Starboard Engine Shut down and won't restart

[OffDuty]

First off, I did do a "forum search" for this topic and did get some ideas on where to start, but I just wanted to clarify some things.

I was operating my '99 Challenger 1800 for approximately five hours on this day. It had been shut down and restarted 4-5 times with no issues. Both engines were running great with no "hard starting".

Then during the last start-up and run, I had ran the engine for 15 minutes or so, on plane, at 5,000rpms on each engine. I decided I wanted to pick it up a bit so I took them up to 6,500rpm each. I was running this way for about three minutes when my starboard engine shut down. I tried to restart the engine, but it wouldn't fire.

I proceeded to make my way back to the dock slowly, 5 miles away on one engine. I made several stops and tried to restart my starboard engine, but it just wouldn't fire up.

The engine sounds like it is turning over, but not starting. I haven't pulled the plugs yet, but in order what would you recommend me doing for trouble shooting?

I was thinking; 1. pull plugs/change plugs, 2. check fuel lines/filters, 3. compression?

I don't know where to go after this...any help would be appreciated. My port side engine is running absolutely fine, and I don't believe I am having any battery problems.

 

[Dr Honda]

If it still turns over... and it died while running.....


1) pull the plugs out. Are they wet/fouled? Do you see any metallic residue?

2) do a compression check. (150 is perfect, 135 is running condition)


Check that... and let us know what you find.


If the above is good... I would then check for spark, and put in a fresh set of plugs. I would also look for loose hoses and wires.

 

[OffDuty]

Ok, as an update;, finally returned home after working out of state for a bit. Took the boat out of the water today. Started up the Port engine. Turned over easy. Tried starting Starboard Engine. Totally different sound! Engine definately sounds like it is turning over, but no "pop pop" sounds which leads me to believe there is a fuel delivery problem.

Trailered the boat home, pulled the plugs quick before the rain came. Plugs look good, no fowling or large carbon build up. Rain is coming down hard here in Upstate NY, and wasn't able to get the boat into the garage yet, so it will have to wait, covered outside!

Thinking I will replace the plugs anyway, then try to replace the fuel filters if my shop up here has a couple. No ideas yet after this.

Hopefully I'm on the right track....I don't like the boat not running!!!

 

[dsw222]

Ok, as an update;, finally returned home after working out of state for a bit. Took the boat out of the water today. Started up the Port engine. Turned over easy. Tried starting Starboard Engine. Totally different sound! Engine definately sounds like it is turning over, but no "pop pop" sounds which leads me to believe there is a fuel delivery problem.

Trailered the boat home, pulled the plugs quick before the rain came. Plugs look good, no fowling or large carbon build up. Rain is coming down hard here in Upstate NY, and wasn't able to get the boat into the garage yet, so it will have to wait, covered outside!

Thinking I will replace the plugs anyway, then try to replace the fuel filters if my shop up here has a couple. No ideas yet after this.

Hopefully I'm on the right track....I don't like the boat not running!!!

You need to check the compression like Honda suggested. That would explain the "different sound" from that engine when you try starting it, and it would explain why it wouldnt start. I had two engines lose compression this summer, so I'm getting to know the symptoms very well (unfortunately).

And... why didnt you just start the engine on the trailer to see if it would turn over? It has hose connectors so you can run it like that for a short time (turn on hose AFTER you start the boat). That would have saved you a trip to the water to find out that it doesnt start

 

[OffDuty]

dsw222: The boat was in the water at the cottage when I had to start it up to travel over to the boat launch to take the boat out of the water so I could work on it at a later time. Anyway, I got ahold of a mechanically-knowledged buddy, so he'll be here tomorrow night to help with compression testing.

I'll let you guys know what we figure out. Thanks for the help thus far!

 

[OffDuty]

Did a compression test on all cylinders last night. Port engine was 150/150. Starboard engine was 150/0! So, no compression is the cause on my engine problems. Now my buddy (Coast Guard mechanic) says that I could pull the engine myself and rebuild it. Is this feasible?! I have never tackled anything mechanically close to ripping apart and rebuilding an engine. Any ideas on cost or what I would need?

 

[dsw222]

Did a compression test on all cylinders last night. Port engine was 150/150. Starboard engine was 150/0! So, no compression is the cause on my engine problems. Now my buddy (Coast Guard mechanic) says that I could pull the engine myself and rebuild it. Is this feasible?! I have never tackled anything mechanically close to ripping apart and rebuilding an engine. Any ideas on cost or what I would need?

You need to take off the head, and inspect the condition of the cylinders. Take pics and post them here and we can advise you from there if you would like.

If the crank is in good condition, you will just need to do a top end job. That would require either a top end exchange kit from SBT ($475), or sending yours to Full Bore for them to recondition it ($450). You could just buy new pistons and have a machine shop bore/hone your cylinders.... but it would be much easier (and not much more expensive) to just buy a top end kit

Since its your first time, it will probably take a whole day or a weekend to do. But I just did my first top end this summer and it wasn't nearly as hard as it originally seemed to me.

If the crank is bad... you basically need a new engine. Full Bore can recondition yours for $1200 with a 1 year warranty, or SBT has one for $1200 with a 2 year warranty

But before you know which option you need to do... try to get some pics up of the pistons and cylinders

 

[Dr Honda]

:agree:


That's some good advice from a man that was just in your position.