things happen i.e., the gauges are energized, the console beeps like it's supposed to but when I turn the key to "start" there is nothing. It acts as though the shifter safety switch is engaged (not allowing the motor to start when in gear) but that's not it. The ignition/starter relays on top of the motor have been replaced and that didn't fix the problem. I did just replace the starter just prior to this problem surfacing. However, testing suggests that when the motor is warmed up that the starter is not getting the required power to it as it does when it's cold.

The boat is a 2005 Striper 2601.
Any suggestions?

Thanks,

G-Dubb

[AlseaAssassin]

Could it be vapor locked?

[Boat Doc']

get a volt meter or test light and work your way to the rear checking the key switch, neutral safety switch, relays and finally the starter.

[Bill Monroe Jr.]

I'm Gonna go out on a limb and say Solenoid on the starter... Very very common when heated up to not turn over on Chev 350's.... ( I know it's a Volvo Penta motor, but its still a 350 GM block, with the VP name on it.... ). SO, Chevy 350's, and also the 454's are notorious for locking up like that- Even after they are new, and used for the first time... Just a heat thing. happended alot to me in racing Dragstrip style, and learned my lesson and switched to HIGH TORQUE mini Starters...

You have power to the Solenoid, its probably just locked up inside of its housing... If you don't wanna replace it, then try Gently tapping on the Solenoid with a hammer, and keep doing that for a bit until the Solenoid activates... If that gets the starter to turn over, then its obvious you will need to replace the Solenoid. Simple task if the starter is easily accessible.

Whatever the case is, Good luck. Just wanted to throw out my 2 cents worth of my personal experiences.

Bill Monroe Jr.

[Lou]

Originally Posted by Bill Monroe Jr.

I'm Gonna go out on a limb and say Solenoid on the starter... Very very common when heated up to not turn over on Chev 350's.... ( I know it's a Volvo Penta motor, but its still a 350 GM block, with the VP name on it.... ). SO, Chevy 350's, and also the 454's are notorious for locking up like that- Even after they are new, and used for the first time... Just a heat thing. happended alot to me in racing Dragstrip style, and learned my lesson and switched to HIGH TORQUE mini Starters...

You have power to the Solenoid, its probably just locked up inside of its housing... If you don't wanna replace it, then try Gently tapping on the Solenoid with a hammer, and keep doing that for a bit until the Solenoid activates... If that gets the starter to turn over, then its obvious you will need to replace the Solenoid. Simple task if the starter is easily accessible.

Whatever the case is, Good luck. Just wanted to throw out my 2 cents worth of my personal experiences.

Bill Monroe Jr.

Got to love those 454's! When ole Vern had the Texaco on 82nd and
224, he had the boys make room for me, so they could push me
away from the pumps after filling.
Very good possibilty rthat the solenoid is the proplem.
That block is bullet proof and the warm issue is the give away.

[InPursuit]

Thanks for all the replies. Jeff at Cook Engine in Portland was working on it and the first thing he tried was to replace the power distribution box which sits right on top of the motor behind the carb. When that didn't fix the problem he started checking various locations within the electrical system to isolate the problem. What he found (eventually) was that one of the two small wires that connect to the solenoid was bad. He said that when the engine was cold that the wire could carry enough current to start the motor but when it was hot it could not. He said something about a difference in resistance when hot which I really didn't understand. But by replacing that one little small wire it cured the problem. As I think back on it, I wonder if I created this issue myself when I changed the starter just a month ago. Since both of the butt connectors at the ends of the two smaller wires connected to the solenoid were corroded, I clipped them off and replaced them with new ones. I wonder if the bare wire I crimped down on was rusty to the point where it created the above problem.

Thanks again for all the replies. Maybe this will help someone (save some $$$) with the same problem in the future.

G-Dubb

[Lou]

Glad to hear it was an easy fix!