2005 90hp Etec is TOAST!

[bobbergal]

I want to share our experience with our Evinrude Etec:

First 3 seasons, no problem. We live in the north where the boating season is only about 5 months long, so the boat is out of the water most of the year.

Last year we started having a few issues, but no longer have anyone on our lake (which has 7 marine dealers) who sells or services Evinrude, so my husband did some tweaking and kept the motor running for the season.

As soon as we put the boat in the water in May, the motor would not run right - acted like it wasn't getting gas, cut out over 2000 rpms, over heated, fouled plugs, etc. We took it to the dealer where we bought it (remember - they no longer handle Evinrude) and got put off & put off, until we finally pulled the boat out and hauled it 30 miles to the nearest Evinrude repair shop. They called today. The center piston is shot, a result of the wrist pin coming loose. The repair will cost around $4500.

No help from Evinrude. The motor is out of warranty. If we get it repaired the parts will be under warranty for all of 1 year!

I don't know about all of you, but I think an $8000 motor should not need a repair that is about equal to it's value after 4 seasons of use.

I don't know what we are going to decide to do, but if we don't go for the repair and look for a replacement, it will NOT be an Evinrude.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: 2005 90hp Etec is TOAST!

ILast year we started having a few issues, but no longer have anyone on our lake (which has 7 marine dealers) who sells or services Evinrude, so my husband did some tweaking and kept the motor running for the season.

Unless your husband is a qualified Evinrude ETEC "tweaker," you may have the explanation for your eventual engine failure. These are very complicated engines and performance of service by someone who is not qualified to do so, can have serious consequences.

 

[mike243]

Re: 2005 90hp Etec is TOAST!

hate that for you,cant blame you for that,i have had good & bad in all brands,i try not to let things burn me more than once,you may never have a problem out of another but then again the next few may not last 1/2 that long,mike243

 

[JB]

Re: 2005 90hp Etec is TOAST!

Wrist pin came loose after 4 years of use?? Very unlikely and surely a fluke if that is what really happened. I would have to see proof.

The ETEC is probably the most sophisticated 2 stroke engine in the universe.

Add several orders of magnitude to the saying, "Anyone who tries to work on an outboard without a Service Manual has a fool for a technician."

 

[Silvertip]

Re: 2005 90hp Etec is TOAST!

What were these "issues" and what exactly was it that was "tweaked" to get you by until now? Fess up - let's have the full story.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 2005 90hp Etec is TOAST!

who did necessary maintainance, during the warranty period. or did it get maintainance.

 

[krogie]

Re: 2005 90hp Etec is TOAST!

E-tec motors are great motors. there can be a lemon in any bunch , but whatever was "tweaked" might have cost you a motor. it was probably something simple like bad fuel or a fuel filter, i can say that i have worked on many outboards and the new etec line is above me on many repairs and i would not attempt many without a manual

 

[bobbergal]

Re: 2005 90hp Etec is TOAST!

I am new to posting to this forum, but have read here many times before.

To answer a couple of questions:

My husband worked as a small engine mechanic for a few years, so he is not completely unschooled in outboards. We still run a 1977 70 hp Merc that he has kept in working condition for all these years. But he knew he was over his head with the technology of the Etec. He changes the spark plugs .

The main tweaking he did was to try changing props and lowering the motor, not anything to the engine itself, since it was acting like it was not "getting enough water" - sorry, I'm sure there is a technical term for it, but I do not know what you would call it. There was also some cavitation going on.

As far as maintenance goes, the dealer we bought it from did the maintenance. He still had the Evinrude dealership for the first couple of years, and then was perfectly capable of doing the routine maintenance on them. He just didn't want to work on them anymore so it we got a big hassle whenever we would take it in. Our boat sat at his docks for 3 weeks without being looked at this year before we pulled it and hauled it up the road.

