I purchased a 22 Bull Dolphin a year and a half ago with a 2013 BF250. Last summer after maybe 40-50 hours of use, I had to change the O2 sensor. That lasted about 25-30 more hours before it crapped out again. I am trying to remember exactly the symptoms, but I know the boat would not get over a certain RPM, maybe the 1500 range. I don't think it was sounding any buzzers, but I think warning codes were popping up on the gauge.
Honda found out there was a recall or something on the ECM, so they switched that with me paying labor. That was their first suggestion on the issue, second was fuel issues.
Since that work was done, have used the boat 3 times. First was a lunch cruise, probably a total 40 mile run with absolutely no problems. Second was a fishing trip, 80 miles or so, again no problems.
Took the kids to the river on Sunday. Messed around for a couple of hours, very little distance wise, and a mix of on plane running and on wake zones, and then after idling in a little cove and letting them swim, tried to get on plane and the RPMs were limited and then the engine died. I know the engine never died with the previous O2 sensor issues.
We were close to the ramp so restarted and just slow cruised back. (Another issue when we got all the way back to the ramp, in neutral the boat made an awful grinding noise. Nothing in forward or reverse. Cut engine and restarted and it was fine in neutral. Think I researched this as being a bad key switch. Does this sound right?)
I initially thought O2 sensor again, but since it died, I thought it could possibly be water in the fuel. I drained the FW separator in the bilge and it had very, very little water in it. I looked at the float on the engine FW separator and it did not appear to be floated off the bottom or have any water in it.
Does anybody have any thoughts. Apparently this hull isn't a fan of this motor with the exhaust ports, maybe, or maybe the ECM, or maybe it is a fuel issue. The first time I had the O2 sensor replaced by a boat mechanic that is a buddy, second was with the ECM replacement at a Honda authorized service center. They pulled the history and said the O2 sensor had been replaced 4 times already.
I know it is a boat and what that stands for, but I can't keep shelling out that kind of money on replacing O2 sensors constantly. I researched the issue about water getting into the exhaust ports, and this boat has a jack plate, so I have tried to be extra diligent about what running height (to make sure the ports are at least 6 inches above water line), coming off plane slowly, etc.
It is both frustrating to be chasing the ghost, and very expensive, so I am trying to do some of the investigation myself. I have done a ton of research, but I can't really find a lot about fuel issues causing the O2 sensor to fail, if that is the problem this time.
Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Honda found out there was a recall or something on the ECM, so they switched that with me paying labor. That was their first suggestion on the issue, second was fuel issues.
Since that work was done, have used the boat 3 times. First was a lunch cruise, probably a total 40 mile run with absolutely no problems. Second was a fishing trip, 80 miles or so, again no problems.
Took the kids to the river on Sunday. Messed around for a couple of hours, very little distance wise, and a mix of on plane running and on wake zones, and then after idling in a little cove and letting them swim, tried to get on plane and the RPMs were limited and then the engine died. I know the engine never died with the previous O2 sensor issues.
We were close to the ramp so restarted and just slow cruised back. (Another issue when we got all the way back to the ramp, in neutral the boat made an awful grinding noise. Nothing in forward or reverse. Cut engine and restarted and it was fine in neutral. Think I researched this as being a bad key switch. Does this sound right?)
I initially thought O2 sensor again, but since it died, I thought it could possibly be water in the fuel. I drained the FW separator in the bilge and it had very, very little water in it. I looked at the float on the engine FW separator and it did not appear to be floated off the bottom or have any water in it.
Does anybody have any thoughts. Apparently this hull isn't a fan of this motor with the exhaust ports, maybe, or maybe the ECM, or maybe it is a fuel issue. The first time I had the O2 sensor replaced by a boat mechanic that is a buddy, second was with the ECM replacement at a Honda authorized service center. They pulled the history and said the O2 sensor had been replaced 4 times already.
I know it is a boat and what that stands for, but I can't keep shelling out that kind of money on replacing O2 sensors constantly. I researched the issue about water getting into the exhaust ports, and this boat has a jack plate, so I have tried to be extra diligent about what running height (to make sure the ports are at least 6 inches above water line), coming off plane slowly, etc.
It is both frustrating to be chasing the ghost, and very expensive, so I am trying to do some of the investigation myself. I have done a ton of research, but I can't really find a lot about fuel issues causing the O2 sensor to fail, if that is the problem this time.
Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.