My Universal M35BC engine always starts immediately on first push of the button. This weekend we had some issues:
Saturday - the boat had been idle for two weeks. Engine would not start. Looked at engine nothing looked out of ordinary. It took four attempts to start it. Ran fine turned it off at fuel dock. Started perfectly and ran for four hours without incident.
Sunday morning - obviously cold engine from overnight again would not start but now the audible alarm went on. Again looked at engine nothing seemed out of normal. After four tries with the alarm wailing it turned on and alarm went off. Ran fine for three hours. Turned it off. Checked the engine front and back. Turned it back on without a problem.
No fuel, oil, or antifreeze leaks anywhere - all levels are good.
What could the culprit be? Fuel pump?
Enrique
Talisman
1998 36 MK2 Hull #1673
Tall Rig Wing Keel
M35BC engine
Old Saybrook, CT Summer
South Glastonbury, CT Winter
Assuming the engine is turning over and the starter motor is engaging- I would check the fuel pump. Turn the key and you should be able hear the pump make a clicking noise. A pump can fail intermitently or all at once. When it's not working, there will be no clicking noise. Might also be an electrical connection issue to the pump.
Paul & Wendy Keyser
"First Light"
Rye NH
2005 C36 MKII #2257
Wing, M35B
Since you noted that the alarm came on it may indicate insufficient oil in the engine. Check engine oil level.
Sail La Vie 1999 Catalina 36 MKII, M35B-17031, Coyote Point, San Mateo, CA
About Sail La Vie
If I don't mention an air leak someone will. Have the bleed valve open 1/4 turn
While checking the pump also make sure the kill cable is not slipping at the motor. Do you give the glow plugs time to get hot?? Do the plugs actually get hot (i.e. have the same resistance to ground not zero or infinite )
check on the C34.org. Stu has some great resources and thread on the engines.
Les
Les & Trish Troyer
Mahalo
Everett, WA
1983 C-36 Hull #0094
C-36 MK 1 Technical Editor.
Commodore
Depending on which instrument panel you have, the audible alarm should sound when you turn your engine on. During pre-heat the alarm should be silent. When you release pre-heat and hit start, the alarm might be be audible for a second until the engine starts and builds up oil pressure. This is normal.
The first place I'd check is preheat. Are you activating the preheat long enough, i.e., 5 to 10 seconds
Nick Caballero
Retired C36/375IA Mk II Technical Editor
Alarm never sounded before when starting. I always preheat for a 10 count
Enrique
Talisman
1998 36 MK2 Hull #1673
Tall Rig Wing Keel
M35BC engine
Old Saybrook, CT Summer
South Glastonbury, CT Winter
(1) Your alarm should sound when you turn the key on. (2) Should turn off during preheat. (3) Should go back on when you release preheat. Might go off when you hit the start button. Might sound for a second after start until oil pressure builds, especially on a cold day. Any deviation from 1-2-3 would indicate an issue. Put a volt meter on a glow plug and hit pre-heat for a few seconds. You should see the voltage drop a volt or so as the battery is dragged down a bit.
Again, your issue sounds like preheat because your engine seems to be hard stating when cold, runs fine after start, restarts when warm OK. It also sounds like your panel is not behaving the way it should. They both might be related. The other thing to check is to make sure your fuel system is not loosing prime, usually by air getting into the system between the RACOR and your injectors. Make sure all of your components are tight: spin-on filters, hose clamps, fittings.
Nick Caballero
Retired C36/375IA Mk II Technical Editor
Most likely you are not getting fuel. The two most likely causes are, fuel pump or water in your fuel.
1) Fuel Pump, check flow as someone cranks the engine. Disconnect the far end of the hose on the output of the pump. Stick it in an empty soda bottle. Have someone crank the engine for a couple seconds. See if you get fuel pumped into the soda bottle and see if you have any water separation. Easy to see with pink marine diesel.
2) If there is water in the fuel you may have a broken o-ring in your fuel deck plate, deck plate was loose or there was water in your last fill up. Your Racor filter paper element is hygroscopic and should not let water pass. Drain the bowl if you have water in the fuel. If you have a small amount of water in the fuel tank use the fuel pump to pump it out. I have jumper wires to run the fuel pump without having to crank the engine. Just don't leave water in the fuel pump when your are done, only fuel.
Remember with the high tank in a Catalina MKII there is enough pressure to run the tank halfway down without a functioning fuel pump. Anal types, who always keep their fuel tank full may not discover a bad or weak fuel pump for a long time.
Nile Schneider
Mañana C36 #1798
Lake Champlain, VT