Check Engine Light at WOT

[Salty Tricks]

I just splashed for the season ( yeah I know it's late...but I do have another boat).... I bring my 225 1998 evinrude up on plane and 1-2 minutes at WOT and the light and audible alarm come on. Back off on the throttle and the alarm goes away. I did install a Sting Ray hydrofoil this season. Can this be a cause? Water pressure gauge is pinned at 30psi so I know she's getting water. Any thoughts? Thanks.

 

[N1NE1]

Re: Check Engine Light at WOT

i have a 98 200 hp, my alarm sometimes goes off when i floor it also,goes away when i let off, figured out the oil tank gauge falls to the bottom of tank if its a little low, is the oil tank full?

 

[boobie]

Re: Check Engine Light at WOT

If the check engine lite comes on it sounds like a fuel restriction.

 

[Outsider]

Re: Check Engine Light at WOT

What does your motor manual say? It should define all warning horns and indicator combinations ...

 

[clanton]

Re: Check Engine Light at WOT

If the tach has 4 red lights, the check engine light is for fuel restriction only for motors with carbuators.

 

[Salty Tricks]

Re: Check Engine Light at WOT

Thanks for your responses. Fuel restrictions sounds like the likely scenario. Your response reminded me that I failed to mention that I replaced the Racor off engine canister ( as I do every pre-launch for the season) and new this year, I replaced the stock plastic inline fuel filter with an aftermarket glass unit (I like these so I can monitor if air bubbles are in the system) before launch. I wonder if I used the wrong size nipples (they come with 3 sizes) in this Attwood inline filter? Can this be the cause? I do have a seperate system check gauge and the motor is indeed w/ carbs.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Check Engine Light at WOT

Salty, Check Engine alarm identifies fuel restriction on '98 V6 Motors. If you have a racor fuel filter, that is all the filtering you need. I recommend you discard the inline fuel filter, and replace the fuel line with a one piece section. Use 3/8" brass hose barbs and 3/8" ID fuel line. Check or remove the antisiphon valve in the fuel pickup tube.

 

[Salty Tricks]

Re: Check Engine Light at WOT

Thanks Chris1956...

I removed the anti siphon a long time ago. Do you recommend that I remove the filter media from the glass inline filter so that I can maintain a site glass for puposes of checking for air bubbles indicating air leaks or just discard this and go with a straight barb. Thanks for your help on this.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Check Engine Light at WOT

I recommend you remove the inline filter and replace with a 1 piece length of fuel line. If you have 1 piece fuel line from tank to Racor and 1 piece fuel line to Motor, and these are clamped properly you so not need to check for air visually. If you have an air leak you will see over oiling, but the fuel restriction alarm will not usually come on. Remember fuel restriction means you have a vacuum in the fuel line, not an air leak.

 

[Salty Tricks]

Re: Check Engine Light at WOT

I connected the fuel line directly to the VRO and eliminated the inline filter under the cowling. Ran the river for 20 minutes at WOT and no alarm.


Thank you fellows!

 

[jdlough]

Re: Check Engine Light at WOT

I have a 1998 175HP Johnson (J175EXECD) that had the same check engine light/alarm problem.
I fixed it today using the tips posted above.

Here's what I did for anyone else with the same problem:

1. Replaced primer bulb. Still got the alarm.

2. Removed inline fuel filter. Still got the alarm.

3. Replaced water separator/filter. Still got the alarm.

4. Ran with gas tank cap off to check for vent blockage. Still got the alarm.

5. Tested the vacuum switch with a MityVac vacuum tester.
Switch correctly sounded the alarm at anything over 6.5" of vacuum.

6. Ran boat on a portable tank. Boat ran fine with no alarms.

And what fixed it was...

7. Removed the spring and ball from the stupid anti-siphon valve.
(I dug the spring out with a long coarse-threaded drywall screw)
Boat now runs fine with no alarms, and actually idles and runs smoother.

WooHoo!!

 

[boobie]

Re: Check Engine Light at WOT

Those dang anti-siphon valves will get you everytime. Good job done at trouble shooting!!