2000 ficht 115 - water in fuel error code?

[redmenter]

Hello all,
I recently got a check engine light, i just had the error codes read and it is showing a code 37, water in fuel. Well this is my problem , the motor ran/runs perfect until the dumb alarm comes on. At high speed its mint, it idles perfect, no spitting or sputtering which from my experience is a sign of bad gas? It will die out if its at idle about 60 seconds after the alarm comes on and check engine light, but i assume that's a safety thing? not like it chugs then dies, it idles perfect, the motor just shuts off after a bit.
So i plan on replacing fuel/water separator, adding a bunch of HEET to gas, so water will disperse into fuel better then i will try sticking a hose down filler spout and siphon as much of the gas as i can out (i am doing the heet thing because i figure water sits on bottom of tank, so hopefully with the HEET it will mix up some so when i siphon the gas i get water out, since of course i wont be able to get all the gas out, i don't want to leave just the water,, if there is any?) So after changing filter and draining gas, then putting in fresh new fuel, i hope error goes away... BUT i am not convinced of water in fuel,,, so where is the sensor that tells the dumb alarm to go off? can i replace this sensor? test it? clean it?
What other things can give me this error? i know the ECU unit,, but i am sooo hoping it isn't that,, big bucks??? ANyway i am just hoping for help, if anyone had similar problems, how they fixed it.

thank a ton guys

 

[wilde1j]

Re: 2000 ficht 115 - water in fuel error code?

Du yourself a favor and get an OEM shop manual. I have a couple of E-Tec 175's and the sensor for water is in the addon fuel/water separator that connects to the EMM and provides a source for a water alarm. I have no idea what was done on your Ficht.

I assume you have an external water separating fuel filter installed. That's always recommended.

The best way to rid water is to make sure the tank has had plenty of settling time, has the pump out end lowest, and just start pumping out until you get zero water when checked in a clear container. If you have water, it will separate on the bottom into a very distinct layer. I wouldn't depend on an alcohol based additive to rid water, since those additives are hygroscopic and compound the problem.

BTW, water getting into the E-Tec fuel pumps is real bad news ... you just don't want to allow it. Also, if you can get a source of non ethanol fuel, use it.

Again, I don't have any Ficht experience, but can tell you what the E-Tec deal is and assume the Ficht and E-Tec DI motors share some similarity in fuel pump stuff. You might try Bass Boat Central ... they have guys in the J/E forum with a lot more Ficht experience.

 

[redmenter]

Re: 2000 ficht 115 - water in fuel error code?

hey
thanks for ideas... My reason for using an additive (HEET) is i only have a plastic hose i plan on pushing through filler spout into tank to try and siphon gas, and i just don't think its possible to be sure im getting all the fuel out, or the hose is on the bottom siphoning more water than fuel (if there's water in it) So by using an additive i am hoping to stir/mix up the water (if there's any) into the fuel, away from the bottom of tank, so then when i drain all the fuel i can out of the tank i am in tern get a bigger percentage of the water out of the tank????? no??
I do have a manual, ill look to see about sensor. I do have external fuel water separator which i will replace of course. The only reason im asking before doing is because of how well and smooth the engine seems to run with this supposed water in the fuel error? so i am not very confident that draining and such will solve my problem.... ya know

BUt thank you very much for the information

 

[wilde1j]

Re: 2000 ficht 115 - water in fuel error code?

You don't have to remove all the fuel. If the tank is not agitated or moved for a day or so, just pump out until you get no water, which shouldn't be a lot. But you do have to get to the bottom of the tank (typically if you remove the tank gauge sender, it will provide a straight shot to the bottom). Position the boat (easy if on a lift or trailer) so the point you pump from is the lowest ... that's where the water will be.

 

[ezeke]

Re: 2000 ficht 115 - water in fuel error code?

Best bet is to use the installed fuel outlet line and a pump. The pickup is on the bottom of the tank so any water that has settled will be the first thing out.

