Etec midrange throttle ...

[Whitto]

My 60hp Etec has a lot of midrange power, it's weird when you try to cruise at 4000rpm ... the next thing it's doing around 5500rpm ... a feather touch on the throttle and it's back to 4000rpm.

There is nowhere in between so it's a slow cruise or just short of WOT.

I cannot ballance the throttle/trim to cruise at anything in the middle.

Is this more to do with my hull/motor combo, or can the throttle be adjusted to be less sensitive in this area?

Thanks.

[61Woody]

Just a guess here but maybe put a little more tension in the throttle, maybe the vibration and bumps make it creep up.

[MigAz]

I'm going to guess Throttle Position Sensor. Let's see what the pros say...

I would check the cable assembly and linkage as suggested above, too!

Good luck w/ her, Whitto!

[000]

Tony....Just put the hammer down and let that big dog EAT!!!!

[RUSTY63]

What type of throttle control are you using and what brand?
Control box, foot throttle?

[Whitto]

Thanks guys, the big dog only gets to growl when the women folk are ashore

Rusty,

The control box has Bombardier on it and is a hand model. It's the same one used on the Johno 50hp fourstroke I had before the Etec. There is a fast idle lever above the key switch and a trim switch under my thumb.

[RUSTY63]

Tony, remove the motor cover and with the motor off see if there is any play in the throttle linkage.

I would have to check but there may be a new map addressing this problem...Sorry I haven't had much time lately to check on map upgrades.

[Whitto]

Checked the linkage and it's tight

Another Aussie I know is having this exact same problem ... his dealer loaded the newest map he had ... problem is still there

I know you been busy Rusty, that's why I sent you that good Aussie beer

[John from IL]

I've been reading & re-reading this thread and I gotta' tell you, this is a strange problem.

I keep asking myself "What would make an in-line E-TEC accelerate without moving the throttle?" A couple of things come to mind:

First would be a bad or erratic TPS sensor. With the diagnostic program hooked up, the dealer should be able to run the motor and watch for "voltage" or "% open" changes. Obviously, if the throttle handle isn't being moved, I would expect variation in those readings to be .1 or .2 at the most.

Second, the mechanical connection between the TPS and the throttle shaft. After all, the TPS is a plastic part and I could understand if the person assembling it had a problem installing it, it might have been damaged. It is a tricky little bugger to install...

Third would be excess fuel getting into the crankcase, perhaps from a leaking fuel pump diaphragm (but I would expect that to cause problems at all rpms). Or, maybe from the vapor separator vent line. If there were a vapor sep issue, it might be sending a steady stream of fuel into the intake and this could be made worse if the engine is trimmed higher (above level) while running along.

Using the fuel trim settings of the diagnostic program might help narrow down a rich running condition. If the vapor sep vent hose is disconnected from the intake manifold and then the engine run at the problem rpm, absolutely no solid fuel should be coming out of that hose.

Can you provide us some info about your boat & motor set up (length, beam, weight, engine mounting height, prop type & pitch, max rpm etc) that might provide more clues?

-John

[Whitto]

Hi John,
If you guys are having trouble, what chance do I have

My fuel lift pump had problems from the outset and the entire assembly was replaced.

My hull is Rotomoulded Polyethelene (plastic)

Dimensions
Length Overall 4.55 meters (15')
Beam 1.99 meters (6'6")
Depth 0.92 meters (3')
Weight 290 kg to 340 kg (630lb - 750lb)
Hull Thickness 10mm (3/8")
Maximum Hp 60 Hp
Maximum People 4

Prop is an SST 15in
Max RPM is 5800

The motor is in the 2 hole from the top and the cav plate is level with the botom of the hull. The other bloke with this issue had his motor lower than mine and it threw loads of water up from the leg ... he has since had it adjusted it to be in the same hole as mine.

Don't get the wrong idea with this motor, it's fantastic ... does everything it ought to ... except run at between 4000rpm and 5500rpm.

It seems like I am complaining about having to much torque

I am going to suggest that this motor needs a less sensitive mid range throttle ... a change in the moulding of the plastic throttle curve thingie (that's tech talk for the TPS ... I think?) would lower the output of all that torque if it had a smooother, longer arc. I think, maybe?

Cheers,
Tony.

[Whitto]

Just for the record ... my Etec is E60DPSDA # 05120029

[Whitto]

The other Aussie with this problem had the exhaust system and the cooling system checked. They installed another "newest" map without any change.

Someone suggested that the spark should be retarded slightly and away it went ... perfect

I am going to get mine looked at today, before going on vacation for 2 weeks ... I'll let you know how it is when I return.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year ... Stay safe

[RVB]

Are all these map jobs considered scheduled or unscheduled maintenance?

[John from IL]

What does Ford consider it when the dealer flashes the E-PROM in the ECU of your truck?

[RUSTY63]

RVB, Would you fill in your profile so we know who you are.

If a manufacture has information to make the current product better (which all do from time to time) it would be considered good customer service to offer it to the public.

The motors our friends from down under are referring to are some of the first E-Tec's released to the public.

[Whaler27]

Tony,

If you are complaining about having too much torque then it could very well be that you don't have the right pitch prop.

Have you tried a taller pitch propeller? Seems like 15 inches of pitch turned by a 2.67:1 gear ratio would not be enough for your boat. The reason I suggest this is that I've got a 15' Whaler (weighs about the same as yours) with a 70 HP Yamaha turning a 19 inch pitch aluminum prop through 2.33:1 gears to 5900 RPM to 42 MPH. Seems like yours should turn something similar with the higher ratio. I guess what I'm thinking is that your motor doesn't have enough load on it so its running away at 4000 RPM.

[Whitto]

Whaler27,
I have tried a 17in prop and it was way slow outa the hole and only ran 5400rpm

Latest is that it's a mapping issue and can be fixed with a laptop connected during an on water test session.

After which a new map will be created to take advantage of all the power in a smooother way.

No cost involved, it just takes time to set up the test during the holiday period

And I can still use the boat

[Whaler27]

Seems to me its a mapping issue and thought that with a prop that seems to me to have too little pitch for your application your motor was essentially running off the map. I'm surprised that it wouldn't turn a higher pitch propeller. Perhaps it will be able to do so with the map fix.

[MigAz]

Sounds like a minor ordeal AND you get to continue using your boat, Tony!

Let us know how the update goes.