Weird E-Tec problem..........please help!

[Byrdseye]

I have just picked up my new boat with a 250 E-Tec 250 hung on the back and I'm experiencing a weird intermittant problem with the motor. I'll be cruising along at fast idle in a canal at 750 rpms when the idle will drop to 500 as though you flipped a switch. Then, the engine won't respond to throttle at all, you can go full, half or anywhere at all and it is though the lever it not hooked to the engine at all. It just keeps cruising along in gear at 500 rpm. The fuel bulb is firm and feels normal while this is happening........... Now, if i shift back to neutral and the push forward.......the boat is back to normal !!!
This weirdness is very sporadic in that it only did it twice in 3 hrs of running yesterday and in all other respects the engine is normal. In fact, other than this glitch it's a fantastic motor, quiet, smooth fast etc.....
The dealer diagnostics show completely normal......no codes at all. I'm heading back out today to see if I can hear the throttle bodies opening when this happens.
Any ideas as to what this might be? If the TPS output goes to zero with the motor stay at idle even if the butterflies open? Any thought are appreciated from you gurus!

[Dae]

Sounds like your motor popping out of gear and when you switch in to Neutral it's resetting it self.

BTW, I don't the the EMM will capture a problem like that because as far as it knows, you put the shifter into neutral.


- Dae

[Byrdseye]

It's not coming out of gear.....just dropping the idle to 500rpm and staying in forward. I just got back from running it some more today and it added more symptoms, It would happen most often while at 1000 rpm. Same deal, sudden drop to 500 (the lever does no t "pop" back ) and the inability to advance the power. In addition, I could play with the throttle during these episodes and hear the butterflies open.
The new symptoms are overheating just prior to the event. While cruising at 1000 rpm the temp will slowly rise to 200f which then sets the overheat alarm and activates the "limp home" controls. It acts just the same as before but now is obviously overheating. I'll take it to the dealer in the morning and see what his computer says. Hopefully it's something as simple as a thermostat proplem or a sensor failure........

[gtm1086]

Have your dealer load the latest software to correct the overheat at idle issue. You may also want him to look real close at the TP sensor.

[rudetech1]

The latest software will definately help, good luck.

[RUSTY63]

Sounds like you have a couple of problems.

[SEAHORSE]

I'll jump in and add my guess to this mix.

It sounds like the throttle cable is not adjusted to retrun to idle correctly or you started the motor with the throttle advanced instead of at idle. There is a possibility that the throttle position sensor is faulty, but that is pretty rare, but ask the dealer to check for any sticky linkage as I had one that drove me nuts for a while.

Did you advance the throttle to the 750 rpm slow speed or was that what the motor was "idling" at?

[Byrdseye]

I advanced the throttle to 750rpm from slow idle (500). I had last weeks update loaded yesterday and will give her another go I'll keep ya posted.........

[Byrdseye]

The software update has solved the overheating at slow troll................this motor is awesome!!!

[SEAHORSE]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Byrdseye &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The software update has solved the overheating at slow troll................this motor is awesome!!!</TD></TR></TABLE>


Is the slow speed running OK on the motor now when you have it at 750rpm?

[E-tecRon]

Make sure it is not the primer bulb. I have a new E-tec 250. Used it 5 times and it died twice cause the primer bulb was bad. The valve on the engine side of the bulb would get stuck sometimes and the engine would run out of gas. And yes the primer bulb would be hard and full on gas. Took alot of analysis by alot of people to figure this out.

[SEAHORSE]

Was this a genuine factory new BRP primer ball, or a Tempo, Atwood, Sierra, or some other aftermarket brand?

[E-tecRon]

It is brand new boat. A new BRP primer ball. Ball was full and engine was completely dry of gas. Dealer replaced the primer ball.

[SKIP B]

I have the exact same problem with my new 225. Have had it to the dealer and same diagnosis as yours. Weather has been to bad to check it out on the water since dealer checked it out. Pls post if problem is corrected. Other than that awesome engine. First trip 51 nautical miles and burned 18 gallons of fuel.

[Byrdseye]

As I mentioned before the software update sovled the overheating problem completely........But I am still having the weird problem where the rpms drop to 500 from fast idle and it keeps chugging along in gear but does not respond to throttle. You can hear the throttle bodies open but nothing changes. It's easily fixed by just pulling back to neutral and then back into gear and the motor then responds normally. It is really just a minor annoyance but I 'm curios as to what is causing it to happen. Other than that small glitch this engine is quiet, smooth, powerfull and easy on the oil and fuel.

[RUSTY63]

Have the dealer Make Sure the throttle is returning to the idle stop on the motor.

[Byrdseye]

I think my dealer here in New Mexico has sorted out the problem.........it seems the EMM is shutting off and resetting on occasion. When it does this the computer thinks the motor has just been started and won't let it run above idle even when the throttle is advanced. (weird huh!) A new EMM is on the way and hopefully my problem will be cured. Glad I found a great local mechanic!

[mjwray]

My new 150 HO had the same problem with the rpm, after the rpm drop would sound, when I aplied the throttle the enging wanted to go, but nothing would happen, turned out to be a rigging thing with the throttle not returning all the way. I would have them check that rigging. was a 30 secong fix.

Thanks Matt

[johnrude]

I have a 250 to look at next week with the same problem. I have been on the boat when it did it. Engine stays in gear just goes down to idle. If you run it above 1000 RPm its ok any thing below it and after about 3 mins it goes down to appox 500 rpm. Did not have the time to play with it that day but did notice the TPS reading would go from around 9.5 to 0, like the throttle was closed. Will keep you updated also.

[SEAHORSE]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by johnrude &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I have a 250 to look at next week with the same problem. I have been on the boat when it did it. Engine stays in gear just goes down to idle. If you run it above 1000 RPm its ok any thing below it and after about 3 mins it goes down to appox 500 rpm. </TD></TR></TABLE>

I saw a similar problem that turned out to be a sticky throttle roller lever. You couldn't even feel it. After sanding the width a bit and a bit of Triple Guard in the bore, it fit looser on the mounting shoulder bolt and the motor worked fine after that.