2007 225 HO etec rough running

[AZ_PWE]

E225DHLSUA 05177335
My 2007 225HO is acting up, and doing that intermittant problem thing that is tough to diagnose.
Heres the details:

475 hours on original powerhead. Prior major repairs are limited to 1 injector replacement (400 hr) , starter (300 hr) and tilt/trim replaced (325 hr).
All regualr service has been performed.

Over the past month, the motor has progressivly but intemittantly had low idle stutter and accel problems. Normally, the day will start with the motor starting, idling and accel'ing perfectly. After about an hour, it will begin to stutter a little before going on plane. Each progressive start then gets more stutter and the idle begins to falter. Sometimes the motor will then begin to die at idle. It then gets so bad the motor will not put the boat onto plane. Sometimes. placing it in neutral and revving it past the stutter will allow it to go onto plane for that start.
Have been doing a couple repairs, and each time I go to the lake for a test, ( about 4 trips) it starts out idling accellerating and running WOT like nothing is wrong. After about an hour, or about 10 start ups, it starts to go bad, a little worse each start until it will barely run. Next day, it starts out fine again & then goes downhill.
All the following repairs have been done with no apparent solution to the problem:
New starting battery, new fuel line, new bulb, new fuel lift pump, new fuel filter, new plugs, throttle linkage checked, reed valves checked and cleaned. The boat was taken to the shop and the computer showed no malfunction codes (non-running check).

Please feel free to give me a call at 602 708-7727 for more info.

Supposed to be at the Cal Delta in a few days, and it's gonna be a long week if I don't figure this out.

[dragmaster]

sounds like the tps sensor is loose of out of adjustment. just my .02 cents

[AZ_PWE]

Thx, I'll check that.
Are TPS, CPS and Temp sensors "plug & play" or do they need to be done with the computer?

[AZ_PWE]

A big thank you to Brant from Marine Unlimited in CA and Ken Howden from Mobile Marine in AZ!!!
I got to the Cal Delta this past week with the problem still happening.
Was running but not well. During pre-fish, Brant called me and said he researched my motor and found that the deflector pins were already installed, so that wasn't the problem. He went further and found that this motor series has a history of the exhaust plate cracking between the bolck and lower unit. This causes the cowling to fill up with exhaust gases and choke the motor. If you read my initial description of the problem, you can see the possibilities. I pulled the motor cowling off and ran the motor as Brant suggested, and Bingo.... ran perfectly.
Later that day, we trailered the boat and stripped the side cowlings to check for problems with the exhaust plate. I was fortunate to have a fellow Arizonan and marine mechanic, Ken Howden staying next to us in the trailer park, and he checked it out for me.
What we found was a little scary. The exhaust port did not appear cracked, but the bolts holding it to the lower unit had come loose and some of them had snapped off. This caused the gasket to blow out and thus the exhaust leak. Ken was able to patch it back together temporarily and it ran perfect the rest of the trip. Now it will be headed in for a proper repair.
This motor has never been disasembled since new, and maybe a lesson to learn ( mostly for service techs ) to make sure and inspect this area during routine maintenance.

Hats off to both Brant and Ken for their help. Pretty impressive for them to step up and help out someone in need. Brant knows I am from AZ and probably not a potential customer for his Ca shop, and Ken took time off his busy pre-fish to turn some wrenches for me.
These are the kind of guys that should get your business if you are in their area.

[SEAHORSE]

Has the motor ever hit a stump or something or ever ran with a damaged prop or had one throw a blade? If so, that is a fairly common problem if the engine mounts and powerhead bolts and gearcase bolts were not retorqued after the event.

[AZ_PWE]

Actually, it did.
Last year the trailer swing away tongue snapped off and the entire rig hit a guardrail at 50 MPH. Ranger replaced the boat and trailer and put this original engine back on.
I will have the tech check every bolt this time.
thx!

[SEAHORSE]

When you take it in for service, ask the dealer to call the dealer tech hotline and to talk to someone in the V6 group. Have them tell about the sheared bolts and exhaust leakage from the adapter plate. It is possible that Evinrude may contribute somewhat to help you out.

[ARK Ranger]

When my 2007 HO was having rough idle problems a tech replaced this exhaust system part and i had some stuck thermostats that was not allowing the complete engine to get hot and mid range(1500 to 2200) miss. He fixed and was great for a little while. Still good but a little of the miss is back. Where are these bolts and what torq.
E225DHLSUA
05175659

[ARK Ranger]

bump!!!

[AZ_PWE]

Take the motor cover and side covers off and inspect from the rear and sides of the engine. The part is the large adapter housing that is between the bottom of the block and the lower unit. There are bolts all the way around it on the top and bottom. Also, there are gaskets top & bottom., which should show some type of exhaust residue if they are leaking. Not sure on torque specs.