My 08 SX230 port side engine will only rev to 8500 RPM

[Cade Smith]

Hey guys, I have a little issue. Well... I hope it's a little issue. I changed oil, filter and spark plugs on my 2008 SX230 this past Saturday. It was such a nice afternoon that I decided to put it in the water and took my family out for a quick ride after I finished up. We took off on the creek and it seemed to run great. After about 5 minutes, I notice that engine temp light started flashing for the port side engine. I looked down the side while running and I had a good stream coming from all 4 holes. I stopped the boat for around 10 minutes and looked in the engine hatch. Both engines seemed fine and the port was no hotter than the other. I cranked it back up and idled around for a bit and the light stayed off. Once I took off I noticed that the port engine would only go to 8500 rpm while the other hit 10k like it was supposed to. At this point the temp light started flashing again and I decided to take it easy and pull it back up. I took it home, cleaned it , flushed it and decided it was time to research this issue so I can get it fixed before I go out again!

It was running fine when I put it up for the year last fall. All I did was change oil and put in new plugs. Does anyone have any ideas on what to try or look at? Would the engine be limited to 8500 rpm because the temp light was flashing? Any help or ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Cade Smith

 

[Scottintexas]

I think if the ECU has a serious problem it limits your rpm to idle,

You need a YDS unit to monitor your engine and check the codes,

When the light was flashing did you notice or count any flash sequence? if the computer knows what the issue is it will flash a sequence for you to reference,

I wouldn't be to worried at this point since you had 4 good streams, my guess without knowing the flash sequence would be you have a bad plug, maybe a bad gap, I had the same issue, engine suddenly only ran at 7500rpm and new plugs fixed it,

.

 

[Scottintexas]

although when my plugs went bad I didn't get a engine light (that I remember),


.

 

[Cade Smith]

Ok, I didn't notice an actual sequence but I wasn't looking for one either. I just looked on Ebay for a YDS and it looks like I can get one for around $60. Looks like I need to invest in one of those and see what it says. Do I just hook it up and look for codes or do I need to put it over and run it with the YDS plugged it?

 

[Scottintexas]

check the FAQ for full details,

You can either just bump the key to send historical info or monitor on the hose for real time info,

be sure your computer is compatible with the version of YDS software you are buying,

also, there may be a member near you that can help,

.

 

[Cade Smith]

Great information. Thanks so much for the help!

 

[buckbuck]

Many years ago I had over temp problems that caused the engine to limit itself. I believe it was around 8500. Mine was a factory defect that restricted cooling water and I can't remember if I had strong flow out of all 4 pee holes. Since you have a 2008 it may be prudent to remove your Y fitting and look through them just to be sure that is not your problem. Keep us posted. We are here to help.

 

[bronze_10]

I had both my ecu go out on my 08 last year.... long series of events... its documented in here somewhere. When mine when out the ecu locked an injector open even when idleing... no engine codes... just not running right and could smell and see fuel in the water from the exhaust. I had to have both my ecu sent off to be fixed!.. and my rpms were limited.. with rough idle.

 

[mark_m]

Hey guys, I have a little issue. Well... I hope it's a little issue. I changed oil, filter and spark plugs on my 2008 SX230 this past Saturday. It was such a nice afternoon that I decided to put it in the water and took my family out for a quick ride after I finished up. We took off on the creek and it seemed to run great. After about 5 minutes, I notice that engine temp light started flashing for the port side engine. I looked down the side while running and I had a good stream coming from all 4 holes. I stopped the boat for around 10 minutes and looked in the engine hatch. Both engines seemed fine and the port was no hotter than the other. I cranked it back up and idled around for a bit and the light stayed off. Once I took off I noticed that the port engine would only go to 8500 rpm while the other hit 10k like it was supposed to. At this point the temp light started flashing again and I decided to take it easy and pull it back up. I took it home, cleaned it , flushed it and decided it was time to research this issue so I can get it fixed before I go out again!

It was running fine when I put it up for the year last fall. All I did was change oil and put in new plugs. Does anyone have any ideas on what to try or look at? Would the engine be limited to 8500 rpm because the temp light was flashing? Any help or ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Cade Smith

Cade,

Since you just changed your plugs... I suspect that you missed one of the coil packs when you reconnected the spark plugs. I did the exact same thing a few years ago and had the exact same symptom and cure.

 

[PaulyB]

I would check to make sure all the coil packs are plugged back in properly.

 

[Cade Smith]

I just want to say what a fantastic forum this is. Everyone on here is so helpful. Also, it is so nice being able to ask a question and not having to worry about a person coming back at you with an answer that tries to make you feel dumb! That being said, I pulled the breather cover off this Sunday and the back connector had come unplugged from the coil. I plugged it in, put it over and it ran like a CHAMP! Thanks again for each of you offering your advice and feedback. I only wish one of y'all had told me to wear sunscreen when I put it over again... I got burnt up! Thanks guys!

 

[capt]

I am only getting max 9600 rpm from starboard motor and 10200 from port. Any ideas on why this would be

 

[bronze_10]

I am only getting max 9600 rpm from starboard motor and 10200 from port. Any ideas on why this would be

Plugs?

 

[capt]

Plugs?

I had the issue since I bought it in Jan of this year. I put brand new plugs in and still same result. I am thinking it might be that the throttle not adjusted properly but not sure how to check this.

 

[bronze_10]

My 08 does 10200 and 10600 so they will not be the same.... something about pump loading.... I'll let the knowledgeable people chime in to explain it! But 9600 seems low.

 

[Seadeals]

Don’t forget tach error. I had one that read 500 rpm off and YDS proved it. I bought a different tach from a member here and it reads much closer now.

 

[mark_m]

I had the issue since I bought it in Jan of this year. I put brand new plugs in and still same result. I am thinking it might be that the throttle not adjusted properly but not sure how to check this.

It could be throttle cable was replaced but not properly adjusted, leaving some slack when throttles pushed to wide open.

I’ve never checked this myself but maybe you could on the trailer with the engines off, push the throttles to full, then get out and look at your buckets to see if they are equal on both sides. Next look at the connection to the engine itself and see if there’s slack on one side. Speculating here to give you something to look at. Hopefully someone else can chime in.

 

[buckbuck]

I agree it is probably the throttle cable or the throttle stop adjustment. My boat never quite makes it to 10,000 rpm unless I am going downhill with the wind.

 

[capt]

I agree it is probably the throttle cable or the throttle stop adjustment. My boat never quite makes it to 10,000 rpm unless I am going downhill with the wind.
View attachment 91547

Do you know how to adjust the throttle stop adjustment?

 

[capt]

I also put the throttles all the way forward and snapped a pic of my gates. Aren't they supposed to be completely out of the way?