Excalibur 330 surf issues?

[prowakeskater]

Hey guys

at the end of last season I was beginning to experience an issue with my 2003 SANTE 210 with 500 hours. On throttle, the engine sounded like it would miss then "catch" and run fine. This would happen more often with higher loads like with surfing, but was also occasionally happening with boarding when getting up to plane. More throttle would have no effect and the issue progressively got worse during the last week of the season.

I changed the plugs but had no success and put the boat up for the season in October without addressing the issue further.

is this a symptom of clogged fuel filters? I found it odd that it would would have difficulty, sounding like only half the cylinders were firing, then suddenly be perfectly fine. It would continue running fine until a fall, aka going back down to idle then back up to riding RPM.

[NautiqueJeff]

Have you checked the FCC fuel filter?

[prowakeskater]

Have you checked the FCC fuel filter?

I have not checked anything, but I just realized CC recommends servicing the FCC with a new filter every 100 hours or so and I dont believe they have ever been serviced lol. buying the in-line and FCC filter from Nautique parts right now.

[SilentSeven]

To start, I'd scan the motor for codes and see what it comes back with.

My gut says ignition but it's hard to fully rule out fuel. I'd carefully check the ignition system - wires, plug gap (will mess with stuff under load for sure). In my prior boat (GT40 engine), the hall effect sensor in my distributor acted up and created some similar old running problems. Pull the cap and look for corrosion or other funny stuff. (You couldn't see that something was obviously wrong with the distributor...)

Does the problem happen at a certain RPM ( - ie / around 2500?)? You might have a problem with one of the limp mode sensors...worth a check as well.

Is it possible you had some water in the fuel? Where you running near the bottom of the tank?

How does it rev in neutral? Does it miss or run correctly? How about holding the RPMs at 3k...again...miss or smooth?

[prowakeskater]

Ahh forgot these engines had distributors. Probably is that! I used my boat in salt for a while in Florida so I could imagine it has some corrosion. Been in California in freshwater for the last few years though...

probably a good measure to replace fuel filter, add the 08+ filter, and swap distributor cap/rotor.

[charlesml3]

Yep. Cap & rotor. Change the plug wires while you're there. A set isn't expensive.

-Charles

[SilentSeven]

Ahh forgot these engines had distributors. Probably is that! I used my boat in salt for a while in Florida so I could imagine it has some corrosion. Been in California in freshwater for the last few years though...

probably a good measure to replace fuel filter, add the 08+ filter, and swap distributor cap/rotor.

On my GT-40 using the stickers on the distributor, I was able to ID the ford engine it crossed to and got a re-manufactured distributor for like $100 when PCM wanted $500 or something crazy. That got me a whole new hall sensor assembly and my problems disappeared at that time. Short of rust and crud, there was no obvious problem (ie - runout or bad wires, etc). That engine did have like 1500 hours at the time so your lower hour engine may not compare.