Help! 1999 Super Air died! First time on the water... :( 430hp Python

[ers906]

Do most boat dealers give an "X" day warranty? I would think that the dealer would be more than willing to show any information that they have on the boat. Especially since they are the only (or one of the only) nautique dealers in the state of AZ (which has a ton of boats), and this forum is sort of the "gold standard" for nautique owners. Would not be good PR or business decision to not put a good foot forward for one of the members. Just in my humble opinion. I personally am going to wait to see how they handle this situation before I take my own SAN to them for service

[RainDog]

Brian,
I have a 'baby' Python, something Wakeslayer reminds me of at every turn, especially when his wife says she likes that black boat of mine, hahaha.

These boats are rare and really kick *** but unfortunately, you'll have to work out a few issues. I had a similar scare when my boat wouldn't run smoothly out of nowhere after surfing. Long story short - water in the gas. It came in the vent when weighted for surfing. Drained the gas and fuel/water separator. Replace filter and it ran like a million bucks.

I don't have a lot of other technical tidbits other than check the easy and inexpensive things first. It sounds like you did/are. I'd call PCM and try to get them to work through the issue. Tell them your story and hopefully they will work with you directly. Give them the HIN or engine # and see if they have any history on the boat. Maybe do the same with Correct Craft.

Lastly, I'd stand on Century's neck. Slayer is right, they owe you a running boat, regardless of any as-is/where is B.S. I guess they are not in your back yard, but they should get a tech on line to work this out with you if you want to keep on spinning the wrenches. Get a detailed reason for the work they performed, it could lead you to some clues.

Even if you have to pay a PCM dealer to fix it, you still have plenty of room financially and still have a tremendous deal. Nobody likes surprises like this, but you are still in a good position. Not many people can say that about our rapidly depreciating objects of desire.

One last thought, maybe one of the site sponsors service departments would be willing to help out - White Lake, N3, etc. Just make sure you buy parts from them in return.

Good luck, man. Hope some of this helps and keep us updated.

[RainDog]

I'll throw this out there - can he easily test the low and high fuel pressures? If the pumps are flowing fuel but not pressurizing properly, wouldn't that pee gas into the combustion chambers, leading to a raw fuel smell but no fire?

[wakeboardin2k4]

I'll throw this out there - can he easily test the low and high fuel pressures? If the pumps are flowing fuel but not pressurizing properly, wouldn't that pee gas into the combustion chambers, leading to a raw fuel smell but no fire?

Youre trying to suggest that them not pressurizing enough would trigger the no spark situation?

I don't think it would but it is definitely something to look into.

There has to be a fuel pressure sensor that sends info to the ECM.

Id check what other people are suggesting about water in the fuel.

Best and easiest way to do this is take a 5 gallon can of fuel like for an outboard/kicker motor. Unscrew the fitting at the bottom of your fuel control cell and drain the old fuel. Then Bypass your fuel water separator and hook the 5 gallon can to your fuel control cell and see if fresh gas, thats not in your normal fuel tank changes the issue. Obviously 5 gallons of gas doesnt go far with a BBC but it should last you a half hour of abuse and testing.

Good luck

[ers906]

Does anyone know how this boat is doing? I havent seen any replies by the owner for a bit

[WakeSlayer]

I think we are all trying to throw some good darts at an unknown, unnecessary problem.
We have a Super Air down, and we want it back up.

The dealer should have already worked any kinks out. What if he has water in the fuel, and a pump or relay problem? Who knows. This boat had issues and they were not properly taken care of.

FWIW, my understanding, without being able to validate it, is that one of the eleven Python SAN's made in 1999 was sunk in Lake Powell a couple years or so ago. I thought I remembered it being blue. And I thought I remember it being for sale again in Arizona at the time. I hope this isn't the one. I have to think that if it was there would be many, many other problems, before we got down to it running again or not. All the wiring, upholstery, electronics, fuel system, would have had to have been diagnosed and likely repaired to get it to even consider running.

Century is on the hook to make this right. Get on them hard. I want to re-iterate the point about contacting PCM about the new computer being installed. Easy to prove or disprove. I will even do it for you, just say so.

[swc5150]

That would suck if they sold you a boat that was sunk at one point, but could also explain the great price? Slayer nailed it - hammer on that dealership! I'd ask for a history lesson on it too - previous owners, service records, etc. I'd drop it on their lot and demand they make it right.

I used to live right up the street from Century, and would cringe when I'd see beautiful boats sitting outside, baking uncovered in the AZ sun. That's just my own $.2 about them.

[RainDog]

I glossed over the fact that he still didn't have any spark. Unless there is a low fuel pressure safety interlock, low fuel delivery pressurization wouldn't be related to no spark.

I found a 8.1L PCM manual, did anyone ever find the same for a 8.2?

[WakeSlayer]

Brian,

I have another question for you to ask Century when they are on the phone proving to you that they put a new ECM in the boat. Upon speaking to PCM, there are only a couple ECM's for the Chevy's. They could have got the ECM from any number of places, dealers, distributors, etc. However, my opinion, is that the likelihood of the one they got having the correct program for your exact engine is slim to none. This motor has not been produced for years, and when they were, they were in very small quantities. My understanding from speaking to PCM is that it may or may not run with a different program, and may not run properly if it does run. What if they slapped the ECM for an Excal 330 in it? Or a 343, or whatever. This would be a great secondary question, and may help sove your problem if it were as easy as uploading the proper code to it. Their suggestion was get a receipt, a model number, and a serial number from the device. They would be able to backtrack it for you after that.

Would really like some feedback as to if you have made any progress here.

Mike

[WakeSlayer]

1999-2000 Crusader Owners Manual 8.2L.pdf

Attached is the 1999-2000 Crusader 8.2L manual.

One thing I read is that the battery voltage must be AT or above 11v or the electronic managment system will not function properly. Have you checked battery voltage ?

[wakeboardin2k4]

the other option.....convert to carburation. Yes it would be a pain in the *** but it might be the best long term option instead of replacing ECMs if this becomes a consistent problem. Edelbrock performer RPM intake, holly marine 850 carb, EI distributor type. Obviously there is a little more to it but it could be a reasonable idea.

[seth]

The 99 SAN that sunk is for sale on WW right now. It was for sale in AZ 2 years ago and I almost bought it until I called Century to have them look it over for me. I had the vin and they had a full history on it and it needed lots of work! Luckily I didnt get scammed on that one.

[WakeSlayer]

The 99 SAN that sunk is for sale on WW right now. It was for sale in AZ 2 years ago and I almost bought it until I called Century to have them look it over for me. I had the vin and they had a full history on it and it needed lots of work! Luckily I didnt get scammed on that one.

So the one in Missouri on WW is the one that sunk? i only saw the one there and no mention. I feel like you should be shot if you don't disclose something like that. A sunk boat would have gremlins in it for years unless you replaced everything.


Brian, how about an update, you have been pretty quiet for a while.

[seth]

Yeah I thought it looked familiar and found pics the guy in AZ sent me. It has the same reg numbers still on it. It looks cleaned up from the pics I have, so maybe the guy did some work on it (assuming this is a different owner). The guy at Century told me it needed over 15k in work, and I believe he was asking 18k for it back then.

[WakeSlayer]

At least the boat in question on this thread is not that one. Glad to hear it. Now if we could get an update...