The mechanic at the dealership we took it to called Evinrude and talked directly to them first before he even called us to let us know what was wrong. He asked if they would cover at least part of the repairs under warranty since this was not a usual repair on a motor that is 4 years old. I also called them to plead our case, but they would not budge on the fact that this is a perfectly acceptable failure.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: 2005 90hp Etec is TOAST!

If you mean by "wasn't getting enough water," that the water pump was not getting enough water to pump it through the engine properly, I'm surprised that the motor lasted as long as it did.

It also makes me wonder who set the motor up. ETEC motors have to be mounted and set up by a BRP dealership mechanic, or other authorized person. If they are not, the warranty is void. If your local guy didn't mount the motor at the proper height, I'd hate to thnk what else he didn't do right.

I certainly don't want to come off sounding as if I'm a "know it all smart guy," but you have to understand that ETECs are very sophistocated engines, which require a high level of training to understand and service correctly. Having a background as a small engne mechanic and having worked on a few outboards here and there, just isn't enough to even think about fooling with an ETEC. Beyond that, there is really very little that you can do without having the proper electronic gear and computer codes, anyway.

I'm sorry that you had a problem with this very expensive motor, but I have to think that there is more to this story than we, or even you, currently know. Whatever you decide to do, don't even think of letting anyone without proper gear and training get any where near it.

 

[bobbergal]

Re: 2005 90hp Etec is TOAST!

Hubby?s away fishing this weekend and I am up late because I am so upset over this motor, so I am going to vent here. Just don?t read it if you don?t want hear it.

For years we had used boats and motors. We were raising our family and putting the money to better use - like food and clothes for the kids. This was our retirement motor. When my husband retired, we decided to take a big chunk of his severance package and buy something we could use to enjoy with our kids and grandkids. We bought a used pontoon boat that was still in great shape. The furniture arrangement was just what we wanted, the carpet and furniture were like new and it came with a full playpen cover and bimini top. It also came with a junky motor. So on our 30th wedding anniversary we started shopping for a brand new outboard.

After lots of research, we decided the etec was the way to go. We figured it would be the last motor we would ever own. By the time the motor was done, we would probably either be living in a retirement situation in a warmer climate or not able to run a boat anymore. We used to laugh about the older relatives we had that ran their old time motors until either the motor or the owner dropped and figured years from now our kids would be laughing about that old motor we still ran. All the new technologies and the 3 year service interval sounded great. So we took the money and ordered the 90 hp motor that we were told would be a good fit for our boat (it had a 40 hp when we bought it). Then we anxiously waited for spring and spent time going through Overton's and Bass Pro catalogs looking for neat things we could add to our boat.

The first thing that was a little weird when we got the motor was the fact that it was the saltwater edition, when we are on a fresh water lake. But we were told that the saltwater one was actually a better motor, so we were okay with it. When they mounted it on our pontoon boat, it took them a few days of us going back to get it working okay. They tried it in a couple of different positions before it ran right. Then about half way through the first season we bought a prop with a different pitch (one the dealer recommended that we try) because it just wasn?t performing the way it should be, as far as gas consumption goes.

For the next 2 seasons it seemed to be running fine. It was put through the winterizing sequence each fall and the start up sequence each spring but didn?t need much else.

Last year when a few problems started late in the season, we took the boat to the dealer where we bought it a couple of times. He didn?t seem interested in even looking at it. When he did take a look, he wasn?t concerned about anything. It was him that suggested going back to the other prop (this is not a fly-by-night place ? it has been in business for more than 80 years and is one of the largest shops on our lake). More asking around led us to moving the motor again. One of the reasons I started reading on this forum was to see if anyone else was having the same troubles. Since we were already into September, we figured anything that was wrong could be corrected when the boat was launched this year and the motor got it's spring start-up.

So now here we are only 4 years later and no motor. There is no way we can afford to buy another new motor. The repair costs are out of the question right now, too. Good used outboards are almost impossible to find. And our grandkids are finally to the age where we could have really enjoyed many days of fishing and grilling this summer. I just wish they made things like they used to when at least you could get value for the hard earned money you spent.

