08 PS197 just stopped running any thoughts?

[jkski]

My 08 PS197 with MCX decided to take a rest toward the end of our day on the water yesterday, it just died as if it were running out of gas but it had at least a 1/2 tank and no warning lights ever came on. So, here are the facts:
1) We ran it hard all morning footing without issue.
2) We loaded up one 500lb fat sac in the rear for wakeboarding and surfing, which tends to bring water in through the rear vents when stopping.
3) When pulling our last surfer of the day it just sputtered and died.
4) Lifted to motor box and there was about 2 inches of water in the bilge, not enough to kick on the auto bilge.
5) Noticed the drivers side hose coming off the rear of the exhaust riser looked as though it had been squeezed whereas the one on the passenger side was perfectly round.
6) After sitting for 10 minutes the boat did fire back up and I ran it to the dock at about 10mph, left it idling at the dock while I went to get the trailer however, as soon as I walked away it died again.
7) Put it on trailer and it fired again (about 10 min later) to allow us to drive it on.

So, the boat is at the dealership and I know they will figure it out but in the meantime I wanted to see if this sounded familiar to anyone.
1) Could it have been vapor lock?
2) Could I have taken water in through the gas overflow spout directly into the tank while it was loaded down?

Just curious what your thoughts are.

Thanks.

[Witness140]

Sounds like your fuel pump may have died, although in 2008 the boat already has the better fuel pump, so thought that would be harder to kill. Let us know what they come up with. Good luck!

[jkski]

My first thought was fuel pump however I already replaced it in 2008 within the first 25 hours of use, certainly not to say that it could not happen again. My experience with fuel pumps has been that when they go that is it, and since it started 2 times after it stalled and actually ran a bit, it leads me to believe it might be something else, unless of course something is blocking the fuel. Maybe the filter needs to be replaced.
I'll keep you posted.

[captain planet]

Sorry to hear that jkski.

Your really surfing with a 40th 197? We did that with Craig's boat about 3 years ago. Brought in a BUNCH of water through the vents in the back each time we stopped. His bilge pump got a work out that night. It's the same boat, so I wouldn't think with only 2 inches of water in the bilge you should have had a problem.

[DemolitionMan]

I thought they made the fuel pump change in the middle of 08. He could have the old style fuel pump.

[jkski]

Well I subscribe to the thought that even though it is a 40th, it is meant to be used, much like your boat. So, while I keep it nice, I have resounded myslef to the fact that it's still a boat that needs to be run!!!

The guys at BHM will figure it out, they are top notch as you know so I am sure to be back on the water with my boat by weeks end. In the meantime I have to ski behind another brand which shall remain nameless!!!

[jkski]

OK, for anyone who may have a similar issue my resolve was that the wire leading to the fuel pump was either broken or the pins in the connector were not making full contact. I ended up running the boat with a fuel pressure gauge on it to find that the pump would simply stop working resulting in the pressure dropping from 60psi to 10psi or less. I ended up finding that after stalling out, the fuel pump would sometimes get power and other times it would not, so I left the boat running, and played around with the wires leading to the pump to find that if I moved them a certain way, the fuel pump would stop humming, then move them back and it would start again. So, with the help of Don at BHM Trilakes, we tightened up the contact points in the connector and plugged it back in to find that it seemed to work fine. They are ordering a new connector for me but in the meantime I am back on the water.
Long story short, if your fuel pump stops working, disconnect and re-connect your wires then try re-starting it, you may just have a loose connection that got that way over time and use.

[broncotw]

Good for you!!! I hope your issue is therefore solved..... I kinda ruled out vapor lock.... Seems to me after all this time why would it start vapor locking now? As for the fuel pump I thought MC had fixed those pumps as well!!! Great news bro!!! Go and tear it up....

[JimN]

1) Could it have been vapor lock?
2) Could I have taken water in through the gas overflow spout directly into the tank while it was loaded down?

Just curious what your thoughts are.

Thanks.

1) No- vapor lock isn't going to happen when the pump can provide ~60 pounds of pressure.
2) Very possible. The vent is there to keep the tank from having negative pressure, so it could have sucked water in through the vent.

You won't be able to verify this by turning the key to ON and using the Shrader valve to collect gas- you'll need to remove the pump and siphon gas or visually determine if water got in.