Yes it is kind of true. The 014 has been superceded two times to 06380-ZW5-303 (which is a kit that contains the 014) and now to 06380-ZW5-000. I am not sure what is all included with this.
The 014 should be ok.
Did you not say that when you put in the old module that the motor will run?
Also, when you power up the fuel pump and crank the engine, will the engine run? You can power up the pump directly with 12v and ground at the connector just above the fuel pump. Just disconnect the pump from the rest of the motor and connect the power. That way you do not have to tap into the ECU circuit and maybe ground the wrong lead. I would only do this for a test.
If you are getting all the correct voltages (power to the ECU, cranking capability, and you can get the fuel pump to run), all the functions of the main power relay assembly are working or bypassed ( if you ground the lg/r lead).
That ground normally comes from the ECU, as you have probably determined, since you asked about how to test it.
There is no test to my knowledge. Dealers generally have access to test ECU's for that reason. They can get them on loan from Honda.
There is a post several months back, where I worked with a gentleman in England (with a BF115 - same as BF130) who had a friend who helped him trace things out. We went into nausiating detail on the whole relay module and ECU. It turned out to be the ECU.
http://www.marineengine.com/boat-forum/showthread.php?t=378831&highlight=bf115
If you follow the trees in the manual, you basically eliminate everything else, and the result is a bad ECU.
You may want to check all the grounds to the ECU itself. I think there are two or three of them. It is a long shot, but if one of those grounds is bad, it may not be passed to the fuel pump relay.
Check for good connections and any corrosion.
Mike