 

[56 rude]

Re: 2005 90hp Etec is TOAST!

sorry to here about your bad luck.go to any dealership of any outboard brand you,d like to think of and you will find new motors that are fried!my friend just bought a 2005 merc 4 stoke that has a new powerhead on it as the other self destructed!no motor brand is immune to failure.was the correct oil used?

 

[jonesg]

Re: 2005 90hp Etec is TOAST!

The mechanic who has your engine right now, he dismantled it , so he should be able to tell you why it failed prematurely.

I'd want to know because I'd have it fixed and know what to avoid next time.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: 2005 90hp Etec is TOAST!

Sorry to hear of your bad fortune. I know a few folk with the e-tec motors and they are happy with them so far. The overheating thing has me somewhat puzzled though. Did your current dealer check the water pump assembly ??

 

[Clippership821]

Re: 2005 90hp Etec is TOAST!

You've got some real heavy weights giving you advice here, Bobbergal. Listen closely, very closely! Likewise, sorry about your dilemma. Good luck!

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: 2005 90hp Etec is TOAST!

I've heard very little that is negative about ETEC motors and quite a bit about them that is good. That said, I do understand your frustration with today's, extremely complicated motors.

I run a 37 year old Johnson 65hp motor on a regular basis. In fact, I will be out in it this afternoon, after my little man takes his nap. I love this motor because it cost me very little to purchase and refurbish, in comparison to the cost of today's motors. It also runs very well, day after day.

At the same time, it seems like I am constantly hearing about one "new" motor after another blowing up, or having some sort of other serious problem. I'd also say that no specific brand seems to be more or less susceptable to these problems. I'm not sure that today's motors are built less well than the older ones, but they are vastly more complicated and that provides a great deal more opportunity for problems.

As for your local dealer, I wondering if the reason why he isn't selling/servicing ETECS any more, is because BRP revoked his dealership. If he was having lots of customer problems and complaints, they may have. I also hope he didn't put a prop on your motor that had it running at either very low rpm, or extremely high rpm. Either one could have caused damage to the motor.

 

[Sea18Horse]

Re: 2005 90hp Etec is TOAST!

So the question now becomes, what can they do now? Are the Etecs good motors, are they not? was it maintained properly ,was it not. Was it set up properly, was it not? All these things are interesting questions with at least some bearing on the future. But it seems to me that what they need now are suggestions on how to get back on the water with the least outlay of cash. I know what it costs to get the small vintage outboards that I use up to snuff but what about the 37 year old 65 horse example that Jay Merrill gives above? Could an engine like this use the same controls as the etec? Steering and shifting? How hard are these older outboards to find in refurbishable condition? It sounds like the husband has the mechanical skills to tackle a project like this. And it might be fun for the both of them.

I mean obviously this is not what they had in mind for this stage in their lives but there's no use crying over spilled milk so to speak. Good luck with it!

Cheers................Todd

 

[Dhadley]

Re: 2005 90hp Etec is TOAST!

Just an observation - if the wrist pin did pound out and the piston skirt is fine then it could be due to set up. Motors on pontoons are subjected to some odd situations. The prop tends to garb, let go (slip) and grab again because of the turbulent water common on most pontoons back by the prop.

This constant grabbing, slipping, grabbing is very hard on wrist pins. On 3 cylinder motors it usually shows up on #2 first. This doesn't happen overnight but rather over a long period of time. Just might be something to think about when / if you get the boat going again. It's not specific to E-Tecs. It's not specific to any brand or technology. It'll happen to a carb'd motor, an EFI or as in your case a DFI motor. It doesn't happen to all motors on pontoons but it does from time to time.

There are pontoon specific props which help a great deal. You mentioned moving the motor down and swapping props. I think you may be on to something thinking those scenarios had something to do with it.

The other thing that's hard on wrist pins is lugging the motor. You didn't mention what the top rpm was on the motor but it's not uncommon for motors on pontoons to be down at or below the recommended rpm range.

