2010 250proXS problem

[sbickett]

I am hoping to get some feedback or opinions on what might be wrong with my motor. 2010 with 25 hours on it...

Started last week...three people in boat/full live well when I tried to get up on plane heading into 3 footers the motor started hesitating...like it was starving or getting too much fuel...just no power..had the throttle to the max and acted like it wanted to stall. When I would try and get up on plane with the waves the motor jumped right up. Took to dealer soon as I got off water...hooked up to computer..tested injectors...looked for alarms...misfires...pressure tested it...nothing. Paid to switch out to new spark plugs just in case. Took out next day and same thing...brought back that day and replaced MAP sensor...took out next day and same thing...replaced TPS. Again this week, the same thing except now when I tried getting up on plane downwind it is doing the same thing...so the load issue is not the only time the motor is acting up. Dead flat calm today and it really struggled hesitating almost stalling while I tried to get up...only way I can get the motor to get going is to ease the throttle...almost pumping the throttle little at a time to get it to finally excelerate.

Dealer has been great, but getting really frustrated...once on plane the motor is running at 5560 rpm with a 21tempest...ranger 620 does around 57 with full load. Dealer is going to look into low pressure fuel pump...and some other fuel related things. Any ideas? I am getting frustrated...have alot of guide trips coming up.

Thanks for any input or opinions.

[Ohirolina]

Check the connection of the ground wire from the cranking battery. Sounds too simple to be the problem, but that was the culprit with mine. It looked tight and had the paint and sealant all over it, but it was loose and would put the motor in Guardian mode. I didn't find this myself. I took it to Don at European Marine and he found the problem.

[EuropeanAM]

Welcome to BBC!

It would be good to see a PRINTOUT of the Freeze Frame (Fault) History on your engine.... I'd be glad to review a printout if you can obtain one.

Battery voltage or connection is certainly possible (as Ron suggested). This can be due to a weak battery, poor connections AT the battery, or as the case was with Ron's, a poor connection on the ENGINE end of the battery cable.

Fuel supply problems can also reak havoc with acceleration. Perhaps the SIMPLEST means of determining this is to locate and install (temporarily) a 6-gallon portable fuel tank (with known good fuel and line) directly connected to the engine.

If the problem goes away.... "you've disconnected the problem".

In regards to the fuel and fuel line..... see the following post:

http://www.bbcboards.net/zerot...first

[sbickett]

I will have them check the battery connection. Would you see battery connection problems or bad fuel only at take off? Once I get this thing on plane, I can throttle back to low RPM's...then to wide open...have complete response and power as long as the boat is up out of the water. I have always put non-oxy gas into this, hard to believe a line would be bad after 4 tanks of gas. The line is gray with blue writing on it. What are your thoughts on a bad VMT or sticky float or low pressure fuel pump?

Also, what are your thoughts on a 19 Tempest? Is 5560 RPM WOT okay or should I be getting more rpms?

[sbickett]

they ran through the motor from battery connections to low fuel pressure...etc. They talked with dave quallie...the regional merc rep and he told them that he is almost sure it is a prop issue. I have a ranger 620....he said that the 21 tempest needs to be down to a 19 pitch. Thinks that since it only happens with more than 2 guys in the boat...with full livewell...the weight in the back is backing up the exhaust...that is why on take off with a heavy load I am getting the stumbling to get out of the hole...not getting clean air...water in the exhaust tubing. Thoughts?

[EuropeanAM]

I'd recommend that you try his suggestion. This engine should be turning more RPM's (preferably) anyway....

You might also want to try starting out (when heavily loaded) at a little higher trim angle. As the bow begins to raise, drop the trim to achieve holeshot.

This may help to keep the idle relief port open.

[sbickett]

thanks don. I really appreciate you taking time to answer my post...along with alot of others. A great forum...hope this takes care of the problem...I will keep you posted after this weeks tourney.

[Props4u2]

Also make sure two of the black plastic prop relief plugs are completely removed and one standard large plug remains in your Tempest prop. If all three are still in the prop it will bogg down as you described.

[bloodman]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by sbickett &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">they ran through the motor from battery connections to low fuel pressure...etc. They talked with dave quallie...the regional merc rep and he told them that he is almost sure it is a prop issue. I have a ranger 620....he said that the 21 tempest needs to be down to a 19 pitch. Thinks that since it only happens with more than 2 guys in the boat...with full livewell...the weight in the back is backing up the exhaust...that is why on take off with a heavy load I am getting the stumbling to get out of the hole...not getting clean air...water in the exhaust tubing. Thoughts?

