Penta D3 150 woes

[John McCurdy]

We were about 10 minutes into a lake cruise a couple of weeks ago in our R25 SC when the engine very abruptly died. No other indications: no overheat, no loss of oil, nothing on the Penta screen. After running through checklists we dropped anchor, spent the night, and got a tow back to the marina the next morning. On the second attempt to start the motor I got a warning on the Penta monitor that said, "“Sensor Failure: Crankshaft Timing Sensor.”

Back at the dock I ran all the fuses and discovered that the serpentine belt was shredded. Not broken, but shredded. I accessed the engine from the cabin, cleaned out pieces of belt, and replaced both belts. I should note that the serpentine belt had worked its way under belt 1 (the belt that drives the water pump), indicating that the engine was running when the belt failed. There were wires and strips of belt deeply lodged in the crankshaft grooves under belt 1. All accessory pullies turn freely.

After replacing both belts I returned to the abrupt stop checklist in the Penta manual...basically powered everything up, checked that there were no codes, and attempted a start. The starter engaged very hard, enough to send "shock" through the cabin, but the engine doesn't turn.

So the engine appears to be seized. I'm about to trailer the boat (which will be interesting with no motor) and drive it to Stewart and Stephenson in Houston and then begin searching for piggy banks to break open. But before I do all that I thought it would be worth sharing my situation and seeking input.

I'm not inclined to do anything very complex on my common rail engine. I need to take a much better look at the oil and try to determine if there's water or coolant in it. Other than that I'm about out of ideas. It's a strange situation. If the motor just seized underway I don't know how the belt would have shredded the way it did. It's possible that I lost the belt once underway and then there was a subsequent and unrelated engine failure, but that's a pretty bad day. I don't believe the engine would have shut down as abruptly as it did due to the belt failing, and without any other indications on the Penta screen. After consulting the manual, online forums, and Chat GPT I can't find anything to help analyze what happened. I'm not even 100% certain what's on the serpentine belt: it's driven by the crankshaft and has an automatic tensioner, the alternator, and another component that looks to me like the starter. But I'm told that the starter on that engine is mechanical, not belt. I still think it's a starter.

-John

 

[Rode Trip]

You're not going to like this, and I'm sorry to mention it, but you need to consider that the timing belt may have broken. I believe that could have resulted in the symptoms you describe.

 

[John McCurdy]

You're not going to like this, and I'm sorry to mention it, but you need to consider that the timing belt may have broken. I believe that could have resulted in the symptoms you describe.

I mean. No that’s not good but it’s not a repower situation. Thanks for the comment!

 

[scross]

Hopefully you closed all sea cocks and stuffed something up the exhaust port before being towed. I hear horror stories every year of water in the engine from folks being towed who didn’t do this!

 

[tlkenyon]

I have a 2015 R25sc with the same engine as you. I have just under 1400 hours on the motor and just had the timing belt changed. Based on my long conversations with the Volvo tech relative to the timing belt change (and him talking me out of doing it DIY), you have had a timing belt failure. When that happens, one of the things is that the serpentine belt usually gets shredded because of the way the engine stops and that belt is not made to handle that. Breaking the timing belt kinda destroys the valve train and pistons because the valves strike the piston tops and break off (or bend a lot) leaving a lot of stuff rattling around. Trying to re-start probably did not do any further damage to the engine internals, because the damage was already done, but the starter might be toast. Find a certified Volvo diesel guy (they are kinda hard to find), and get the engine rebuilt.

For other folks out there with these engines, the change-out interval for the timing belt is 1400 hours or 8 years. It can be kinda spendy, but nothing compared to the cost of timing belt failure. For me, it was a great chance to look an engine mounts, and all the other stuff you can see with the engine out of the boat. Good Luck!!!

BTW, I had mine done at Yacht Basin Marina in Holland, Michigan. 616-786-2205 and ask for Phil. They were great and while not cheap, helped me out a lot.

 

[John McCurdy]

I have a 2015 R25sc with the same engine as you. I have just under 1400 hours on the motor and just had the timing belt changed. Based on my long conversations with the Volvo tech relative to the timing belt change (and him talking me out of doing it DIY), you have had a timing belt failure. When that happens, one of the things is that the serpentine belt usually gets shredded because of the way the engine stops and that belt is not made to handle that. Breaking the timing belt kinda destroys the valve train and pistons because the valves strike the piston tops and break off (or bend a lot) leaving a lot of stuff rattling around. Trying to re-start probably did not do any further damage to the engine internals, because the damage was already done, but the starter might be toast. Find a certified Volvo diesel guy (they are kinda hard to find), and get the engine rebuilt.

For other folks out there with these engines, the change-out interval for the timing belt is 1400 hours or 8 years. It can be kinda spendy, but nothing compared to the cost of timing belt failure. For me, it was a great chance to look an engine mounts, and all the other stuff you can see with the engine out of the boat. Good Luck!!!

BTW, I had mine done at Yacht Basin Marina in Holland, Michigan. 616-786-2205 and ask for Phil. They were great and while not cheap, helped me out a lot.

Thanks for the input. That makes a lot of sense to me and is a bummer but so it goes. I’m trailering the boat to Houston tomorrow to hand it over to a serious Penta service facility. I’ll let you all know the final outcome.

 

[tranmkp]

Indeed a bummer - 8 years is the limit on keeping a timing belt - now the good news is the D3 motor is just a Marinized Volvo D5. If your in HOuston call Swothwest Automotive - they are Volvo specialists, they have a Swedish guy there that knows Penta. The block head and just about everything else is from the Volvo Euro D5.

Ig you already have the engine out - Break it down - then order what you need - I bet NONE of the parts will be Penta! Talk to the shop(s) find a rebuilder. The last place Id take it is to Steward and Stevenson. Be sure you get all the specs on the D3 and double check - make sure the engine rebuilder has all the data. You will prob have to go thru Volvo Dealer - ask if they can order from Volvo EU - if not you may have to order directly from EU yourself.

If you go Penta parts the price will be shocking -but its a good engine - just maintain it, It would be a fun project,

Volvo D5 engine - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org