Bad ECU

[UnorthodoxCreations]

I've got my 2005 AR230HO at the beach with me on vacation and of course on day 3 of 10 I'm having engine problems. I was noticing smoke out of the starboard engine that I never saw before as well as the RPMs being down on that engine compared to the other engine when in the past they sync pretty closely when throttles are in the same position. Oil level also seemed to be rising on that engine. Used YDS software to test injectors and #2 clicks once and I assume stays open versus clicking constantly like the others. I ohm tested injector 1 and 2 and they are identical 13 on my tester(manual calls for 11.5-12.5). I swapped those injectors and #2 is still the problem. I'm assuming the ECU is the problem. Is there anything else I should test before I remove the ECU and send it off for repairs? I don't expect to get the boat running while were on vacation but I'd like to get moving on repairs so I at least have a chance of getting back on the water before fall comes.

 

[mark_m]

I've got my 2005 AR230HO at the beach with me on vacation and of course on day 3 of 10 I'm having engine problems. I was noticing smoke out of the starboard engine that I never saw before as well as the RPMs being down on that engine compared to the other engine when in the past they sync pretty closely when throttles are in the same position. Oil level also seemed to be rising on that engine. Used YDS software to test injectors and #2 clicks once and I assume stays open versus clicking constantly like the others. I ohm tested injector 1 and 2 and they are identical 13 on my tester(manual calls for 11.5-12.5). I swapped those injectors and #2 is still the problem. I'm assuming the ECU is the problem. Is there anything else I should test before I remove the ECU and send it off for repairs? I don't expect to get the boat running while were on vacation but I'd like to get moving on repairs so I at least have a chance of getting back on the water before fall comes.

I haven't had a failure yet myself, suggest contacting Carmo Electronics, The place for parts or electronics for your Motorbike Quad Scooter Car or Jetski to arrange for repair.

 

[UnorthodoxCreations]

I haven't had a failure yet myself, suggest contacting Carmo Electronics, The place for parts or electronics for your Motorbike Quad Scooter Car or Jetski to arrange for repair.

Yes, that is where I plan to send it unless there is something else I should check first.

 

[fatboyroy]

are your oil milky? white smoke means its steam

 

[UnorthodoxCreations]

are your oil milky? white smoke means its steam

No water in the oil. We took some oil out of each engine because the previous owner must have overfilled both engines a little. After letting the oil sit for a day in clear bottles, there are no signs of milkiness or water separation.

 

[mark_m]

Yes, that is where I plan to send it unless there is something else I should check first.

Check out this thread: https://jetboaters.net/threads/bad-ecu.34755/

THIS thread:

https://jetboaters.net/threads/ecu-repair-or-replacement.28439/

 

[dgfreeze]

Check out this thread: https://jetboaters.net/threads/bad-ecu.34755/

That link appears to be for this thread...

 

[Betik]

No water in the oil. We took some oil out of each engine because the precious owner must have overfilled both engines a little. After letting the oil sit for a day in clear bottles, there are no signs of milkiness or water separation.

check the filters. If you have too much oil you might have splashed oil and that will explain the RPM drop. The filter might look clean but the oil might have gotten sucked in and still cause RPM drop.
you can alway take the boat for a test run without the filters and se if you have the same issue

 

[mark_m]

That link appears to be for this thread...

Oops. Fixed the old post and added the link. In that thread it lists some ohm out values that the OP could test

 

[UnorthodoxCreations]

check the filters. If you have too much oil you might have splashed oil and that will explain the RPM drop. The filter might look clean but the oil might have gotten sucked in and still cause RPM drop.
you can alway take the boat for a test run without the filters and se if you have the same issue

Filters were removed 2 days ago because they were soaked with oil. We took some oil out and removed filters and it ran better for a little while till this occurred. The smoke was only at idle, when there was more fuel being put in the cylinder than burned. At higher rpms I couldn't see smoke, I assume a higher percentage of that excess fuel was being burned. I plan to pull the ECU tonight and send it out tomorrow for testing and repairs.

