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| I'm looking at purchasing a boat with a 2004 225 Etech HO, are these motors reliable? interested to hear your thoughts.
Thanks |
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Posts: 1096
Location: Hayward, WI | If looking at buying one make sure to have a good BRP tech check it over and make sure all and any updates have been done. Get a printout of the computer hours and codes and make sure all is ok. The injectors on them seem very finicky and are very expensive to replace. |
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Posts: 2384
Location: On the X that marks the mucky spot | Buy a spare LU now as you'll probably need it. Personally I'd pass on the early ones. The tech I talked to said they're a 600-700hr power head. Supposedly they newer ones are better. |
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Posts: 433
Location: Cedarburg, Wisconsin | If it was well maintained and run on the correct oil it should be OK. As mentioned before, get the readout from the EMM and have the BRP mechanic explain all the readings and any error codes displayed. Then find out if the software has been updated to the latest and greatest version, and any updates to bearings, seals, or whatever have been done. If the original owner was concientious in keeping it up to date, it should be a good motor. If not, considering it was a first year motor, I'd be leary, it being out of warrantee and probably needing updates. I've been running a 200HO E-TEC for most of the last three years and it is a fantastic motor in my opinion. But that's a 2010 model. |
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Posts: 2089
| 2004? Just have an extra fund set up of about 7K. That will cover the powerhead when it blows and if it doesn't, that will cover the lower unit with some change to spare. No warranty and you're rolling the dice. There are always exceptions but too many horror stories to ignore. Talk with guys that USE them, not a weekend here and there or a tourney here and there. |
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Posts: 217
Location: ladysmith, wi | etec did not come out until 2005, i ran a 2005etec 225ho on my z-20 and if i had to do it over again i would not get a etec, many problems with my injecters to the tune of about $4000.00 happened 3 months after warrenty ran out then last year had another injector go out 1800.00 fix, had 505 hrs on boat also oil is 50.00 a gallon if u run xd 100 cheaper for xd 50 but u use more, newer model years maybe better but the older ones in my opinion suck better of getting a merc pro xs or a yami hpdi
if u do get one watch out for #5 injector always the first to go, oh yeah bought mine from a flw pro in 2006 and it already had a new powerhead put on from factory |
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Posts: 734
Location: Watertown, MN | Well have an 03 HO and been bullet proof except for my self inflicted damage. I guess rocks and lower units are not a good combo. It has been bullet proof and have not been out run but any 620 with 225 in long time, not sure if the motor changed from 03 to the 04. The only down side is changing plugs every 2 years or less pending hours. But the way the generate HP by increase spark burns the anode. So no motor is bullet proof, just a matter of being a lucky one.
Troy |
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Posts: 53
Location: Bemidji | I have a 2002 225HO. I can't say anything bad about it. I have only ran it for one season now, but put plenty of hours on it and did not baby it at all.
I had the same concerns as you - but had it thoroughly checked out before I agreed to buy it from a private party.
I will need a new starter this spring as it is staring to scream, but that will be the first major repair.
All I could do was go by my research, but from what I understand starting in 2002 is when they really worked the bugs out of the earlier Ficht problems. |
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