Volvo penta 4.3 gxi
 

Working on a 2004 volvo penta 4.3 GXI fuel injected engine. Getting an alarm when we go to plane and then engine reduces power. High pressure fuel pump whines a little. Idles smooth no problems there, any ideas? Thanks

Do a general google search on volvo penta fuel pumps you will see this is a common problem but expensive but easy fix. As for alarms it could be any thing Temp, oil level,

The slow repetitive tone is a warning that there is a minor trouble code that is stored in the ECM memory. It is very likely that it is the other warning that the first one is telling you about.

The rapid beeping is what Volvo calls a Hard Warning. A hard warning that is accompanied with a power reduction is either the engine coolant temperature (ECT)sensor is reading too high, or the exhaust gas temperature (EGT) sensor is reading too high.

The only other problem that will reduce the motors power is if you are over reving the motor, which only causes it to cut out when the rpms go over the rated max.

Or if the Diagnostics Processor is having an internal problem.



In order to tell if the processor is the problem, you will need to have the engine scanned with the diagnostic tools.

If it is one of the two sensors that is reading correct, you either have too high a coolant temperature, or the exhaust temperature is too high.

If the sensor is reading incorrectly the diagnostic too will tell you which is giving the Hard Warning

Thanks Boomer for the info. The Tstat housing is warm to the touch, I feel like it should be cooler. It does have a new impeller. Sounds like she needs to be plugged in to know anything further. Thanks again!

You need to post the model number of the engine because 2004 / 2005 was the changed over from MEFI 4 to E Controls ECM's. Alarms and some fault codes were not the same. Do you know which ECM you have ???

BUP Engine is a 4.3 GXI-E .. not sure on ecm. I talked to Mark at Rinda yesterday and he is sending me a code mate so I can see what the Hard Alarm is for. At this point I suspect debris in the fuel system possibly clogging regulator causing it to run the pump higher pressure than needed. Thank you guys for your help.

Checked Fuel pressures last night, 64 psi on the rail side and 8 on the low. I believe these pressures are within spec. I did clean quite a bit of black crud off of the screen on the regulator, the High pressure pump doesn't whine anymore and the pump is cool to the touch. I am still getting the alarm at 2300 rpm then power is cut when in gear. I tried to read the codes from the ecu using a Codemate with no success. ECU # 43IAFM\04US01. Does anyone know why the codemate wouldn't read the codes?

4.3 gxi-e ecu# 43iafm\04us01

the winky blinky is not going to tell you crap. Such outdated way of testing and you will never fix anything with it. Also it is for use MEFI 1 thru 4 only. You do have MEFI 4 for the GXI - E. I strongly will have to say if you are working boats buy the scan tool techmate pro or the Diacom software. You also ned OEm service manuals to continue to work boats. The fuel specs are 8 psi + or - 4 psi for low pressure pump side and 50 to 60 psi for the high pressure pump side.

I would change the cap and rotor - for starters. Check voltage thru out and grounds.

this app just like mercruiser uses a HVS nor distributor - yes it looks like a distributor but is not. If it has been moved or rotated just a fraction or has been pulled out for any reasons - your cam angle is off - these HVS have to be properly phased. Timing is none adjustable as it all thru the ECM MEFI 4 and so is the spark events. The HVS just send sparks the ecm controls all of that. IMO Cap and rotor first and if the HVS has been pulled or moved then all of that needs to be phased properly to even get this engine running correctly. I believe these are problems looking in my crystal ball.

If this is your boat and or you are working on boats - I would have to say you better buy a real scan tool and learn how to use it. Good luck with it. I gave you the most solid advice to fix blindly and without a scan tool.

And by the way HVS = High voltage switch that what these distributor looking ignition set ups are called Not a distributor. PROPERLY phased is very important. This will set alarm and not show up on a scan as you have to look at cam angle from a real scan tool that reads and shows all perameters. Codemate LOL sorry but really is funny trying to work on boats with that.

You are right on, the distributor was pulled and reinstalled. I believed I was chasing a problem that I could not fix without a scan tool. I spoke with Mark @ Rinda on Monday and he thought the code mate would do what I needed it to, I actually wanted to buy the scan tool but he currently doesn't have any in stock to ship. Thanks again

see my crystal ball was right. The HVS was pulled and someone did not how to set it all back up and phase then it correctly, then check cam angle with a real scan tool after the fact to dial in that spec. Merc is the same way. Not properly set up and phased - Will set alarm 100 % and even shut down and or will not exceed above the 2000 K to 4000 K depending how far off your NOT phased properly is out (for a jist).

for many years I have had to do so many of these thru out since 2001 because people think you can set timing with the HVS. - It is way past 100's of them as being out of phased.

Like I said you can not set any sort of timing with the HVS.

This all applies to - MEFI 4 and up and ECM / PCM 555 and PCM 09 and up and all E controls not using a true distributor - all marine side of course. just for a jist of the apps and set up.

the HVS cap also becomes bad as 5 and 7 crossfire so a new quality cap and rotor is must. Start there first and see if that helps - it will not help and if not cured your HVS needs to be phased / set up properly. there is your fix = crystal ball

Bup, I see on pages 71-76 of the Volvo Manual how I need to phase the HVS. Thanks again! You da man!

do not forget new cap and rotor and a quality one at that. report back the results since I have sometime on this one. I always like to know how spot on I am or not.

Will Do! It is going on the Diacom today so I will report back with my findings. Thanks Again!

Oil pressure switch showing low oil pressure, It also had a high engine coolant temp from previous year I believe when it overheated. When it was hooked up to the Diacom this morning the Fuel Module is back to whining with more black crud in the system. Im gonna pull the pump apart and attempt to clean all the black coating out of it. If that doesn't work we will be looking at a new $1100 Fuel module. Thanks again for all your help!!

The winky blinky wasn't working because Volvo didn't wire the Daignostic plug correctly on several models. The scan tools with logic know this but winky blinky doesn't know the difference. Boat is done, Customer happy, I learned so much about these Volvo setups on this job. That is the beauty and power of OSO! Thanks BUP for all your help !!!

your welcome - the HVS was out ? That had to be your main problem for the warning horn and limited rpms ? Paint peels inside the carter fuel assembly just the same as Merc GEN III cool fuels. Common problem.

And at times will or can plug up the injectors.

BUP, HVS was phased properly but I did run back through the procedure in the Volvo manual to verify. Hard alarm was due to Oil Pressure switch reading low pressure. I went through the timely process of stripping the Paint/Coating from the fuel module to get the pumps to operate without whining and overheating.