Evinrude Etec 90 - Software?

[colcreate]

I'm going to look at buying a used Etec 90 next week....
I know these are described as Marmite engines so please help me make my decision to buy based on facts and not hearsay.

Ideally, can anybody tell me about the Evinrude diagnostic/servicing software, would it be possible/useful to "borrow" a copy and any interconnecting leads?

I presume it can it be run off one of my laptops but what would it actually tell me?

Also if I had the serial number of the motor beforehand can I find out anything about the history before I go to view? Original supplying dealer, service history etc?

Anything common issues to look for in particular?

The motor is just within my limited cash budget, is out of factory warranty and does seem like a reasonable second hand buy.

[Ferdi]

Originally Posted by colcreate

I'm going to look at buying a used Etec 90 next week....
I know these are described as Marmite engines so please help me make my decision to buy based on facts and not hearsay.

Ideally, can anybody tell me about the Evinrude diagnostic/servicing software, would it be possible/useful to "borrow" a copy and any interconnecting leads?

I presume it can it be run off one of my laptops but what would it actually tell me?

Also if I had the serial number of the motor beforehand can I find out anything about the history before I go to view? Original supplying dealer, service history etc?

Anything common issues to look for in particular?

The motor is just within my limited cash budget, is out of factory warranty and does seem like a reasonable second hand buy.

look at Owners Message Board

all your questions are answered several times there

[Pikey Dave]

what year is the engine?
Is it a private sale or from a dealer? If it's from a dealer, ask to see an engine report, it is easy to get with the software & can be emailed as a PDF.

[colcreate]

Originally Posted by Ferdi

look at Owners Message Board

all your questions are answered several times there

Thank you for the reply, I have looked briefly on that US based site before. Trawled through the forum, followed the dead links for software downloads and found the cables offered are priced in $dollars that will take a week to get here. I watched the video's though which gave me the idea about using the software, hence the post!
I was really hoping for someone in the UK that had practical experience and could perhaps help me out with the equipment in time for next weeks viewing.
Plus any favorable replies would then be on Ribnet

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

what year is the engine?
Is it a private sale or from a dealer? If it's from a dealer, ask to see an engine report, it is easy to get with the software & can be emailed as a PDF.

Engine is 2007 being sold by a broker and as such "dealer warranty" is unlikely, he doesn't have an engine report but would be happy for someone to connect it up to inspect.

[clydeoutboards]

if he is an authorised dealer he will have the software. how many hours has it got on it?

[colcreate]

Originally Posted by clydeoutboards

if he is an authorised dealer he will have the software. how many hours has it got on it?

No as I understand it from the phone conversation this morning it's being sold by a marina acting as a "Broker" on behalf of a good client. As such the description is verbal and all details are to be confirmed before money changes hands.
It appears that the owner has not used it in a while and has now instructed the broker to sell it off. Hours are supposed to be low (aren't they always) and a lot less than the 300 before first service limit. I was hoping to go next week see it running on site and plug the thing into a laptop to verify. If it's OK I will probably buy it on the spot!

[clydeoutboards]

Hi

well if it was my money I would speak to an etec dealer and ask the following:

1: how much for a report inc hours and any fault numbers
2: how much to fit as these engines need to be " set up" by a dealer ( I would not bother as it is 6 years old and not under warranty)
3: How much for the 3rd service

as you say every engine has v v low hours , only been used in the sea once if at all ......

Oh and if you do get it to even a thousand hours please post the print out on here as I still have never seen or been told of one.

Dave

[Jizm]

Originally Posted by clydeoutboards

Oh and if you do get it to even a thousand hours please post the print out on here as I still have never seen or been told of one.

Dave

I have.

I fitted a ex sailing club 50hp to a Ribeye a couple of years ago. Had about 1100 hours on it. Never missed a beat and still going strong I believe.

http://www.rib.net/forum/f16/sunset-...als-40870.html

[tonto]

Originally Posted by clydeoutboards

Hi

well if it was my money I would speak to an etec dealer and ask the following:

1: how much for a report inc hours and any fault numbers
2: how much to fit as these engines need to be " set up" by a dealer ( I would not bother as it is 6 years old and not under warranty)
3: How much for the 3rd service

as you say every engine has v v low hours , only been used in the sea once if at all ......

Oh and if you do get it to even a thousand hours please post the print out on here as I still have never seen or been told of one.

Dave

I am guessing you dont sell etecs then?

[clydeoutboards]

True but I dont sell new yams or suzi's either but I do see them with 1000+ hours on them (yams on a regular basis) but I have never seen an etec with a thousand+ hours on the clock.

[SparkUK]

Originally Posted by clydeoutboards

True but I dont sell new yams or suzi's either but I do see them with 1000+ hours on them (yams on a regular basis) but I have never seen an etec with a thousand+ hours on the clock.

Maybe they're out boating about and not needing work doing?

[tonto]

Originally Posted by clydeoutboards

True but I dont sell new yams or suzi's either but I do see them with 1000+ hours on them (yams on a regular basis) but I have never seen an etec with a thousand+ hours on the clock.