 

[UnorthodoxCreations]

Pulled the ECU and shipped it out. There was water in the box. Not what I would consider a lot but obviously enough to cause issues. Need to look into how to prevent this. Thinking about a plastic splash guard that would direct any water that comes in the rear, over and past the ECU boxes.

 

[WREKS]

If it was overfilled with oil, the feed pump will fill the oil cooler and pump oil out of the top of the oil cooler via the oil separator and up through the breather tube coming into the bottom of the air case. That is what @Betik is referring to. The ECU is probably not a problem. Until that breather tube is open and the strip filter it plugs into at the bottom of the air case can breathe again, the problem will remain.


Observe C in the square box


The long shape between 9. and 9. at the top is the strip filter that the breather tube plugs into. Perhaps the breather tube could be disconnected at the oil separator and compressed air could clear the tube and strip filter.

That is how my 2007 SX230 is set up. I think it is quite similar to the 2005 SX.

 

[UnorthodoxCreations]

If it was overfilled with oil, the feed pump will fill the oil cooler and pump oil out of the top of the oil cooler via the oil separator and up through the breather tube coming into the bottom of the air case. That is what @Betik is referring to. The ECU is probably not a problem. Until that breather tube is open and the strip filter it plugs into at the bottom of the air case can breathe again, the problem will remain.

View attachment 159381
Observe C in the square box

View attachment 159382
The long shape between 9. and 9. at the top is the strip filter that the breather tube plugs into. Perhaps the breather tube could be disconnected at the oil separator and compressed air could clear the tube and strip filter.

That is how my 2007 SX230 is set up. I think it is quite similar to the 2005 SX.

Using YDS software showed injector 2 getting stuck open. I swapped injectors and the problem remained. It smoked and left a gassy smelling and looking trail at idle. I will be draining the oil and refilling correctly but I'm pretty the injector output is bad. There also was water in the ECU box.

 

[Betik]

Water in the ECU can be a problem…..

 

[dgfreeze]

Pulled the ECU and shipped it out. There was water in the box. Not what I would consider a lot but obviously enough to cause issues. Need to look into how to prevent this. Thinking about a plastic splash guard that would direct any water that comes in the rear, over and past the ECU boxes.

Some people just put a strip of duct tape across the top of the ECU. I’d recommend wrapping it down each side a few inches also, but that should be all that’s needed to prevent water ingestion. Sorry about your misfortune, hopefully you can be back out on the water this season still.

 

[Beachbummer]

Did you ever lose the drain hose that directs water from the engine bay "ledge" to the rear deck? Did you ever sink the boat? The 07-09 hulls seem to protect the ECU quite a bit from water intrusion *from above* due to the ECU placement, (and I have an 08) so I'm very curious on where that water might be coming from. based on the shape of the engine bay it should not be from above, but I could be wrong. Any theories on how the water made it in there?

 

[UnorthodoxCreations]

Did you ever lose the drain hose that directs water from the engine bay "ledge" to the rear deck? Did you ever sink the boat? The 07-09 hulls seem to protect the ECU quite a bit from water intrusion *from above* due to the ECU placement, (and I have an 08) so I'm very curious on where that water might be coming from. based on the shape of the engine bay it should not be from above, but I could be wrong. Any theories on how the water made it in there?

I've only had the boat since May and only had it in the water a handle full of times but no, I've never sunk it or seen much water in the engine bay. I suspect it coming over the top upon sudden stops, especially when weighted down with ballast for surfing.

 

[UnorthodoxCreations]

Some people just put a strip of duct tape across the top of the ECU. I’d recommend wrapping it down each side a few inches also, but that should be all that’s needed to prevent water ingestion. Sorry about your misfortune, hopefully you can be back out on the water this season still.

That sounds like a simple but effective solution. Yes, I'm going to be able to get back on the water a couple times in September.

 

[UnorthodoxCreations]

ECU is back. Total cost was around $435 shipped both ways. Should get put in the boat this weekend but probably won't get to the water until the following weekend.

 

[Robb235]

View attachment 162146

ECU is back. Total cost was around $435 shipped both ways. Should get put in the boat this weekend but probably won't get to the water until the following weekend.

So confirmed that there was in fact an issue with the ECU?