</td></tr></table>Well, I know lots of guys that have the same rig as yours and none are running 19p tempest. Almost all have 21 and a few 23. Have not heard anyone complain of similiar problems as you.
I have a 250xs on a 621 and have similiar problems with a 21 and 23p tempest. I am hoping you find out what it is, cause I have no idea. I really doubt it is the prop though based on all the people with similiar setups and no problems.
As far as exhaust backing up I dont know. Im gonna raise my jackplate to highest level and see if it still does it. If its the exhaust that surely will fix it. I will let you know next week.

[EuropeanAM]

These two items are NOT prop related, but would be worth checking in to:

1. Try a portable fuel tank, connected directly to the motor (with separate fuel line and bulb). See if the problem is still present.

2. Check down inside the intake manifold (beneath the throttle plate) for any debris (tie-wraps, yellow plastic plugs, etc). Anything that's loose under the cowling CAN find it's way down there.... and can block off (or become trapped in) a reed cage. If you don't know to look for this..... it'll drive you "batty" trying to find this problem.

[Props4u2]

Don,
You've found some of those yellow cap thingy's too? I thought I was special.

[EuropeanAM]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by Props4u2 &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Don,
You've found some of those yellow cap thingy's too? I thought I was special.


</td></tr></table>

Yup. Found hole bucket of them yesterday.... right where they belong.

[bloodman]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by bloodman &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Well, I know lots of guys that have the same rig as yours and none are running 19p tempest. Almost all have 21 and a few 23. Have not heard anyone complain of similiar problems as you.
I have a 250xs on a 621 and have similiar problems with a 21 and 23p tempest. I am hoping you find out what it is, cause I have no idea. I really doubt it is the prop though based on all the people with similiar setups and no problems.
As far as exhaust backing up I dont know. Im gonna raise my jackplate to highest level and see if it still does it. If its the exhaust that surely will fix it. I will let you know next week.</td></tr></table>
Just got back from fishing trip and lifted motor with jackplate before takeoff and no stumbling. This has happened before but I am thinking this indeed could be the problem. Back up in the exhaust???? It just could be. I will check this out further.

[sbickett]

update:
Ran the boat last week with a 19 tempest...didn't act up...but before tourney...had dealer out with me...filled livewell...3 people in boat...flat seas...trimmed all the way down...big time stumbling...hesitation...big smell of gas. Dealer was recording when it did this...said nothing showed up on computer...everything normal. Will go out of the hole fine trimmed up when I hit the throttle.

Update:

Today's guide trip...3 adults...same old story...almost had to use kicker to troll in...motor would never push through trying to get up on plane...trimmed up or not...big time hesitation upon asking for full throttle. No power to a point that I had it wide open throttle and was going down waves at 5mph. Repeatly stopped and tried to get up on plane...finally after 10 attempts it finally sounded like a 250 and pushed me right out of the hole.
Ended guide trip right away after that.

So head merc guy and dealer think it needs a jackplate or setback....I ask them or anyone this...why would it work fine with 3 or 4 guys in the boat with the 23 tempest it came from Ranger with....NEVER this lack of hole shot/hestiation bogging...I changed to a 21pitch only to get more RPM's and a little quicker hole shot...to now I cannot even get out of the hole...they are talking raising the motor/jackplates and need a smaller prop to push it out of the water.

It is not the prop....too much fuel...not enough??? Low pressure fuel pump? Any ideas? One a positive note...my 9.9 prokicker runs awesome...maybe I should start that and give it WOT to help the 250 proxs get me out of the hole.

[dhagemei]

Did you or tech isolate your boat fuel system like Euroman suggested? if so then fuel pressure tests are in order( mechanical dial gauges with long hoses so you can verify results under way or use test prop at dock with boat tied up) . computer diagnostic has no logic to check fuel flow or pressures to date. Basics first. hope this helps you, David.

[EuropeanAM]

I agree..... you're going to need someone to "go back to the basics".

Compression test, air and fuel pressure tests (including leakdown tests on the air and fuel systems), verify each injector is actually functioning (not just clicking), spark test, etc.

Something has OBVIOUSLY been missed.

Wish you were closer to S.C......