1998 FICHT faststrike150 check engine light/alarm

[fat1]

Hi, I'm hoping you guys can shed some light for me on this situation I have. I bought this boat off a friend of mine who bought it brand new ( i have fished off this boat for 8 years). He had the recall done in 2001 so I have the pinned heads. He moved to Georgia and took the boat with him but could not find a suitable place to fish with a boat this large and sold it to me for a song....really. It has been sitting for just under two years. I checked the plugs and gas and all seemed well so I fired it up (with waterhose and muffs in place). 3 cranks and it was running (it took about 20 seconds to start spraying water from the back). water pressure seemed fine, revving made the water shoot out further and so on but after about 3 minutes I noticed the check engine light was on so I shut it down. When I turned the key back on all the lights counted down, I got the beep and then the check engine light came back on and stayed on. it fired right up anyway and the alarm horn came on (constant) so I waited about 5 seconds and shut it down.

about 15 minutes later I turned the key and the lights counted down, I got the beep and no check engine light. I turned the water hose (with muffs attached) on, turned the key back on, the lights counted down, I got the beep and the check engine light came back and stayed on. It fired right up again and idled fine but again as soon as it started running the arlarm horn came on solid.

I can repeat this by letting it sit with no water running then turning the key on with no check engine light, as soon I turn the hose on and turn the key on the check engine light will come on. The engine starts just fine, idle seems just fine, but the check engine light is on and the horn is constantly blaring.

what
the
hell?

I have read posts referencing a way to make the check engine light blink out a code for me. could someone elaborate? if I get the code can someone decipher it for me as well? thanks in advance.

fat1

 

[seahorse5]

Re: 1998 FICHT faststrike150 check engine light/alarm

the CHECK ENGINE light is like the one in your car, it can mean any number of things. Your description leads me to believe that water in the fuel filter is triggering the warning light. Remove the connector plug on the bottom of the filter to see if the light turns off.

It's quicker to find someone with the diagnostic software and cable to hook up and print out the engine report along with any error codes so you know where to start looking.

 

[fat1]

Re: 1998 FICHT faststrike150 check engine light/alarm

by filter do you mean the fuel/water separator in the back of the boat or a filter on the engine? thanks for the reply. I believe it is water/fuel related but I'm still ready to puke up blood.

 

[seahorse5]

Re: 1998 FICHT faststrike150 check engine light/alarm

The filter on the port aft of the engine has water sensor in it with the wiring connection on the bottom of the filter cannister. If you do find water in it, then you'll have to pump out the fuel tank, flush the lines, and replace the boat mounted filter if it has one.

 

[Faztbullet]

Re: 1998 FICHT faststrike150 check engine light/alarm

Depending on the EMM software the early 1998 was know for a false water in fuel/check light but did not trigger a alarm. Check as Seahorse suggested and check your codes.

 

[gradytom]

Re: 1998 FICHT faststrike150 check engine light/alarm

To check the codes hold open the throttle position sensor
in the WOT position
(I have used a rubber band if a friend isn't available)
turn the key but don't turn over the motor, the warning beep will sound and then the dash light (engine code light) will begin to flash, count the flashes
or "groups" of flashes, kinda like morse code.
The service manual will tell you where to go from there.

 

[fat1]

Re: 1998 FICHT faststrike150 check engine light/alarm

I disconnected the sensor wire but the check engine light still comes on. i pumped clean gas into a secondary tank and hooked it up to the fuel line after the fuel/water separator in the back of the boat (down by the starting battery). i started the engine and got the alarm which sounds for about 10 seconds and stops, the check engine light stays on for about 5 minutes of running. it does not go into slow mode and the check engine light eventually goes out. if I shut it down and turn the key back on the check engine light comes on and if I start it the whole process happens again. it smells like its using oil but I only get smoke if I rev past 2500 or so, previous owner said it has lower emissions and he never had visible smoke at idle. i tied the throttle body wide open but it did not flash any codes, is that the correct part to tie to WOT?

I live in WV and my local marina (62 miles) does necessarily service FICHT engines. we are on good terms and he said he's sure he has the interface cable if I want to bring it down. i'd rather have it flash than to tow 62 miles but I will do what you guys tell me I need to do.

Thank you for all the replies.

