Need a little help...2003 Sante...running and electrical problems...guru help!!

[Regina N Bryan Kirkland]

HI,
I just purchased a new to me 2003 Sante. I LOVE this boat, but im having a couple of little problems. Boat has 397 hrs on it, but the former owner didn't winterize last year and cracked the block. Guy I bought it from had motor rebuilt and supposedly did pistons, rings, rods.....etc.... Boat runs perfect, most of the time. Sometimes when you accelerate hard, (doesn't matter if its loaded down, pulling a rider or just me in the boat and no weight) it will get to about 2500-2900 rpms then I lose throttle and it decelerates...At first I thught fuel filters, so I changed it and it was nasty. Still same problem....It just runs too good all the other times that I don't think its a fuel problem.

So yesterday while out I noticed something.....Sitting at idle Ive got about 20-25 lbs of oil pressure showing on the gauge. While riding hard it goes up to around 50-60 lbs. but everytime it cuts out yesterday I noticed the oil pressure dropping under heavy accerleration to around 10-15 lbs on the gauge....Could it be an oil pressure sensor going out instead of fuel problem???

Also yesterday I the stock clarion head unit lost power and so did the actuators buttons for the lt and rt rear hatchs....I checked the simple push fuse panel under dash but all looked good....I checked fuses behind stereo and they were good too....Are the anyother fuses I can check??? The manual doesn't show crap.......Thanks so much in advance for the help.....

Bryan

[lucky7t]

Oil pressure will drop if your engine cuts out. On your actuators I would check all the breakers

[Regina N Bryan Kirkland]

Oil pressure will drop if your engine cuts out. On your actuators I would check all the breakers

The oil pressure is dropping before the engine cuts out....In other words sometimes when I hammer the throttle the oil pressure goes up, and sometimes the oil pressure needle goes down...but it doesn't cut out until the needle reaches around 10-15 psi....This is all happening with it running great all the time....it has not yet once stuttered or run bad at all.....

Don't strike me down for asking this, I am a noob nautique owner and the manual doesn't really tell you crap, but are you saying there are breakers behind the push button breaker panel I need to check? Ive have checked the push buttons 10 times they seem to be fine......Thanks for the response!

Bryan

[thedude]

Sometimes the wires come loose from the push-buttons themselves, reach up and make sure they are connected.

For the oil pressure: I sure hope this isn't your problem, but on the chevy small block the oil pick up tube is a push-in connection. During your engine rebuild, it was probably removed and then pushed back in. Well, it is known to simply fall back out, which could be why you are seeing low oil pressure at heavy acceleration since the boat is riding at an angle and all the oil is moving to the back of the oil pan and you have no pick up tube connected. Happened on my buddy's Supra with the same block after a rebuild. The engine builder should have tack welded a spot on yours to keep in in there.

Like I said, I hope that isn't you problem because the motor will need to come out to fix it, but something to think about. Is the oil foaming up? You could add and extra quart of oil temporarily to see if that helps. If it does, that may be the issue.

[Rick]

The oil pressure sensor is a cheap and easy replacement. I think it's around $35. Also, Does it lose power before the oil pressure goes down . If not it may be going into limp mode when the oil pressure falls. It could also be the knock sensor. If the engine hesitates or goes into limp before the oil pressure falls I would look at the 2 sensors. If the oil pressure falls first it is probably the oil pickup tube.

[Regina N Bryan Kirkland]

After playing with it tonight...you may be correct on the pick up tube problem....If I can keep the front of the boat down it will take off...I bet the dude may be right....it runs so good, but that has to be the problem.....it is supposed to be in under warranty...but we will see....I'm gonna get through this weekend and deal with it. I am going to change the oil pressure sensor to just see....but what you described on the problem your buddy had is the same I am having....dang it...thanks alot guys!!! I really appreciate the info...Bryan

[thedude]

Did you get this figured out?