Etecs, whats the problem ?

[Landlockedpirate]

So to sum up.

Lots of people appear not to like Etecs, but have no direct experience.

People who have owned them like them, but there are issues with electrics if not properly installed or maintained.

The broken saddle problem appears to be race boats (confirmed on Boatmad) with just 1 recreational failure.

If things go wrong out of the warranty, its expensive. Welcome to boating

So at the momment I cant see any reason to dismiss the Etec for our replacement engine, but the staggeringly light weight of the Yam 70 keeps jumping up at me

[PeterM]

Originally Posted by Landlockedpirate

So to sum up.

Lots of people appear not to like Etecs, but have no direct experience.

People who have owned them like them, but there are issues with electrics if not properly installed or maintained.

The broken saddle problem appears to be race boats (confirmed on Boatmad) with just 1 recreational failure.

If things go wrong out of the warranty, its expensive. Welcome to boating

So at the momment I cant see any reason to dismiss the Etec for our replacement engine, but the staggeringly light weight of the Yam 70 keeps jumping up at me

Its a dilema - down to personal choice and gut feeling

[Rokraider]

We have been running E Tecs on the club RIB fleet. I think we have 2 x 115's and 11 x 50's. We had some electrical issues with one of the 115's where the wiring had been routed badly around the engine by the factory and a wire got burnt and shorted. The others have been pretty reliable and are very punchy and responsive. They are very high tech and fiddly. You have to tell the computer which oil you are running and it adjusts the oil delivery to suit.
That said, we are going to ditch the E tecs apparently, because they wont allow us to buy the computer that would allow us to do our own maintenance on the engines. We have a very competent marine department and would have happily paid for them to go on the factory maintenance course.
Our local agents are rubbish and charge an extortionate price. So poor marketing and support strategy means
that they are going to lose a regular customer who will replace the engines every 3 years. Looks as though we are going Yamaha instead.

[gotchiguy]

Originally Posted by willk

Make sure that the battery connections are always 100% and never run one with the battery disconnected. Never "switch" the battery isolator when one is running. The EMM is horribly sensitive and horribly expensive. All the rest is excellent! I had two of them and they were great.

The battery connections and switch problems are well documented and easy to get right. I would disagree with your statement of not running the engine without the battery though. It's one of Evinrude's selling points that they don't need a battery to run unlike four strokes. Even the top 3.4L big blocks can be pull started from cold with no battery connected......

Which makes it all the more surprising how easily the EMM fries with dodgy battery connections

[DGR]

Originally Posted by matt h

Im guessing thats why the RNLI use yams and mercs/suzukis due to reliability etc.

That's possibly not very fair to the ETEC - the RNLI are unlikely to use it because the chances of restarting a capsized one will be very small - and they'll almost certainly get more of that type of abuse than an engine on a leisure boat.

Chances of a capsize kit/mod on an ETEC?!?

[Rokraider]

Originally Posted by gotchiguy

The battery connections and switch problems are well documented and easy to get right. I would disagree with your statement of not running the engine without the battery though. It's one of Evinrude's selling points that they don't need a battery to run unlike four strokes. Even the top 3.4L big blocks can be pull started from cold with no battery connected......

Which makes it all the more surprising how easily the EMM fries with dodgy battery connections

I assume that the manual start option is designed for when your battery has gone flat rather than not running a battery at all? Without a battery in the system, I imagine there is a high risk of a power spike, that could fry the ECM? With a battery in the system, it will have a dampening effect.

[HUMBER P4VWL]

Note re Optis, the 75/90/115/125 are the same block.

When you compare weight if engines you'll find brands use one block for a range if hp. So a 75 opti is likely heavy compared to other brands, but the 125, a very light bit if kit, if you get the jist.

We had a 90 on a 5.4, brilliant, though it did make the transom waterline low, but they are all like that. A 115/125 opti mmmmm

Benefit of Optis is the number of units sold way outstrips others like etec. They had problems at first launch in early years 2002 ish but they're resolved. That's the point though, tried and tested technology.

