Volvo Penta 2003 no power and cutting out.

[pauly78]

I have a Beneteau Oceanis 320 with a Volvo Penta 2003 engine. It has a steering helm with single control lever at the helm. I’ve been having a few issues with the control/acceleration. Usually the lever is engaged quite far before getting any engine revs, and a couple of times now when I have been sailing and have to motor for any length of time... stop motoring and start again I have no power from the throttle and sometimes it even cuts out! This has happened now a couple of times and it’s ONLY ever if I have motored for any length of time..say 30 mins + if i switch the engine off and back on again within say 15 mins I don’t seem to have any power when trying to accelerate, but if I try say 30 minutes after it will be ok. I’m thinking.... is my control cable being stretched? I’ve took it off completely and checked it, pushed one end and watched the other and it seems perfectly fine, I’ve checked everything else, recently serviced the engine, new filters etc etc, the control lever functions normally it has got to be the cable, anyone have any ideas? Thanks in advance.
PS I haven’t had anyone go to the engine and check the throttle lever is moving with the throttle while having the issue because I haven’t had anyone on board who is capable and understands what to do.
Hope this makes sense.

 

[Heckler]

I have a Beneteau Oceanis 320 with a Volvo Penta 2003 engine. It has a steering helm with single control lever at the helm. I’ve been having a few issues with the control/acceleration. Usually the lever is engaged quite far before getting any engine revs, and a couple of times now when I have been sailing and have to motor for any length of time... stop motoring and start again I have no power from the throttle and sometimes it even cuts out! This has happened now a couple of times and it’s ONLY ever if I have motored for any length of time..say 30 mins + if i switch the engine off and back on again within say 15 mins I don’t seem to have any power when trying to accelerate, but if I try say 30 minutes after it will be ok. I’m thinking.... is my control cable being stretched? I’ve took it off completely and checked it, pushed one end and watched the other and it seems perfectly fine, I’ve checked everything else, recently serviced the engine, new filters etc etc, the control lever functions normally it has got to be the cable, anyone have any ideas? Thanks in advance.
PS I haven’t had anyone go to the engine and check the throttle lever is moving with the throttle while having the issue because I haven’t had anyone on board who is capable and understands what to do.
Hope this makes sense.

Check the cable is actually moving the throttle arm. I suspect it is, then if you are sure your issue will probably be lack of fuel caused by a blockage. Either in the filters or in the stack pipe in the tank.
Stu

 

[[70521]]

Find a good marine mechanic and get them to service the engine and show you what they have done.

The RYA Diesel course is a good introduction to the basics of how the engine works.

I have a Volvo Penta, lovely simple engine as Stu says check your filters for blockages or the diesel bug. I had it last year due to some old fuel, but now we have fixed that problem the engine is great.

 

[aussi]

I had exactly the same problem: thread here. There is some other useful advice for 2003 owners there, but to cut a long story short, it was fuel bug as well as all the associated problems it can cause.

As a result of a series of fuel bug related incidents, I installed a fuel scrubber loop and now always treat my fuel. I haven’t had a problem since.