Dosent mean that they dont exist then.

As your website mentions servicing etc of yams, and other brands except evinrudes, I would have thought you dont get a lot of them in then?
Being a Yamaha service center (as mentioned on your web page) I would have though you get a lot of Yams in for servicing.

It a bit like a BMW garage saying he never get a Merc in that has more than 20K on the clock????

As the OP asked for facts, here is what I am aware of;

Fact. You can get the software on line (I got it from fleabay, all together with leads for about 100 quid) complete with service manuals etc etc.

Fact. With said software you dont need a dealer to set it up.

Fact. The software will tell you faults, running hours and a a bunch of other engine perameters such as max RPM, temp etc etc.

Fact. You can service the engine yourself with consumable parts, and a bit of knowledge, most standard tools, and time. As pointed oput if the engine is 6 years old it wont have a warranty (nor will any other engine!) so servicing can be carried out by yourself.

Hope you find that it is a good deal, and is i good condition.

Not sure if you can get the software quickly, but look at this ebay item number, will show you what it does....321155009186. If nothing else you may be able to sell the stuff on.....

I am not home till thursday next week, so couldnt help you out, but someone else may be able to.....

[colcreate]

Originally Posted by clydeoutboards

True but I dont sell new yams or suzi's either but I do see them with 1000+ hours on them (yams on a regular basis) but I have never seen an etec with a thousand+ hours on the clock.

Good point Dave, so I checked to see if anyone else had seen a high hours etec.
Quick search on the etecowners forum found these.

Posted 01/12/11 *#12*
2006 60hp E-tecs - one powerhead was shot after 3500 hours, the other had a gearcase & mid section*issue so I stopped running it. Recently sold it to another commercial guy who had a powerhead issue after about 2500 (so to replace his powerhead). I guess he had put another 1000 hours or so on it since.

2009 75hp E-tecs - powerhead issue at 1000 hours, the other still running fine with about 1500 hours on it.

Rec users really don't have to worry about hours with these engines.
Jorgeparagon


Registered: 05/09/08
Posts: 74
Posted 01/13/11 *#13*
I've gota a customer with 3000 (EMM issue,only)hours E-TEC '97 60 hp ,he will buy a new one in march.
See ya

I expect I will be putting less than 100 hrs per season on an engine so can look forward to 10 years use at less than £400/year depreciation?
So, back to the original question, can anybody help me out with the software and cable next week?

[colcreate]

Tonto,
Thank you for your post, that is exactly what I wanted to know.
I had looked on eBay yesterday and discovered similar listings. Some are really cheap from Croatia but not a single UK listing and time is against me.

Might just view it running and if seems OK see if the vender will take it too a dealer with me and go halves on an inspection.

I intend on servicing and maintaining any out of warranty engine myself, I have rebuilt many engines over the years, some of them are still running.....

[willk]

Colcrete - you can assemble the cable, see here: E-TEC: EMM to Serial RS-232 Cable - Moderated Discussion Areas

I, um, know someone who can email you the diagnostic software

[colcreate]

Originally Posted by willk

Colcrete - you can assemble the cable, see here: http://E-TEC: EMM to Serial RS-232 C...scussion Areas

I, um, know someone who can email you the diagnostic software

Thanks Willk spotted that last night, but don't have a serial port on my laptops so wondered if it would work through a USB-RS232 cable?
Re Software, see PM

[willk]

It's easy to solder the big fitting. You can use a USB converter cable (£3 on Ebay) to bridge the next gap to the PC.

You should have email shortly...

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by clydeoutboards

Hi

well if it was my money I would speak to an etec dealer and ask the following:

1: how much for a report inc hours and any fault numbers
2: how much to fit as these engines need to be " set up" by a dealer ( I would not bother as it is 6 years old and not under warranty)
3: How much for the 3rd service

as you say every engine has v v low hours , only been used in the sea once if at all ......

Oh and if you do get it to even a thousand hours please post the print out on here as I still have never seen or been told of one.

Dave

Sheesh? How come you only crawl out of the woodwork when there is an Etec question, which you obviously know bugger all about, but when someone has a problem with a Honda you are strangely quiet?

Colcreate, sorry I didn't get back to you, been busy this weekend on the Thames GRR, I'll sort out the software when I get home tonight.

PD

[Aquaplanning]

For those who haven't seen one, here's an example of a history report from the E-Tec diagnostics software.
If the engine is running, you can see a lot more.

EMM time = ignition on time.

In my example, you can see that the engine has spent a lot of time at low RPM's, for longer trips because the average engine temperature is where it should be.
A boat used for fishing trips, with a lot of short hops between fishing spots will show a very different profile.

Especially the lack of engine faults is nice to see.

[Leapy]

Originally Posted by Aquaplanning

For those who haven't seen one ... If the engine is running, you can see a lot more.

I hope so as I still haven't seen one.

Did you forget to attach something? :-)