Now, if the skirt of the piston is damaged then there may be another issue. But if wrist pin pound out is the only issue then you may want to look at set up. The good news is that it isn't hard to fix. To replace the pistons won't be anywhere near the value of the motor.

 

[blared]

Re: 2005 90hp Etec is TOAST!

Etech engines are computer based engines. To service them you have to hook it up to the computer first and then go from there since it will give you all the trouble codes . They don't require no oil change or need of mixing fuel and oil... oh and no service for 3 years... well that's what Evinrude says.... I dont know about that,, every outboard needs a service every year at least for a water pump service. I didn't hear any bad things from people who sell them but I have heard enough complaints from people who purchased them. I have messed around with one of them on the computer but haven't turned any wreches on them yet. They are probably still testing them and trying to improve them just like new cars with defects.

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: 2005 90hp Etec is TOAST!

... I dont know about that,, every outboard needs a service every year at least for a water pump service.

You sure about that?

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: 2005 90hp Etec is TOAST!

I'm glad that DHadley jumped in on this one, because he offered info that most of the rest of us probably wouldn't know. It might also be a worthwhile investment of time on the part of the OP to inquire in the "toon" section and/or the prop section here at iboats, to see if anyone can provide further info related to wristpin and/or prop problems related to pontoon boats.

As for retrofitting, I'm not sure what the OP's options are in regard to currently used controls, etc. They might work on a motor that isn't much older than what she has. They definately wouldn't work on mine, because it is a hydro-electric model, but most people don't one as old as mine anyway.

I would also want to find a qualified mechanic to find out what a partial rebuild would cost. I doubt that doing so will be inexpensive, but neither is replacing a motor. Really, you can't make much of a decision on cost alternatives, until you know what those alternatives are.

If the OP's husband is a pretty good small engine mechanic, and they decide to go with an older, less expensive engine, any of the carburetted, non oil injected motors would be fine. Even those with oil injection would be OK, if he feels comfortable with them. As a purely personal observation, I don't trust the first oil injection systems, so I would disable the capability if I bought a motor that fits this description. My choice would also be to stick with OMC, simply because there is so much still available in terms of parts and online advice. Obviously, others may have different opinions.

My method of buying motors is to make an overall decision based upon price and perceived condition of the motor. Basically, what I do is to make a decision that allows me to make some computations on what the total cost of the motor will be after acquisition and refurbishment. I also factor in likely longetvity.

For example, my '72 65hp Johnson cost me $400 to buy, about $200 to pickup (gas, hotel, etc.) and about $1,600 to refurbish. My refurbishment cost was actually a bit higher than I am used to, because I was extremely busy at the time and had a dealer do most of the work. I chose this motor because the photos of it made it extremely obvious that it had hardly been used (original paint, no paint wear, even on skeg) and the compression values were very high and even. The seller was on a fresh water lake in an area with winter weather, so I had a motor that would have minimal corrosion and a life of short boating seasons. The seller also told me that the motor had been unused for many years, but that the reason was not related to problems with it.

My point here, is that there are "old motors and there are old motors." You have to be patient, you have to know what you are buying and you have to show up to close the deal, with diagnostic tools in hand. Before the money is exchanged, you must satisfy yourself of what you are buying. That said, there is some gambling involved. I did exactly that with my purchase, because even though the shift switch (NLA item) was fine, there was no guarantee that it would stay that way. I chose to take the gamble because I felt that I could mitigate it, by picking up a couple of spare remote controls via EBay, etc. So far, mine is hanging in there, so even the backup parts plan hasn't been needed.

Hopefully, this info will help the OP.


PS: I put many more hours on an outboard each year than most people do and my water pump impeller is over three years old. I installed a "pee tube" in my motor some months ago and I have a very strong water stream coming out of it all of the time. While I am about to change it, because I feel that a three year interval is about right, I don't think I would want to spend the money to replace an impeller annually, especially on a motor that is run about 4 months per year.