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Hello Folks! I'm new here and I hope someone can help me. I have a 2016 Cobalt CS3 with a 300hp V8 Volvo Penta engine. I'm the second owner and I have 180 hours on the engine.

I was just out on the lake and noticed a general lack of power and responsiveness of the boat. After about 10 minutes of cruising I got a CHECK ENGINE notice along with loud beeping. I turned off the engine and let it sit for a while. The engine temp was OK at about 160 F so it wasn't overheating. I trimmed up the outdrive and did my best to feel around the prop to determine if something was interfering with it...it felt fine to me but I won't know until I pull it out. I limped back to the dock at 5-10mph and got a single beep about every 5 minutes.

Any ideas about what might be causing this?

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Hey McGuinness. So glad you found us!

My first thoughts are the same as yours. The outdrive water intakes became covered by something like a bag or weeds triggering the alarm. But once you cleared it that should have gone away. Now you’ll need to have it scanned to read the DTC causing the 5 minute beeping. The engine is designed to go into limp mode if there is an issue that could damage it. Was the impeller ever changed?

Any pics?

And welcome aboard mate!

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Thank you so much for the input about the engine going into "limp" mode. This is my second summer with the boat.

More boat history: this is my second summer with the boat, no problems with the boat last summer. I had the Cobalt Dealership (Seattle Boat Co.) winterize the boat and it was kept under cover and out of the elements this past year. However, when they de-winterized it, they suggested that I replace the impeller so it was replaced. I was told that the impeller should be replaced every 3 years... does that sound right?

I'll post some pics soon. I'm taking her out of the water this morning. Thanks again!

McGuinness wrote: Sat Jul 10, 2021 9:47 am Thank you so much for the input about the engine going into "limp" mode. This is my second summer with the boat.

More boat history: this is my second summer with the boat, no problems with the boat last summer. I had the Cobalt Dealership (Seattle Boat Co.) winterize the boat and it was kept under cover and out of the elements this past year. However, when they de-winterized it, they suggested that I replace the impeller so it was replaced. I was told that the impeller should be replaced every 3 years... does that sound right?

I'll post some pics soon. I'm taking her out of the water this morning. Thanks again!

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Sure thing. And funny you mentioned that. I literally just left my Merc certified mechanic at the Marina and asked them that exact question earlier. Change the impeller upon purchase of the boat, if you suspect FOD ingestion, or every three years.
I’m at the 3 year mark. Time to change.
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I change impellers every two years on both my stern drive boat and Outboard. Its so easy, why not?

Update: I was told the engine experienced a "stage 2" heat event that destroyed my water pump, impeller and the entire pump housing. It all needed to be replaced. So, they did that as well as gave the boat a tune up. However, during their final inspection, the technician told me that the throttle is not responding very fast at high RPM's. He said that their is a delay in the engines ability to go from high RPM's to low RPM's. Sounds dangerous but I have never experienced this before with my boat on the water. I was told it had something to do with the entire throttle "box" or "set". The throttle is controlled electronically with a small motor of some sort. I am being told that the entire throttle system needed replacing. No warrantee of course. They have to order the part directly from Volvo...sounds expensive.

Has anybody ever heard or experienced this before?