Patrick C

I have a 1985 Marlin Bow-Rider 18 foot with a 3.0 liter GM engine and an OMC out-drive. When I take the boat out, it starts fine and idles smooth. I can drive it at idle out of the launch area and take off and just get it to plane out and then after a few seconds it bogs way down, comes off plane and barely goes until I reduce throttle to idle again. After idling for a while I can repeat this but can never get the boat to speed for more than a few seconds.

A friend said the fuel filter was plugged, so I took it out. I ordered a filter and took the boat out again with no filter at all. Same issue. The same friend told me if the fuel pump was bad it would not be running at all.

I don't think it is timing or ignition related because it starts right up, idles smooth and takes off fine until it bogs out. I should mention that this problem began as a slight surging sensation at speed but was only an issue at wide open throttle and then go progressively worse over the last few trips to now where the boat is not usable as it is at all.

I am thinking, fuel pump, carb or ???

HELP

Twice now in the last 15,000 miles or so (car has 101k on it now) I have started it and driven off to find the car has very little power and won't go over 40 mph. I pull over turn the car off and restart it and then it is fine. The car has been maintained by the book and just had its 100 K service. There is no fuel filter, plugs are new... It seems to be computer related. It is like the car thinks it is in neutral and won't let you rev it up.

Any ideas?

I don't my wife to drive it till we get it fixed (uh can you say problem!) HELP!!

I hope I don't have to drop 500 bucks at a dealer to figure this out!

I am looking at getting an explorer and will need the higher level towing available under the tow package. It is pathetic how little these trucks can tow without the "full tow package". All Explorers have a receiver hitch. Most have the class II slider built into the bumper, some I have seen have the class III/IV with a wiring harness.

I am looking at bidding on several different trucks tomorrow at a federal auction. I just need to know if the class III/IV hitch on the back means that they have the rest of the tow package.

Thanks

I just had it serviced, not flushed. It had the pan dropped and the fluid and filter replaced. It is a 98 pontiac bonneville se with the normally aspirated 3.8. The transmissiion was perfect and completely silent before the fluid change it was just way overdue mileage wise for service. Now it makes this noise all the time its pitch changes with engine speed. I have heard cars (not mine) making this noise and always wondered what caused it?

I don't have the money for a new transmission or car.

What is causing this and what should I do?