Check engine alarm on Honda 90

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dpod2003

New member
I have owned a 25 Cruiser, with twin Honda 90s for about 5 months. One of the engines has had the Check Engine light and alarm go off 4 times. The engine continues to run fine, even with the alarm on. No sign of any problems. When the alarm goes off, I have shut the engine down and waited a bit. Usually, it runs fine after that, with no warning light. I have talked to my Honda shop, and had a computer check done twice. Nothing has shown up on these.

My question is...has anyone ever had a similar experience? What ideas might you have about this.

Thanks,
Doug Robinson
 
Had a similar situation on twin BF 150's with a solid alarm on one engine. To cut a long story of false computer readouts and much expense involved in getting the boat home, our local friendly Honda guy at EQ had the smart idea of switching the ECU's between engines to see if the fault moved. 15 minute diagnosis and an ECU replaced under warranty.

Might be worth a try.
 
It also could be some minor corrosion in the harness or elsewhere--I would pull connections, clean contacts, and put back with some anti corrosive (I use corrosion block spray, a little amount will go a long way...they also make a grease).

Also a loose, or minor in a ground can cause this also...

If it really was a serious engine issue should show up in the computer check...
 
As always, Dr. Bob is spot on target.


Having spent a lifetime in complex machinery monitoring & diagnostics I can personally attest to the fact that in any electrical system, connections are the prime suspect (add salt water & it get 10x worse) followed by faulty sensors. Or, in the case I quoted you get a really messy situation because many (if not all) the fault codes that the diagnostic computer reads are generated by the ECU (or ECM) and if that has a brain fart, then your codes are garbage and you can end up replacing half the engine if you believe them.

Hence the value of the pragmatic engine tech who simply switches the suspect part to the other engine and sees what happens.

I could have flown that guy up to my boat and paid for a week of fishing for what it cost me before he did the simple thing.

Valuable lesson learned.
 
Grumpy":1mvj18dq said:
As always, Dr. Bob is spot on target.

Hence the value of the pragmatic engine tech
Click to expand...

Merv, your post was spot on as well. I had a problem years ago with a 25 Merc. Kept taking it back to a marina - each time they replaced something else - after the third time it was fixed but no money back for all the parts they put on that it didn't need. Problem being electrical parts cannot be returned after they have been installed.

Having worked for the last 43 years in the auto sector as both a mechanic and collision tech I would conclude that generally the brain of the younger tech's are programed to replace parts and rely on "codes" to diagnose - while the brain of the older tech still remembers when we had to think - diagnose - repair. Granted cars are quickly becoming an assembly of replaceable systems and components.

Amazing to take a trip to Cuba and see all the cars from the 50's still in excellent mechanical shape - and they don't have a fully stocked auto parts store in every town.

Regards, Rob
 
Thank you all for the ideas to try on this problem with the Check Engine alarm.

I will start with the simplest, of checking for corrosion and connections, and then maybe try switching the ECU from one engine to the other to see what happens. This is all quite new to me, but I have a service manual and basic mechanic skills with engines, so it is worth a try. Sometimes the technology of these engines scares me off a bit with doing basic work, but the fact that so many C Brats do it helps.

Thanks again,

Doug Robinson
 
Doug,

From one "Kingfisher" to another:- If all else fails you are not too far from EQ marine in Cornet Bay, home of the "pragmatic" engine guy.

Good luck

Merv
 
Merv,
Thanks, and you are correct. We have been there to talk to him about buying boats before, and I was impressed. I didn't realize when you mentioned EQ before, that it was at Cornet Bay. I may follow up with him, too.

Doug
 
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