Strange Stalling Problem in E115FPXEEC

[rustyscrew]

1999 Evinrude 115 Ficht
E115FPXEEC

The engine stalls just as I begin to throttle up, in forward or reverse. It fires up just fine, idles just fine, idles in gear just fine, then just as I begin to throttle up is stalls. So far it has only happened about 3 times in 10 outings. My solution has been to idle back to the dock, tie up and punch it through the dead spot. Once I do that it works fine for days.

Its a pretty clean stall without a lot of sputtering, I just feel the power fade and then it dies.

Question 2: I will ask this here in case it is related. I seem to have a good bit of oil leaking out of the butterfly valves whenever I tilt the engine forward. I don't seem to remember it being so much before. (considering maybe a plugged oil vent cap).

Any thoughts are greatly appreciated.

thanks

 

[rustyscrew]

Re: Strange Stalling Problem in E115FPXEEC

edit

 

[boobie]

Re: Strange Stalling Problem in E115FPXEEC

? 1... It sounds like your TPS is giving you a problem. ? 2..The oil coming out of the butterfly valves is normal on that motor. OMC changed where the oil was injected in the next year or so. We used to stuff oil rags in the bottom cowl to catch it.

 

[rustyscrew]

Re: Strange Stalling Problem in E115FPXEEC

Its intermittent, so it may be hard to diagnose, but is there a way to test of the TPS?

 

[rustyscrew]

Re: Strange Stalling Problem in E115FPXEEC

I found this:

"Just measure the OHM through the TPS when activating the arm.
Any jumps or 'open' reading -defect!"

I can try this, but I suspect that since it is an intermittent problem, I won't get a clear reading on it. So perhaps I need to wait and see if it gets worse.

If I have to swap the part, does it need a calibration using the software? I don't have the software and honestly am hoping to buy a different engine, so I would rather not invest if I don't need to.

 

[thesweetrelease]

Re: Strange Stalling Problem in E115FPXEEC

I not sure if the tps has to be calibrated. I read lot on this same engine(I have one) in the last few months and it seems the injectors have to be calibrated . maybe I missed something but I think you can just change the tps..good luck.

 

[boobie]

Re: Strange Stalling Problem in E115FPXEEC

I've also been looking and the only test I can find on the TPS is with an ohmmeter.

 

[rustyscrew]

Re: Strange Stalling Problem in E115FPXEEC

OK thanks. If it isn't a computer calibration like the E-tec, to set the zero position, then my guess would be that the physical position of it on the motor can be adjusted to set zero position using a voltmeter to sense some value through the rheostat sensor (or maybe they just come dead on and its just a basic swap). I don't have the engine in front of me, so that is the best guess I have.

The TPS is relatively cheap, around $60, and I feel fairly confident that it is causing the problem. Since I have a co-owner on the boat who is not mechanically inclined, I think I may just swap it so he doesn't get stranded (especially since the problem involves stalling during tight quarters in the harbor).

When I receive the new sensor, I can test it against the old one and see if there is a difference too. I don't like to just swap parts without some indication that it has gone bad. Where is the education in that?

Thanks again for your help. This forum is such an incredible resource.

 

[thesweetrelease]

Re: Strange Stalling Problem in E115FPXEEC

it says in my book that if there are slotted retainers to the old sensor screws ,you should matchmark the position of the retainers before you loosen them. transfer the marks to the new sensor to duplicate the old sensor position. so I'd say as long as you match up the position of the new sensor with the old you should be ok. it says nothing about calibration of the sensor. hope this helps,and good luck.

 

[rustyscrew]

Re: Strange Stalling Problem in E115FPXEEC

Thanks, that is good advice. Part is on order. I will try to report back on how it goes.

 

[rustyscrew]

Re: Strange Stalling Problem in E115FPXEEC

Update: I installed the new TPS and the problem did not go away. I am back to square one. The problem has become more frequent, occurring nearly every time that I start the engine. The engine works really well otherwise, but I would really like to figure out what is causing this, especially since it may be an early indication of another problem around the corner.

Summary:

Engine runs really well. It starts fine and idles fine but when I give it a little throttle it stalls almost as if it is being starved (slowish loss of rpm and dies). If i punch it past the dead spot it runs fine for the rest of the day, but reappears the next day.

I replaced the throttle position sensor but that did not fix the problem. I am at a loss.

 

[Bosunsmate]

Re: Strange Stalling Problem in E115FPXEEC

How do your plugs look?
Any a different colour from the others?

 

[Bosunsmate]

Re: Strange Stalling Problem in E115FPXEEC

Has it ever run right for you?

 

[rustyscrew]

Re: Strange Stalling Problem in E115FPXEEC

Bosunmate:

I gapped, indexed and replaced the plugs. No change.

Yes the engine has been running very well. This problem is very new, about a month old. I run the boat 2-4 times per week. The problem started suddenly and initially happened only occasionally, but within a week it started happening pretty much every first start of the day.

 

[rustyscrew]

Re: Strange Stalling Problem in E115FPXEEC

As for color of the plugs, they were all the same and pretty fouled. Seemed pretty typical for what I have been seeing on the Ficht plugs. Oh and the problem started before I replaced the plugs.

 

[Bosunsmate]

Re: Strange Stalling Problem in E115FPXEEC

Are you able to bump the choke on that motor as you go through the dead spot to see if that improves it indicating a fuel problem?

 

[rustyscrew]

Re: Strange Stalling Problem in E115FPXEEC

No change if I choke the engine through the dead spot. It really feels like loss of spark, is there anything that would cut of spark when throttling forward?

Could low voltage on a battery cause the EMM to malfunction? Now I am just grasping at straws.

Any thoughts are greatly appreciated.

 

[daselbee]

Re: Strange Stalling Problem in E115FPXEEC

No change if I choke the engine through the dead spot.

No choke on a Ficht. The function doesn't exist. Pressing key in is futile.

 

[Bosunsmate]

Re: Strange Stalling Problem in E115FPXEEC

You could get someone to spray some premix into the aircover/carbs during this deadspot and see if that helps indicating fuel problem

 

[Jeffray]

Re: Strange Stalling Problem in E115FPXEEC

This sounds so familiar, I have a 2003 150 Bombardier Johnson that does the SAME thing. I just had this motor put on a month ago. I have noticed that if i side scan a lot or move in a no wake zone it seem worse. also seems when at the ramp its worse, idle in to the dock, idle back then on the trailer it will die 3 or 4 times. I am going to keep an eye on this and see what else comes in