engine trouble

[aqua.haulic]

2011 SAN 230 TE with a Catanium CES 6.0L ZR409, has less than 37 engine hours.

Last Feb 18, my family & I were just going to cruise on the lake.
the boat was starting to accelerate when the engine suddenly just cut out (not sputtered out like it ran out of fuel).

1. I checked the on-board diagnostic tool of the Linc system repeatedly, it scans but there was no fault to be found.
2. Power was okay, batteries are full, All electricals are working fine.
3. fuel is full.
4. lanyard- i took it out & started it, wont even crank; reattached it, cranked, engine turned over but still no ignition.
5. fuel pump primes before cranking, pump can be heard running.
6. shift lever was shifted forward & reverse then back on neutral, the engine cranks with good power for a full 5 seconds but no ignition.
7. Ive also tried engaging throttle to 100% before starting but no difference.
8. I've gone as far as checking the starter, ignition relays & fuses and its all okay.
9. I've checked the spark plugs, they are clean but when tested for spark while grounded to body, there's no spark. will re-test. also with new ones but i think unless all 8 go bad at the same time that can make the engine stop working suddenly. I'm just not familiar with this engine system if they have a cdi module or the computerbox which doesn't give a current to the plugs.

other test i might do if advisable:
10. use a starting fluid to check if fuel pump is the problem.
11. check ignition coil if any
12. check crankshaft position sensor
13. check fuel pressure with a gauge

I've done everything i read in the pleasurecraft manual and on the internet.
I hope this is nothing serious.
also in contact with dealer for guidance.
please advice.

[crobi2]

Sorry about your troubles.

Sounds like you are doing everything. Be careful with the starting fluid - someone on the site blew the cap off the muffler from igniting gas fumes that had accumulated there. I have a feeling that you are not going to get any spark until you figure out the problem though.

Look for any fuses or breakers you might have missed (it sounds like you've already been very thorough).

Hopefully you don't live far from your dealer.

[core-rider]

It takes 3 things to make an engine run... fuel, spark, and compression. You already diagnosed you have no spark. I would not waste time with fuel or compression as those are probably there. Your engine uses 8 separate ignition coils, 1 per cylinder. Have you checked all 8 plugs for fire? If all 8 are dead my guess is you have an issue with the ECM or crank trigger pickup. This may be where you need to take it to the dealer depending on your mechanical abilities, plus it should be in warranty. I'm not familiar with the diagnostic tool on the LINC system, but I would think it would show some kind of code for either of these problems. It may not be that intuitive, again I'm not familiar with it. Good luck with it!

[Nautiquehunter]

Is there a reason you are not just taking back to the dealer for a warranty repair?

[aqua.haulic]

I live very far from any Nautique dealer so taking it back is not an option.

My dealers response so far;
Did you check the kill laynard. Behind it especially

and;
One last thing. Try tapping on the antisiphon valve lightly. Its mounted on the fuel tank just in front of the v-drive. Its a little ball bearing in an alluminum housing that sometimes will have corrision or debris caught and it wont allow the fuel to leave the tank. Even though the fuel pump sounds like its engaging if air can be released from the fuel tank the pumps can not get any fuel. Its a common problem and has been happening for years.

Correct Crafts response;
Has your dealer contacted PCM? it sounds like the ECM.

and;
Your dealer will want to put the Diacom on the engine, my gut feeling is the ECM died.

[NautiDave07]

My 236 died two years in a row on July 4 weekend. With similar symptoms. First time boat would sputter and backfire then die to not restart. It was the high pressure fuel pump. I could hear the pump priming too like you say. Next year driving down lake boat just dies. It fired back up and ran fine rest of weekend. Happened again two weeks later with no luck to restart. Turned out to be throttle position sensor. Both these issues were common on zr6. Check the fuel pressure and try to troubleshoot that TPS. Hope this helps.

[vanislwake]

like mentioned above if you already know you have no spark, id guess thats the issue! Its a shame you cant take it to the dealer, its a 2011 under full warranty thats where it belongs. that being said i cant imagine the on board diagnostics wouldnt have a fault code if there wasnt any spark unless it was as simple as a bad lanyard kill switch, i'd try removing the lanyard kill switch out of the equation for an easy/quick test. When the dealer said especially behind it i would assume hes talking about the two wires on the backside of your panel as its possibly one could have slipped off, attach those together will remove that from the equation for a test, good luck

[Nautiquehunter]

Did you contact PCM to see if there is a authorized repair shop in your area even if its not a Nautique dealer. Ask them what you should do. You may be voiding the warranty by making unauthorized repairs.

[DanielC]

You need to take the boat to a PCM dealer.

If taking the boat to a dealer is not an option, how did you get the boat in the first place?

[aqua.haulic]

you have an issue with the ECM or crank trigger pickup. This may be where you need to take it to the dealer depending on your mechanical abilities, plus it should be in warranty. I'm not familiar with the diagnostic tool on the LINC system, but I would think it would show some kind of code for either of these problems. It may not be that intuitive, again I'm not familiar with it.

You're right Jason, PCM wants me to check this. Given my situation, they've extended assistance by making available the parts manual so I can locate & check the sensor myself. Props up to them!
the Linc diagnostics is not like the Diacom. I was advised against getting a Diacom for its expensive price.

[aqua.haulic]

try to troubleshoot that TPS. Hope this helps.

Sorry to hear about the multiple issues you've encountered on a 4 years old boat. How did you go about troubleshooting the sensor?

[aqua.haulic]

that being said i cant imagine the on board diagnostics wouldnt have a fault code if there wasnt any spark unless it was as simple as a bad lanyard kill switch, i'd try removing the lanyard kill switch out of the equation for an easy/quick test. When the dealer said especially behind it i would assume hes talking about the two wires on the backside of your panel as its possibly one could have slipped off, attach those together will remove that from the equation for a test, good luck

How i wish the problem is as simple as this but Ive also mentioned on step #4 about removing the lanyard to test;
W/ lanyard = cranking, no ignition
w/o lanyard = no crank = no ignition
so I would assume it would have been the same result as having no lanyard had the wires slipped of from the terminals upon cranking? good to have this out of the equation.

[aqua.haulic]

Did you contact PCM to see if there is a authorized repair shop in your area even if its not a Nautique dealer. Ask them what you should do. You may be voiding the warranty by making unauthorized repairs.

Thank you for the warning. I've been careful from the beginning to execute any repairs without having the right diagnosis of the problem. So far I haven't done any repairs & I doubt that PCM will play games on voiding warranty issues. They've just recently sent me a replacement Linc System without questions because the original unit was acting up.
I was surprise of how well PCM took care of the situation by being the one to contact me. They know of my whereabouts & situation from my dealer. They have been very accommodating with their technical support by giving a comprehensive lists of to do's.

[aqua.haulic]

You need to take the boat to a PCM dealer.

If taking the boat to a dealer is not an option, how did you get the boat in the first place?

I had to have the boat trucked to port, loaded on a roll-on roll-off cargo ship, went halfway round the world, transferred to another ship, shiped to another country, got stuck in customs for 40 days & paid a huge amount to the bureaucracy to release the boat. Will not go through that again.

[NautiDave07]

I took mine to a dealer sorry I can't tell u how to check it. It is a plug in sensor so should be easy to change if u can get it.