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2002 Honda 115 hp outboard O2 sensor

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whiskerfish

New member
Hi all,

I've been reading the threads and there is a lot for me to learn here.* Thanks everyone for sharing!

I have an issue with my engine and is trying to diagnose before having to revert to a shop.* Just trying to save time and some money if i can.* I've been trying to locate the oxygen sensor in my engine (above) but can seem to find it.* Just ordered a repair manual to make things easier but until it arrives, can someone point to its location or better yet, a schematic of where it is?* I was told that this engine does not have one?*

This is a recap of my problem:

a) Motor feels like it is running on three cylinders only. Idles rough and would stall out when I put it in gear after in usage for more than 30 minutes.* Feels like it got flooded out but would start right back up. What I did to get it in gear and keep it from stalling was to rev it a little to clear whatever was causing the roughness and get it back in gear.

b) There is a definite vibration at speed. Can't be prop which I just changed out with a new one.* But I can wait on this issue.

c) Can't get the RPM up past 3800-4000. Not the prop either since it is a new prop and I pitch down on this newer one. If anything the rpm should be higher. When it was working normally on the 17 pitch, I could get it past 5000 easily and do 35+ at WOT. Now at full throttle it's doing 24-26 MPH and RPM stays low.

d) There is also raw fuel smell in the exhaust. There was a few popping noise when we were under power...kinda like backfiring. But it only occurred once.

After doing some maintenance, the problem is still there. Changed out all the fuel filters, new plugs, and changed oil as well. Oil shows no sign of water contamination and no water in the gas either.

So I'm guessing its down to a few things.

1) Clogged injectors? I've been using Seafoam in my fuel so maybe unlikely. But when I changed out the plugs, number 1 plug was wet and* two of the plugs electrode were more white than normal.* The other two has a hint of brown but not heavy.* These are the spec'ed NGK plugs.* Maybe somehow or something caused the fuel mixture to become lean?

2) Possible cracked or warped head?

3) Bent shaft?

4) Bad O2 sensor?* The idle exhaust ports do get submerged in rough condition so water may be getting into the exhaust and killed the o2 sensor.* Seems to be the case in the bigger motor but I can't find info here on my engine.

I'm clueless at this point. If someone had similar issue or can give me some pointers, that would be great. Thanks for taking the time to read this long post.* I look forward to all your feedbacks.

Clark
 
Re: 2002 Honda 115 outboard O2 sensor

You are approaching this problem with no knowledge, or so I have gathered from your post, of the overall health of the engine. Spark. Compression. Leakdown. Fuel pressure. Any codes the engine has thrown and stored. Any alarms? When was the engine last serviced. You are swinging and missing. You have to start at basics.
 
Re: 2002 Honda 115 outboard O2 sensor

hondamech,

I have spark to all cylinders. Did a quick test on the water by pulling the plug wires and they all had sparks.

I have not done the compression and leak down test or the fuel pressure test but will try to do that this weekend.

Is there a way to pull codes without the scanners?

There were no alarms while I'm having this issue.

The engine have about 650 hours and I do the regular maintenance once a year. Just did the replacements I mentioned after I have the issue.

I'm planning to do as much as I can until I have to send it to a shop with special tools.

Thanks for the advice.
 
Re: 2002 Honda 115 outboard O2 sensor

Do you have any blinking of the mil light on your panel? I mean every time you turn the key switch to the "on" position? You can get the codes, if you have the shorting attachment to do it, and you have the flashing light on the dash. Otherwise, I would pay your local Honda shop to hook up HDS or Dr. H to your engine. They can also run the engine with this attached and perhaps see any problems, they can revue the run parameters. Todays engines are sophisticated and are can be hard to troubleshoot, without hit or miss, without the proper tools.

Do the compression. Leakdown and fuel pressure test as soon as you can. You are kind of flailing in the dark without this information. You can also try a drop down, after the other tests :), by disconnecting the injector wires at each injector. I don't believe your problem is with the O2 sensor at this point. It sounds as if one cylinder is having a mechanical problem. Your tests will reveal this if that is the case.

