I have a 1997 Hunter 450 with a 78 HP TMD22 turbo diesel. I have owned the boat for 3 1/2 years. Until a few months ago, the engine ran like a champ and started without exception incredibly fast. You couldn't get your hand off the key fast enough it started so quickly. Then a few months ago the engine began shutting down sporadically as if running out of gas. It started on a hot day but has done it under many conditions. It will always restart with lengthy cranking but will die again sometimes after only a minute or two, sometimes after 10 or 15 minutes. It is also inconsistent in that since the symptom started, the engine has also run without problems for a few weeks. Then the problem started again. I have changed the 2 fuel prefilters as well as the main filter after the lift pump. I saw no water in the filters and they were pretty clean. I just changed the lift pump itself thinking the diaphragm had possibly failed. Apparently not the case since it ran for about 10 minutes, then died right after I changed the pump. It seems to me to be a fuel supply issue but I need some ideas here. I am not a mechanic. I'm a parts changer! FYI the genset engine runs fine with no issues pulling off the same tank but a different, dedicated fuel line. Also, I use this boat (and run the engine) literally 150 days a year so the fuel is not stale. Anyone have ideas to offer? Thanks!!
Volvo TMD-22 Fuel flow issue
- Thread starter keepsailin
- Start date
Check the oil pressure/overheat sensors (if you have them) to be sure they are not causing the shutdowns.
Sounds like you might be pulling some air into the fuel system. So as Ron stated, be sure all hose clamps are tight but not tight enough to start cutting into the line. If you have any flared fittings, take them apart and inspect the flares for cracking. Use thread sealer to put coupling nuts back on. Inspect every inch. When this happened to me yrs ago i found a flared coupling that i didnt know existed. The nuts were loosening....and pull the pickup tube out of the tank and inspect it
Obvious! But, of course, I didn't think of it. When I changed the lift pump, I did find the nut on the fuel line going out of the old lift pump to be loose. But it still did not change after I restarted the engine. I will go through everything and tighten them. Thanks for the idea!
How does one check each of those sensors? Also, if they were causing the shutdown, how would I be able to restart the engine right away after each shutdown? Not doubting you, just trying to understand how the systems work. Thanks!
The sensors themselves are difficult to check without simply replacing them. But I was thinking of a bad or loose connection to the sensors . I'm sorry, I should have given a better explanation. A sailing friend of mine just had this issue in addition to fuel contamination and air bleed problems. Horrible situation to T/S with multiple failures. After replacing the terminals on the wire to the oil pressure sensor, his problems disappeared.
The oil pressure sender can be checked with a voltmeter. There are 3 wires, two of them are power in and out. Put you voltmeter across them and watch the "key on" voltage and then the "running engine" voltage. If the voltage changes right before engine stops, bad sensor!
OR...
buy a new one and replace. Probably the best since the age of you engine and how many of those do you have in your "spares" locker.
Jim...