ctc1111

I have a 2001 Challenger 2000 with the 240 efi M2 jet drive. I bought it used a couple years ago and has ran great and been a good boat to me. Last year towards the end of the season I was heading down river and everything was going fine. I was at about 3/4 throttle maybe a bit more and the engine just quit and would not restart. We anchored and waited awhile while we tried thinking of possibilities of the problem. Once we let it sit awhile, it restarted and ran ok but when I reached full throttle again it just died. We then limped back many miles at almost idle.

I then tried changing the inline fuel filter, and the larger fuel/water separator which didn't change the problem at all. And I think the engine sounds like it is running rougher at low rpm. Not rough as in its going to die, but just louder and has more of a rattle type of 2 stroke sound to it. This could be because I've never driven around with the engine compartment open until I started having these issues or it could actually be louder. Either way the sound just doesn't sound overly healthy.

I put the boat away for the winter and just took it out yesterday. It started right up no problem, idled fine, and wasn't smoking any more than it will on occasion. I started driving it faster and faster until I was at WOT which usually reads about 55 or so on the spedo, I could only get going about 40 - 42 yesterday. Then the thing died exactly how it used it. It wouldn't start again until we let it sit for half hour or so. I also noticed that since I've owned my boat it would smoke more than I would like if I idled for a long time and that doesn't appear to happen anymore. It smoked a little bit when I reved it up for the first time of the season, but not much at all.

So, to summarize the symptoms are:

1. Engine dies at WOT
2. I believe the engine sounds rougher when I listen to it throttle up or idle with the cover open.
3. I have changed the inline fuel filter and the fuel/water separator with no difference.
4. I am not able to reach top speed, can only get to about 40mph on the speedo.
5. The boat doesn't seem to smoke as much as it used it when I idle for a long time.

What should I be checking first? What are some possibilities of the cause? And no, I don't have a service manual yet.

Thank you for any assistance in this matter and I look forward to being a part of this forum, I'm glad to have found a site geared towards our seadoos!