Problems w/ 07 xtar ss. Engine shaking.

[GreenSpirit Hydro]

I have an 07 x-star ss that gave me some problems last night. Yesterday after a few sets we re-positioned the sacs for some end of the day surfing. I engaged the throttle and dropped it to the floor to get out of the hole and let the perfect pass do its thing, but the boat didn't move. This problem persisted for a few tries, so I cut it off and restarted the boat. Then it worked, but as we took off and the RPM's climbed the boat started rattling like an earthquake and the "Check Engine" ,message ran across the "boat hrs" menu. I stopped the boat and the message went away and hasn't come back, but the for most of the ride back to the dock at low speeds the I could feel the engine was off and the dash was rattling. At higher speeds 25-30mph I didn't really feel the shake. Any ideas what this could be? My marina just got a new state mandated gas which has 10% ethanol. My marina said I would need a new "micron screen" and fuel additive. Could this new gas be the problem even though it was the 1st time it was put in the boat.

[zberger]

i am not sure how the boat motors will respond to a ethanol blend.. could be the issue.

are there any ECU updates available?

[Barritia]

your engine should have no problems with 10% at all. Make sure it wasnt e85 fuel as this would have def caused a problem.

[GreenSpirit Hydro]

After posting, I realized I have filled it up at gas stations when trailering the boat w/ 87 octane gas that has 10% ethanol in it and didn't have this effect before. So I doubt it was the marinas 89 octane w/ 10% ethanol. Could loose motor mounts be an issue?

[bigmac]

I switch between 10% ethanol and non-oxygenated premium all the time, depending on whether I fill the boat at home or at a gas station. I can't tell any difference in performance. 10% ethanol would be highly unlikely to be causing your performance problem.

The fuel filter you have in your boat is a 10 micron filter. You don't need any modifications or anything else to run 10% ethanol.

Does it shake when you rev it in neutral, or only with the drive shaft engaged? IOW, is the engine or the drive train (trnasmission, shaft, propeller)?

[03 35th Anniversary]

Sounds kinda like a bent tail shaft or prop.

[GreenSpirit Hydro]

Never tried to rev it in neutral. How would you do that? When I put the throttle down, the boat engages and moves but it makes a load rumbling sound. The "Check Engine" message only appeared once and then went away. How would you interpret that? What causes it to come on? Shouldn't it stay on or appear more than once? The temp and oil pressure where good to go.

[bigmac]

Never tried to rev it in neutral. How would you do that? When I put the throttle down, the boat engages and moves but it makes a load rumbling sound. The "Check Engine" message only appeared once and then went away. How would you interpret that? What causes it to come on? Shouldn't it stay on or appear more than once? The temp and oil pressure where good to go.

Pressing the rubber button in the center of the pivot of the throttle lever disconnects it from the transmission and only revs the engine. This sounds more to me like a bent shaft or damaged propeller. If it's the engine that doing these gyrations and rumbling...that sounds really expensive.

[GreenSpirit Hydro]

I doubt the prop would be bent since we haven't run it into the shore or anything like that.

[bigmac]

I doubt the prop would be bent since we haven't run it into the shore or anything like that.Please keep us posted on your findings after you get it to the dealer. If the driveline is indeed OK, I'm guessing you have a serious engine problem. Fortunately, you have a 3 year Indmar warranty.

[wiltok]

Check the prop. I damaged two last year (after never having dinged one in 20 years of boating). Both times I never felt it happen - just noticed vibration when taking off.

[djhuff]

I had a band from a visor get wrapped around the drive shaft once an it felt acted like a bent prop. Scared the crap out of me since I had just fixed a bent prop, shaft, and strut.

[Maristar210]

I'll bet your drive line it out of alignment in some fashion. If I'm wrong I'll send you a case of Red Stripe. If you're wrong you send me a case :D

[bigmac]

I'll bet your drive line it out of alignment in some fashion. If I'm wrong I'll send you a case of Red Stripe. If you're wrong you send me a case :D
I'm inclined to agree that it's the driveline, not the engine, but I'm puzzled by the check engine light. Would driveline misalignment ever be bad enough to throw an error code?

[GreenSpirit Hydro]

What is a Driveline and what is its purpose? Could I fix it or does it need to go to the dealer? The dealer is 8 hrs away round trip, so I am hoping it is going to be a do-it-yourself fix.

[TMCNo1]

What is a Driveline and what is its purpose? Could I fix it or does it need to go to the dealer? The dealer is 8 hrs away round trip, so I am hoping it is going to be a do-it-yourself fix.

Your "Drivetrain", consists of the engine, transmission, stuffing box/shaft log, shaft, strut, prop!
I think you need to take it to your dealer!

[bigmac]

What is a Driveline and what is its purpose? Could I fix it or does it need to go to the dealer? The dealer is 8 hrs away round trip, so I am hoping it is going to be a do-it-yourself fix."Driveline" refers to transmission, stuffing box, shaft, strut, propeller. If you're not sure what it is, then it's unlikely that it's something that you could fix.

This isn't likely to be a do-it-yourself fix, if for no other reason than your computer threw a trouble code (check-engine light). The most likely cause of vibration in gear with throttle is damaged driveline components (singly, or in combination). It might be just the prop. You could fix this yourself by removing it and sending it away to get it rebuilt (or have it done locally if you have someone what has the proper blocks and knows nibral propellers). But you said it had never been beached or grounded, which means, if it's the driveline, that you hit a log or something, which in turn means that you may also have damage to the strut and/or drive shaft.

Your next step is to take a close look at the prop, shaft, strut. Best to have this done by a neighbor or friend that's familiar with inboards. If those things look grossly normal, then this is not a do-it-yourself fix. It has to go to the dealer, because that means it's either very subtle damage to the driveline, or it's a seriously damaged transmission, or a seriously damaged engine.

Again, your BEST next move is to rev the engine in neutral.

[GreenSpirit Hydro]

After a diagnostics test we concluded it was a throttle sensor. Simple, easy fix all under warranty. Hats off to Carolina Mastercraft!

[454Prostar190]

Sounds like prop shaft/propeller rather than engine. My boat started vibrating once and I found that I had a bunch of vegetation (weeds) wrapped around the prop shaft. A couple of dives under the boat to unwind it all and she was all good!

[454Prostar190]

My bad.... I'm a little late and wrong too!:(