[Searider]

Originally Posted by Rokraider

We have been running E Tecs on the club RIB fleet. I think we have 2 x 115's and 11 x 50's. We had some electrical issues with one of the 115's where the wiring had been routed badly around the engine by the factory and a wire got burnt and shorted. The others have been pretty reliable and are very punchy and responsive. They are very high tech and fiddly. You have to tell the computer which oil you are running and it adjusts the oil delivery to suit.
That said, we are going to ditch the E tecs apparently, because they wont allow us to buy the computer that would allow us to do our own maintenance on the engines. We have a very competent marine department and would have happily paid for them to go on the factory maintenance course.
Our local agents are rubbish and charge an extortionate price. So poor marketing and support strategy means
that they are going to lose a regular customer who will replace the engines every 3 years. Looks as though we are going Yamaha instead.

I think there are unofficial sources of the software and cables?

Where are you based? Without wanting to "name and shame" I'd be interested to know which agent is not so good.

[SteveHall]

Ive had a few issues with my etec, but been able to fix it myself at home.

Its never left me stranded and never let me down!

I love it though! I normally do lots of slow speed idle work but after the run at Easter with fresh fuel and plenty of WOT the power was amazing!

[Ian M]

Originally Posted by HUMBER P4VWL

Benefit of Optis is the number of units sold way outstrips others like etec. They had problems at first launch in early years 2002 ish but they're resolved. That's the point though, tried and tested technology.

What? Are you saying E-Tecs are not tried and tested technology?
On a personal note, I've tried and tested mine for 5/6 years now without a glitch.

[HUMBER P4VWL]

Originally Posted by Ian M

What? Are you saying E-Tecs are not tried and tested technology?

On a personal note, I've tried and tested mine for 5/6 years now without a glitch.

No, I inferred they aren't AS tried and tested as they've sold less units for a shorter timeframe with that 2S modern technology.

[bedajim]

Originally Posted by Ian M

What? Are you saying E-Tecs are not tried and tested technology?
On a personal note, I've tried and tested mine for 5/6 years now without a glitch.

Ian

To be fair the first 3 yeas on the front lawn doesn't count

Jim

[willk]

Originally Posted by bedajim

To be fair the first 3 years on the front lawn doesn't count

H-P just got younger...

[bedajim]

Originally Posted by willk

H-P just got younger...

......................

[bedajim]

Originally Posted by willk

H-P just got younger...

I wish, sorry can't put it down to youth. Must be those I rib with in the 250 Etec club

[Ian M]

Originally Posted by bedajim

Ian

To be fair the first 3 yeas on the front lawn doesn't count

Jim

Ba____d I was quoting time since the garden gnome era

[colcreate]

Originally Posted by Rokraider

........
That said, we are going to ditch the E tecs apparently, because they wont allow us to buy the computer that would allow us to do our own maintenance on the engines. We have a very competent marine department and would have happily paid for them to go on the factory maintenance course.
........
Looks as though we are going Yamaha instead.

You don't buy a computer from Evinrude but you do need their software (and cable) which will run on virtually any windows laptop!

Copied from the Evinrude FAQ's on etecownersgroup website:
Can I obtain the software and cable needed to diagnose my E-TEC?
The diagnostic software CD and interface cable can be ordered from an authorized dealer. The latest CD covers the E-TEC motors and all the FICHT engines.
You will need a serial port on your laptop or a USB-to-serial port adapter kit to hook up the interface cable.

I have also read that the "Yamaha Service Software is only available to dealers" (although like with Evinrude there are lots of copies floating about from unofficial sources.....)

Since this seems to be your major reason for changing brands you might be better checking this out properly with both manufacturers beforehand.
Please let us know how you get on. It would be good to set the record straight.

[bedajim]

Originally Posted by ian m

ba____d i was quoting time since the garden gnome era

😄😃.......

[gotchiguy]

Originally Posted by Rokraider

I assume that the manual start option is designed for when your battery has gone flat rather than not running a battery at all? Without a battery in the system, I imagine there is a high risk of a power spike, that could fry the ECM? With a battery in the system, it will have a dampening effect.

I'm sure you're right. Fact is, you would never try and pull start a 3.4 litre big block unless in seriously dire straits. All I was referring to was a couple of videos posted on the etec owners forum a couple of years ago showing it was possible due to the engine starting so quickly (unlike optis which need a full crank rotation I think) and that they don't need a battery to run unlike all other brands afaik.

[Seafox47]

Whatever the perception is, i love the etec's. I have a pair of 90 hp units and they run perfect. Have put atleast 600 hours and never had a problem other than water in fueltank and it caused one injector to run rough. Engine still ran and got me home. Not sure if any other engine would have been any better.