Sonny IV is down...

[DougSea]

Thanks Rob, I do appreciate that. If you were closer I'd come pick you up!

Not pulling the engine (yet anyway) but you really can't get to the outside or top of the engine with the hatches in place. I wasn't joking about having the cell phone to call for an extraction. 1/2 inch further to the front and I wouldn't have been able to reach the connector! And there's not enough topside clearance to pull the injectors. About the only real negative thing I'd have to say about the boat - major engine access is a PITA! And starboard, naturally the side I'm working on, is the worse side. On the port side there are two access hatches from the 2nd stateroom. None to starboard. Since the interior is coming out for a second time I'm going to look at the possibility of putting in some kind of small access hatch that can be gotten to without pulling everything. Under the fridge is a possibility.

Anyway, I'll keep you all posted. I'm going to have a great season, I'm going to have a great season, I'm going to have a great season...

[RobS]

This may have come up before (perhaps by me) but with all that technology going on isn't there some scanner that plugs in to figure this out, some OBD-II type system?

[DougSea]

Yes, and no. Depending on what's wrong it's possible for no fault to show up. Right now the on-board electronics are happy as clams. Smelly, smokey clams.

If I disconnect an injector from the harness it picks that up, but it doesn't know that a cylinder isn't firing.

There's supposed to be more that they can tell, but since the Volvo expert isn't local I want to have everything opened up and ready for him.

[rcwhite]

Hopefully it is a simple sensor issue or poor ground. Haven't worked on one of these injections but looks
to be pretty straightforward. Rail pressure would be a good test. Pressure sensor seems to have been
superceded once or twice and may deserve close a look.

[DougSea]

Hopefully it is a simple sensor issue or poor ground.

Seemed like a good avenue of investigation so I went down to the boat and cleaned up all of the engine grounds, and then the + side as well.

No change.

At this point I'm pulling the cabinetry out. At the very least it will give me clear access to all of the engine and I can check all of the wiring on the far side. And if the mechanic has to get at the injectors and such, they'll be readily accessible.

[DougSea]

Depressing...

2013-05-30 16.15.12.jpg

But at least I feel like I'm doing something.

I think the fact that I went down and attacked the interior on a day when summer decided to show up has convinced the yard that I'm serious about getting this done. We'll see.

I did try re-seating all of the engine harness connectors, just in case, but no change. While I have her open I'm going to re-route a few wires and change the engine room lighting over to LED.

[Serenity]

Doug, not that I am a diesel mechanic but could your issues be a head gasket problem. Black smoke. oil in system and water in the oil. Just a thought.

[DougSea]

Doug, not that I am a diesel mechanic but could your issues be a head gasket problem. Black smoke. oil in system and water in the oil. Just a thought.

True Max. Hopefully not the case but I'm not ruling anything out.

The smoke is more gray than black and smells highly of unburned fuel AND she ran well after the first injector replacement. I'm still hoping for an electronic or fuel delivery problem, but we'll see.

[erice]

Have you found your problem? Pics?