Good luck. I didn't mean to sound off by saying you are flailing around, I just cannot begin to troubleshoot an engine without the basics and I am a bit anal about that. :)
 
Re: 2002 Honda 115 outboard O2 sensor

Hondamech,

I agree with you 100%. I do have a background in automotive repair but without the tools, it's more like operating in the dark. I do have a couple lights on the dash. Green and orange. Once I get the manual, I can figure which wire to bridge to get the codes.....if it's anything like automotive, it's shouldn't be that difficult. On Toyota engines a paper clip was all that is needed. I do have a local shop but he is backed up and I'd rather try it myself first hoping to find a minor issue. I also have a hunch that the number one cylinder is getting more fuel or sparking inconsistently. I noticed there are two ignition coil operating the four cylinders. Is it possible that one coil is intermittently failing and if so would the engine even operate? That might be a silly question. :)

I appreciate your help and didn't take any of your comments in a negative way. Thanks again.
 
Re: 2002 Honda 115 outboard O2 sensor

1. On the 4-prong service check connecter, shunt (paper clip) the lime green/white wire to the black wire.
2. Turn on the key switch.
3. Count the long and short flashes of the mil light and write down what they are..
4. Turn the key switch back off.
5. Now erase the codes...
-- Turn the key switch to on.
-- Pull the safety switch to off, then push to on, then pull to off, then push to on, then pull to off, then push to on, then pull to off, then push to on,
then pull to off. That should be five times off and on and off within 20 seconds from when you turn the key switch to on.
When you get to the fifth time off...you should hear one or two beeps. The codes are clear. If you did not hear the beeps, try again.

3. Turn the key switch off

Remove the shunt and run the engine. Then check for codes again.

The number of blinks will give you the service fault(s).


.
 
Re: 2002 Honda 115 outboard O2 sensor

To answer your very first question...there is no O2 sensor on this motor. Also, the blinking light is all there is for diagnosis. It is does not have the smarts to talk to HDS or Dr. H.

Also, as you are doing your compression tests, etc, check for water on #3 or #4 spark plug. These motors have had some issues with cracked blocks or cracked heads.

If all your tests come up ok, connect of fuel tank with good fresh fuel to the engine. If the fuel is bad or has water, the 115/130 of this vintage will not run right. Also, check to be sure that all vent hoses are clear and your PCV valve is working ok (yes, it has one on top of the engine).

Hopefully, you just have a plugged injector or poor fuel pressure.

Mike
 
Re: 2002 Honda 115 outboard O2 sensor

One other thing...it appears that you only have an overheat and an oil pressure light. There are two more more lights that should have been installed but many times were not with these engines. (Charge lamp and Check Engine Light). You need the check engine light to determine if there are any codes. That is the one that does the blinking. Check your wiring diagram when you get it and you should be able to wire in a 12v lamp (test light or equivelant) to give you the codes.

Mike
 
Re: 2002 Honda 115 outboard O2 sensor

chawk_man,

Thanks for the info on the light and how to clear the codes. All will help me.

Mike,

Thanks for looking into my problem a little deeper. You're right, I don't have the check engine light on my dash. Without an o2 sensor what is sampling the exhaust gas to control the fuel mixture or how does this engine do this job? I'm curious.

Unfortunately, work had me tied up this weekend and I have not had time to check the motor out. Hopefully I will get my manual this week and dig into it. I've called Honda and they said, my motor does not have problems with the head or block cracks and that my particular engine is not listed. If I end up having a head/block cracking issue, do you know if Honda will still step up to the plate? Will post my finding once I do tests.

clark
 
The 115/130 uses 3 temperature sensors, oil pressure switch, iac, and throttle postion sensor to do the communicating to the ECM. I think the TPS is a key element in the mix.

I doubt if Honda will step up if the motor is not is the original serial number range.

Mike
 
Update on my problem. I did not have the time to jump into this very deep so opted to tow it to a Honda Repair shop. It took two trips to fix it but I'm happy and it's cure! First time in, the shop found that above 2000 RPM the number 2 injector would stop working. They installed a used one to verify and that did the trick. They also found my thermostat to be slightly stuck open so it took longer for warm up and the computer is running in cold mode most of the time. Changed out the thermostat.

A little miss communication when I came to pick up the boat. The new injector didn't arrive for the number two cylinder so I just told the shop to sell me the used one. Shop is 2 hours away from me. Well took it out for a run and all seemed to work well until the return trip back to the dock. It started all over again with the rough idle and stalling. Back to the shop and had them take a deeper look. A week later, they could not find a thing and said that they have seen with 8 years and older honda engine most it's usually the injectors getting clogged. They did run some cleaners in it but didn't help. I told them to go ahead and change all injectors out. That fixed the problem. She purrs now and all is back to normal.

Thanks to Mike and Chawk-man for your help and suggestions.
 
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