New 25 ETEC failure

[marineman]

Picked up my new ETEC on Friday afternoon. Launched and let it run at idle for 10 minutes. Took it out for a cruise at medium speed. On Saturday morning, went walleye fishing. Did a lot of drifting with lindy and jigs and didn't go over 1/2 speed when I changed locations. After 4 hours (maybe an hour run time on the motor), I headed in and decided to get the boat on plane. Ran it at full speed - about three minutes, then the engine went into safe mode (1200 rpms). Shut it down and slowly returned to my dock. Sunday it went into safe mode two more times at 3/4 throttle. Brought it into the dealer this morning. They got a computer readout from the ETEC and it showed two overheating occurrences. They ran it in a tank for a "couple of hours" and could not get it to fail to the safe mode. Tomorrow, they are taking it out on a local lake to see if they can duplicate what happened. I just feel sick about this. I take excellent care of my equipment and would never beat on a new motor. I told the dealer to take off the ETEC and put a Suzuki on but he said there's no way. I don't know what I can do. I do know that I don't want this motor but I think it's mine. Hopefully, it will fail tomorrow and they can fix it. What happens if that doesn't occur?

[Stringerless!]

Keep us posted ,please. I am thinking about getting one. Thanks

[20lbSloughShark]

This kind of thing always sucks. Maybe a stupid question, but how did you break in the motor? I've never bought a brand new motor, but my guess is if they can't find anything wrong, they will put a new water impeller in and tell you to try it.

[delcecchi]

He said what he did.

Quote:

Launched and let it run at idle for 10 minutes. Took it out for a cruise at medium speed. On Saturday morning, went walleye fishing. Did a lot of drifting with lindy and jigs and didn't go over 1/2 speed when I changed locations. After 4 hours (maybe an hour run time on the motor), I headed in and decided to get the boat on plane. Ran it at full speed - about three minutes, then the engine went into safe mode (1200 rpms). Shut it down and slowly returned to my dock. Sunday it went into safe mode two more times at 3/4 throttle.

[CaptainMusky]

What did the manual say for break in? I know my new Suzuki was quite specific about rpm ranges for x amt of hours.

It certainly doesn't sound like you were beating on it. Did you notice if water was coming out of the motor?

I hope this works out for you in the end but I have heard horror stories when dealing with them on warranty stuff.

The way these things are all computer controlled I would be surprised if you did any serious damage but fingers crossed it acts up for them.

[20lbSloughShark]

If that is really how he broke in the motor, hopefully its what the manual said. It seems strange that a manual would tell you to let it idle for a while, then cruise at medium rpm for a while. That seems to be a poor procedure, but I am kind of out of date, as all my stuff is older. Still I cant imagine that being the problem. Hopefully its something simple like a water impeller or thermostat.

[marineman]

When I was dealing with the sales guy, I asked him about break in and he replied that there is no break in period. Nothing in the manual about break in. Per Evinrude's advertising: "Run it as hard as you like right out of the box." I didn't do that.

I checked the "water pump indicator" and there was a steady flow of water coming out.

[20lbSloughShark]

That's kind of what I figured, must have been broken in before being shipped out. I could be wrong on this, but I think the water indicator means water is being pushed, but not necessarily through the engine block. But that doesn't really matter. It is the dealers job to fix it.

[trumy]

Just looked on evinrude site they claim that you can run them flatout right out of the box to much computer junk now days that's why I still run old school Johnson's they keep going even after thirty years

[CaptainMusky]

They are computer controlled to dump extra oil in during breakin. I also believe they have a rev limiter computer controlled until you reach a certain hr. Good luck it sucks having this happen but you did nothing wrong.

[BobT]

Things happen. You don't think people take a new car off the lot and have something fail? Get back in the real world! Could be as simple as a bad sensor or module. It's under warranty for three years. No reason to get your undies in a bunch.

About the only way you the owner could be responsible for this is if you ran it without providing it with a source of water for cooling. The dealer needs to find out if there is an electronic problem or if you did run it out of the water. From the dealer's perspective, no owner ever does that right?

He wants to find the source of the problem worse than you do specifically because of what you have just done here. Spread a bad experience as if it is the norm. I can tell you from personal experience it is far far from the norm.

I can share all kinds of problems my brother-in-law experienced with his Yamaha 115 4-stroke in the first two years of its life too but despite the problems he has had including leaving him stranded on the Lac Seul 15 miles from camp, I wouldn't hesitate to put on my boat if I was in the market for a 4-stroke because I also have experienced how well it can perform.

[CaptainMusky]

Whoa BobT, I dont think he was really being that hard on them or badmouthing them just basically sharing his experience and seeking input as to if he did anything wrong. I certainly didnt read into it the way you did.

[SX3]

I've been getting the same warning on a 2 year old 150 etec. I took it in over the weekend and met with the mechanic. He also could not get my engine to fault during testing. The previous faults should not have set off the sensor. His opinion was it may be sucking in just enough sand when starting near shore that it was somehow triggering this/or a bad EMM. He said it's rare to have a bad module but he has seen it. We replaced the water pump and if the warnings continue they will be replacing the emm under warranty.

The store in Rogers has been a great to deal with. They found a way to get me in the next day unlike the dealer that I purchased the boat from. They wanted to hold the boat for 3 1/2" weeks before they would be able look at it. Missing the opener was bad enough.

[marineman]

Thanks everyone for your input. Problem was a broken blade on the impeller. With the broken blade, the impeller could not supply enough water to keep the power-head cooled at high speed. None in stock but the dealer is having it shipped overnight. After installation, they are going to take it on the water to be sure everything is running correctly. Hopefully, this will resolve the problem and I can get back on the water!

[BobT]

I'd be pretty adamant about some guarantee there was no cylinder damage resulting from it overheating.

[kkahmann]

Here's the beauty of the new computer systems--the computer told the mechanic that there were 2 overheating incidences. The mechanic then new to chase down the cooling system and find the problem. One wing gone on an impeller is the kind of thing that would be hard to diagnois without physically checking to be sure.

Here's another thing--safe mode--saved cylnder damage from overheating.

Man I love these new motors--run 'em balls to the wall right outta the box--any problems and the dealer fixs it.

Those motors are designed to last for 3000 hours of use and there are very few fishing guides that put on more than a couple of hundred per year.

[delmuts]

Man I hope so! I have a new 60 hp. coming on my Ranger

RT178

[Down2Earth]

My Etec has been flawless for 4 years. Only motor I would even think about buying on a new boat where I have the choice.

[delmuts]

I ran a 115 on my last boat, and was very pleased with it. Hope my next does too.