Gotta love buying parts for a Merc

[fishinwrench]

I've said it all before 🤗

The corporation, and therefore the dealer network, are operating as crooked as a dog's hind leg.  And right now Mr. Johnny Morris is in a position where he could stop it with the stroke of a pen.  I'd love to know the real reason why he doesn't.

I certainly don't mind studying their systems and working on them, but they aren't my choice of an outboard for personal use.   Don't ever confuse their outboard shinanigans with the Mercruiser stern drive systems though, because there's not a better stern drive engine on the planet, and the way they operate the corporation on THAT end of the building is 180° opposite. There's fresh coffee in the pot and donuts on the counter over THERE.

[Seth]

What went out on the Etec? Just curious because literally the only issue I've ever really heard about them having is dropping injectors. That doesn't leave you stranded, but you can't rut WOT. Seems when something gives on the Optipops, you're dead in the water.

[fishinwrench]

I'm surprised at the injector failure, as I've not seen a single issue related to a bad injector.  I've heard of some techs BLAMING a bad injector, but I question their diagnostics.  So far all Etec running problems that have come in here have been related to bad, contaminated, or aged fuel.  Except for one that had a broken ignition coil bracket causing a loss of ground to the coil.  

I can tell you that the upper motor mounts do NOT like saltwater.  I have replaced 3 sets of those a few years after folks visited the coast.  The mounts are housed and hold water, they need to design them to drain and dry out, or design them so that they can be flushed easier.  

[grizwilson]

5 hours ago, Seth said:

What went out on the Etec? Just curious because literally the only issue I've ever really heard about them having is dropping injectors. That doesn't leave you stranded, but you can't rut WOT. Seems when something gives on the Optipops, you're dead in the water.

First two times coil, third time they suspected fuel pump, did not wait to be repaired just wanted the pos off the boat. I am sure a ford chevy thing have owned 3 omc bad (59 evinrude would not start in lake or river water, fine in test tank, Fitch would not stay together, etech only quit 5 or more miles from truck). Know guys who run them with no issues just a luck thing i have 3 merc, 2 Nissan 1 Yamaha 1 tohatsu none have left me stranded knock on wood

[fishinwrench]

Here's the Merc filter tools that you can't do without.  All the other designs can be removed/installed with NORMAL tools.

[aarchdale@coresleep.com]

I did my first one with a screw driver but that $6 fuel filter tool made things much easier.  Just chaps my butt they design something that cant be changed without their tool.  Never been more mad to have to spend $6, well except for the $48 fuel filter.   

[aarchdale@coresleep.com]

Do other brands have any of their own specialty tools?

[fishinwrench]

The stupidest thing they ever did was put tiny little filters on the downstream end of the injectors.    I mean seriously, if it's small enough to pass through the injectors then go ahead and let the engine eat it for Christ sake !!!!   

Those things go right in the trash at Sims Marine. 😎

[fishinwrench]

5 minutes ago, aarchdale@coresleep.com said:

Do other brands have any of their own specialty tools?

Sure!   But not for normal maintenance things though.

[Seth]

On 9/23/2017 at 11:26 AM, fishinwrench said:

I'm surprised at the injector failure, as I've not seen a single issue related to a bad injector.  I've heard of some techs BLAMING a bad injector, but I question their diagnostics.  So far all Etec running problems that have come in here have been related to bad, contaminated, or aged fuel.  Except for one that had a broken ignition coil bracket causing a loss of ground to the coil.  

I can tell you that the upper motor mounts do NOT like saltwater.  I have replaced 3 sets of those a few years after folks visited the coast.  The mounts are housed and hold water, they need to design them to drain and dry out, or design them so that they can be flushed easier.  

Replacing the injector fixed the motor every time the dealer said that was the issue. It seems to be more common among the 07-09 model year engines, but I do know a guy with a 2017 250ho jet that he got earlier this year that had an injector fail on him already. The dealer said the injectors are the biggest issue they deal with on the Etecs. They get a few EMM's and the occasional fuel pump as well.

The only issue I've had with my 2013 150hp Etec is that it has bogged or wouldn't fire off and start on a couple occasions. Each time it was really hot outside. When it started bogging while running, I just had to ease off of the throttle until it came back to life. When it wouldn't start, I had to just wait a few minutes and try firing it again. It just acted like it wasn't getting fuel. The dealer replaced the fuel pump, but it still did it a few times after that. I've also heard of other people with 2013 and later model Etecs having this issue, but never anybody with one earlier than 2013. I've yet to have it happen to me this summer though and it has been plenty warm on several of the days I've been fishing. There really doesn't seem to be a rhyme or reason to it.