Wont buy a Second

[Wickedcummins]

So your boat still doesn't run? I have an tech in my area that is a boat genius. I bet you can find someone in your area that is good. Explain the engine issues more. PCM's are sick motors, sorry to hear your troubles. I think my next boat will be a pcm.

Nope sure dont. Your lucky for that. I herd the same about PCMs hence the purchase. There support tho sucks. Well at first the boat would just randomly power down. Now it wont make any power. If you turn key off and start boat and hammer it, it will go once for 15 seconds then fall on its face. key off n on same thing.

Fuel pressure is 56 static and bumps 10-20 with wot. Low pressure pump is about 8psi to 14psi. Timming is perfect at tdc checked.

dunno at this point

[Wickedcummins]

With enough phone calls I found a buddy whom has a diacom setup. Connected to it and after looking of it for about ten mins found that PCM uses a oil sending unit and a fail safe switch. The fail safe switch from playing with it seems to retard timming and drop injectors. Stupid programming should just disable starting period. What kind of fail safe is that if there is no oil pressure?

With the switch circuit removed from the circuit runs fine.

So now Im going to find some software to edit or just wire up a standalone and get rid of the stupid progamming. I plan to tune it on some E85 as well and get some more power out of it. Ill start a thread when I begin it all!

[ajholt7]

Don't blame Tige when you start having Ethanol problems.

[Wickedcummins]

Dont worry I wont have any isseus seems I will know the tune.

[lohe]

With enough phone calls I found a buddy whom has a diacom setup. Connected to it and after looking of it for about ten mins found that PCM uses a oil sending unit and a fail safe switch. The fail safe switch from playing with it seems to retard timming and drop injectors. Stupid programming should just disable starting period. What kind of fail safe is that if there is no oil pressure?

With the switch circuit removed from the circuit runs fine.

So now Im going to find some software to edit or just wire up a standalone and get rid of the stupid progamming. I plan to tune it on some E85 as well and get some more power out of it. Ill start a thread when I begin it all!

Umm well you sounded like you know what you are doing. But after reading this post wow.

So it sounds like a oil pressure switch that cuts back the engine with low oil pressure. So instead of getting a new switch (most likley faulty and totally Tige's fault). I am assuming you have verified good oil pressure? You are going to by pass a system intended to prevent further engine damage sounds smart.

Then you think the "tune" is dumb because the oil pressure switch cuts the engine back instead of letting it start. You are freaking kidding me right? Umm when the engine is off there is no oil pressure so how in the he'll would that work? Why waste all the time and money truly to make the engine run totally diffrent instead of replacing a simple switch? I just fail to understand your logic on this.


Further more I don't feel that bad you spent all this time and money throwing parts at it trying to fix it instead of properly diag. The problem in the first place sounds like with the proper diagnostic equip it took no time to figure out what the problem was. Did you even bother taking it to the dealer and have them try to figure it out or just assumed from talking to the tech he was incompetent of figuring out?

Just venting back because ignorent people drive me insane I have to deal with this stuff on a day to day basis working in the Auto industry.

[ajholt7]

Dont worry I wont have any isseus seems I will know the tune.

Tuning is not the issue with ethanol in the marine environment. Hope you buy stock in Stabil Ethanol treatment.

[ajholt7]

http://www.boatus.com/seaworthy/ethanolwinter.asp

[ajholt7]

http://www.boatus.com/seaworthy/e10Tips.pdf

[ajholt7]

http://www.boatus.com/seaworthy/SeaApr10Ethanol.pdf

[lohe]

Lol 2nd link at the bottom


Don't use E85 in any boat.

But I am sure his will be fine. Oh I have seen many auto motive fuel system componets fail from to much ethanol and one engine destroyed (2004 BMW 745i) it had absored so much water it actually rusted the insides of the cylinders and the motor was seized.

[Wickedcummins]

Ive tunned 100's of engines on E85 and Had ZERO issues with them. E85 in a boat is no different in a car. If your doubting my ability to tune you need to get your head checked.

Ok maybe you didnt read. The Switch allows the engine to start and run lol and have power up to 2k. What is the point? you think a engine with no oil pressure is going to survive at 2k rpm ? seriously now. Yes its retarded that they dont just cut fuel and spark completely with the imput..

If you think a loacl boat tech has more skill them me to repair anything that burns a fuel u should think agian.. And I am in the Auto Industry and deal with stupid as people but here we are not talking about someone who dont know what there doing. Everything I replaced could have caused the issue I was seeing on a scope on the injectors and cam n crank sensors due to the ECU trying to disable the circuits.

So tell me what the point is of reducing engine power if there is no oil pressure? If there is no oil pressure it should not run period! It should create a no start witch would be simple for them!

[ajholt7]

I don't doubt your ability to tune for E85. I just don't see the advantage, but I do see lots of disadvantages in marine environments.

[Wickedcummins]

Advantage of E85 is Much more power. I can probably get another 40hp with it not to mention its alot cheaper per gallon although consumption will go up about 20% it still comes out slighty cheaper but with more power. E85 can be compaired to 108 octane with its energy. There are two hydro boats with blowers Ive tunned that run great and a 30ft bayliner with twin 454s that I have on E85. None of them have had any issues! The owner of the bayliner thinks he uses slightly more fuel but dont care because he loves the added power. He also has to bring his own fuel to fill being he cant buy on the lake

[boatwakes]

The switch is there for "limp mode" allowing you to return to port or safe harbor in extreme situations where it would be unsafe to have an engine that didn't start (think ocean going vessels). It's unfortunate you had an engine issue that caused such frustration (I know the feeling, questioning how Mercruiser has so many "awesome" designs that passed R&D...) but rational to see why it's there when you see people in the situations we (commercial tow boat industry) do. It's obvious you know what your doing and tuning for 85 may be something others would support, but, seeing as you're a cummins guy, get a 250hp marine 4BT and slap it in that boat, way less headaches. We're starting that project as soon as we find a donor inboard boat but pics and documentation will be rampant. Keep the boat and curse the software design engineer... there's no way that guy is having as much fun on the water as we are!!!

[Wickedcummins]

Wickedcummins, I'll lend you my scan tool if you would like. PM me if you're interested.

Thanks buddy much appreciated! I had a friend bring over his diacom he owns and found the issue. Nice to see a helping hand from another owner! Ive cooled off sum but still irrated at the fault!