1998 175 Johnson Ficht Oceanrunner

My engine was running fine trimmed it up to run through shallow water and the buzzer went off set it down and let it cool off. After cooling off it ran fine for a few minutes on idle and it shut off. It took two hours before it would crank. It would turn over and wouldn't get fire. Took it home and hooked it up to water and it ran for 20 minutes before it spit and sputtered and shut off. It took two more hours before it would crank.
Any ideas what the problem could be?

Re: 1998 175 Johnson Ficht Oceanrunner

I know this may not be of much help, but I have the same exact engine. The very last time it ran (well over a year ago now) I had it in the water, idling, for about 15 minutes. Without warning, it simply shut off. No buzzers, no beeps, nothing. Had a repair facility run the diagnostic program, nothing conclusive came back. There was no fire to the plugs. The conclusion I came to was that the ignition module failed (good thing I wasn't offshore when it decided to do this). This is one of the several known weak spots in these motors. Hate to say it, but it sounds like your ignition module is trying to give up the ghost, too. There is a place called DFI Technologies whose one of many services seems to be the repair and rebuilding (improving) of these and other FICHT motor problem components. I would have sent mine off to them already, were it not for other things requiring my time (and money). Good luck to you.

Re: 1998 175 Johnson Ficht Oceanrunner

I appreciate your response. I was figuring on that being the problem just hoping it wasnt.

Re: 1998 175 Johnson Ficht Oceanrunner

Here's a follow-up for you... Got my ignition module sent off to DFI, and they let me know that it had indeed failed. I expect to receive it back from them first part of next week, so I'll get it installed, and see if she'll start. Will let you know!