 

[redmenter]

Re: 2000 ficht 115 - water in fuel error code?

Thanks guys,
but i am lacking some of the knowledge for the things your saying. As i said i dont have a external type pump for getting the fuel out, just me sucking on a hose to start a siphon and watching it drain? So thats why i am unsure i will get it on the bottom of tank when i am siphoning ya know? I also am not sure where the tank guage sender is? its a 21' sylvan deck boat (pontoon like top side with a modified V hull). And using the fuel outlet line and a pump? since i dont have a pump i assume thats not an option for me? not that i know which fuel line your talking about?

thanks again

 

[wilde1j]

Re: 2000 ficht 115 - water in fuel error code?

Ezeke, yes, that works on most boats. My current boat has the pickup on the tanks and inch or so off the bottom, so I'm going to take off the fuel sender and use ~ 4' length of copper tubing connected to my pump out hose to remove fuel/water. My boat currently has E10 and I'm sure water, since the fuel has sat since last fall and will continue until next spring. I plan to remove most of the oldest fuel and add new zero ethanol fuel after the removal. A real pain when you have 180 gallons to mess with.

redmenter, if you pull the boat for storage or have a trailer, it's easy to set up a syphon, which will not need a pump. The receiving vessel just needs to be lower than the bottom of the boat fuel tank to work.

 

[ezeke]

Re: 2000 ficht 115 - water in fuel error code?

Actually, wilde1j is correct, unless you have an anti-siphon valve on your tank, in which case it will be difficult to keep the siphon working.

I use an automotive fuel pump to recycle the fuel back to the tank after running it through my water separating filter. With the boat tilted up on my trailer, most of the fuel on the bottom gets to the pickup.

 

[redmenter]

Re: 2000 ficht 115 - water in fuel error code?

Hey,
DOes anyone know the where this sensor thats triggering the water in fuel error alarm is located? Can i clean,inspect,replace,,,,Whack! it ?

 

[Faztbullet]

Re: 2000 ficht 115 - water in fuel error code?

Do not add any HEET to fuel as it is not needed and will steam clean top of pistons. On the front of the engine is a water seperating filter,(looks like oil filter)remove it and dump it out in a container to see if it has water.If so run engine and dump filter untill you think its Ok then replace filter. The 150's in 1997-98 and some early 1999 had a glitch in EMM that triggered water in fuel error. If it has been running fine untill now ,doubt its the EMM.

 

[redmenter]

Re: 2000 ficht 115 - water in fuel error code?

hey,
so do any of you know how to test that fuel water sensor? I tried , but no luck, but maybe i was doing it wrong. its on top of the fuel water seperator, 2 prongs going down into the filter, and when enough water fills filter and prongs are submerged in water, it completes the circuit, which in tern throws the alarm. Well i used my multi meter, set it to ohms, and took filter off, submerged prongs in water and touched leads to each wire, which whould be checking for continuity? right? Well i could get the meter to read zero, which is what it should do when there is continuity. manual says to take sensor out to test, but i didnt have an allan wrench, so i unplugged power from top of sensor and tested, , and nothing, so i plugged power back in, and nothing,, tried for a while, and nothing.
BUT, if sensor was bad in the way that it WONT complete the circuit, then logically it would casue the alarm to never be able to go off? since no matter how much water was in filter it wouldnt complete circuit. anyway the question is has any done this test, and have any tips for testing this sensor a better way?
thanks

 

[wilde1j]

Re: 2000 ficht 115 - water in fuel error code?

You're assuming the sensor is looking at resistance, but w/o knowing what technology OMC used, it's just a WAG and you may damage it. Could be something entirely different, like capacitance or something else. I spent most of my working career in process control and instrumentation, and you need to find out the technology employed before you wreck the device, assuming it isn't already toast, which it may be.

With it disconnected, does the system still alarm?