Fat1

 

[fat1]

Re: 1998 FICHT faststrike150 check engine light/alarm

ok fellers, it's a code 37. I hopped in the boat, mashed the hot foot to the floor and it flashed code 37 which my google-fu found seahorse telling another person that is water in fuel. I think I can handle this but one final question: is there an easier way to get the gas out of this massive tank than pumping out with the primer bulb (which I am committed to doing for all 25 gallons if I have to) the boat is a 1998 Javelin 389DC. Thanks a ton really, thank you. Anyone needs computer assistance in WV call me

Fat1

 

[gradytom]

Re: 1998 FICHT faststrike150 check engine light/alarm

code 37 is indeed water in fuel sensor.
I'd pump it out with a higher volume siphon ( Harbor Freight?), change seperator filters and start over.
Let the fuel you remove sit in a glass container for a bit and see where you are at.
Good Luck
gt

 

[fat1]

Re: 1998 FICHT faststrike150 check engine light/alarm

ok so the gas is coming out now. I get the same symptoms running off a clean aux tank with brand new gas in it. I have bypassed the fuel/water separator with this configuration and the wire has been disconnected from the fuel filter all day. do I need a new filter or could the sensor be bad or ? Thanks again for the replies.

Fat1

 

[gradytom]

Re: 1998 FICHT faststrike150 check engine light/alarm

Manually clear the service codes and check it again.
This will erase all soft codes.
While in diagnostic mode, return the throttle position sensor to its idle position, wait 5 seconds and the check engine light will come on.
Move the TPS to its WOT limit, check engine light will go out.
Then back to low end limit, light will come back on.
Make sure TPS travels to both limits, repeat the low to high steps for 5 cycles, after cycle 5 on the low end limit, the check light will stay on until the TPS is remounted. After remount, if there are no hard codes, the light will stay off.
Turn off the key off and all soft codes will be erased.
Probably not a bad idea to disconnect the motor from the negative battery terminal at this time, wait 10 minutes and reconnect.
Engine must be run to re-aquire any soft codes.
Good Luck
gt

 

[fat1]

Re: 1998 FICHT faststrike150 check engine light/alarm

ok im back.

I got the codes cleared and took the boat out a few times. the alarm goes off at random times and intervals now. I can run down the lake for 20 minutes and not have an alarm, fish for an hour run back up the lake for five minutes and receive the alarm back to back. still code 37. should I replace the fuel filter assembly/sensor nipple on the outboard?

 

[wilde1j]

Re: 1998 FICHT faststrike150 check engine light/alarm

You may not have the latest MAP image installed.

 

[fat1]

Re: 1998 FICHT faststrike150 check engine light/alarm

I apologize for my ignorance but I'm not really sure what that means. I have ordered the fuel filter and sensor assembly that goes on the outboard itself to see if that helps. The real issue is I'm just not sure how serious this issue really is and how concerned I should be.

 

[wilde1j]

Re: 1998 FICHT faststrike150 check engine light/alarm

The MAP is the firmware loaded into the EMM (engine management computer). My '07 E-Tecs have had at least three different MAPs burned since I got them. The new images correct running and/or alarm issues with the previous versions. It's a five minute deal for a dealer with a laptop and the right sw.

 

[fat1]

Re: 1998 FICHT faststrike150 check engine light/alarm

OIC, I was under the impression that this particular engine used an ECU and the EMMs were not introduced until 2001ish? I will look into that for sure. Thanks for the info!

 

[wilde1j]

Re: 1998 FICHT faststrike150 check engine light/alarm

All engine computers, just a different name.

 

[seahorse5]

Re: 1998 FICHT faststrike150 check engine light/alarm

OIC, I was under the impression that this particular engine used an ECU and the EMMs were not introduced until 2001ish? I will look into that for sure. Thanks for the info!

On those motors, an ECU runs the motor but has a separate ignition module and a separate regulator/rectifier. On an EMM engine the complete charging system, fuel system, starting system, and the ignition circuitry is inside the one module instead of having additional modules.

The EMM was introduced with the FICHT Ram series for 2000.

 

[fat1]

Re: 1998 FICHT faststrike150 check engine light/alarm

I plan on draining the fuel filter into a jar so I can see what it looks like but I am confident I got the tank completely drained a few weeks ago when all this started. anything else I can look into? Should I avoid running this engine at all?

 

[Faztbullet]

Re: 1998 FICHT faststrike150 check engine light/alarm

Yank the "puter" and send to DFI and have the latest firmware installed..
http://www.dfitechnologies.com/