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Author Topic:   Ficht Ram starting problem

jack frost posted 08-08-2014 08:07 AM ET (US)
I recently purchased a 20 ft. open fiberglass boat with a 75 hp ficht Ram motor (E75FSXSIG) appears to be a 2001 model.
Motor runs fine and has lots of power,problem is that often when I turn the key nothing happens! Cycles through the diagnostics but the starter doesn't energize.
What's making the problem so difficult to diagnose is that with the least amount of movement,such as removing the engine cover, touching wires or a slight tap on the engine cover the motor starts fine!
I have checked for broken wires, loose connections, poor grounds, fuses, relays, solenoid switch, ignition switch and everything else that I can think of but can't seen to remedy the problem.
Can anyone help me with this or tell me where I can find an electrical schematic?
Thanks in advance!

jcdawg83 posted 08-08-2014 03:32 PM ET (US)
Once the engine is running, does it ever shut off unexpectedly? If not, it seems unlikely to be loose or broken wire. Check the starter for rust around the bottom. I have a '99 90hp Ficht and I had to put a new starter on. Mine would spin but not engage the flywheel. Your issue sounds like it could even be a loose connection within the starter itself.
Whalrman posted 08-08-2014 03:41 PM ET (US)
Look at the wires going into the engine pan where the clamp is. Take the clamp loose and see if any wires are chafed. you mentioned touching wires it will start, which wires are you touching?
jack frost posted 08-09-2014 09:07 AM ET (US)

No,the motor has never shut off unexpectedly.
When this happens I think the power is not getting to the starter solenoid coil but it's very difficult to verify because the slightest movement such as removing the cover or a slight jar will fix the problem for awhile!
I have cleaned all connections,looked for poor grounds, checked relays, fuse holders, plugs, ignition switch/wires but can't seem to remedy the situation. I now suspect it's somewhere on or near the board where the relays and fuses are located but can't pinpoint any problem.
Sometimes it will run all day without a problem, next day I may have to give the engine cover just a slight knock each time before it will start. Very frustrating because I know sooner or later the knock is not going to work!!
seahorse posted 08-10-2014 03:14 PM ET (US)
The power distribution panel, where the 7 fuses are located, is a known problem child. Tapping the housing or wiggling the wires sometimes can help. You can have it repaired through dfitechnologies.com as the circuit board solder joints fail.
The other thing to remember is that the starter delay relay has its ground wires tied into the gray tachometer circuit for initial starting and then to the electric fuel pump relay brown wire. Both wires have diodes to prevent backfeeding any current. It is the EMM that activates the ground wires for the appropriate circuit. If the motor will not crank over but you hear the electric fuel pump run for about 10 seconds, wait an additional 20 seconds with the key ON, then try the starter again.
There is a 20 amp separate fuse that feeds the EMM and if corrosion gets inside the fuse holder, that could keep the EMM from booting up and the EMM from turning on the fuel pump. Usually the problem is intermittent and hard to find unless you know where to start looking.
jack frost posted 08-11-2014 08:39 AM ET (US)
Thanks for the great information! I have suspected the power distribution panel may be the problem. Will investigate further. Thanks again!
Any suggestion as to where I could purchase a service/repair manual?
seahorse posted 08-11-2014 02:49 PM ET (US)
Any suggestion as to where I could purchase a service/repair manual?
www.outboardbooks.com
seahorse posted 08-11-2014 03:00 PM ET (US)
seahorse posted 08-11-2014 03:06 PM ET (US)
Jack,
Sorry, I forgot that outboardbooks.com only went to 1996.
See an Evinrude dealer for the manuals. The 2001 manual was not produced but was a supplement to the V-4 2000 service manual that showed the changes for that last production model year of OMC.
jack frost posted 08-11-2014 10:30 PM ET (US)
Thanks again seahorse.
What's you thought on the this 01 model?
Is it dependable? It looks like new and other than this starting thing seems to work just fine now but what can I expect in the future?
Is it worth hanging onto or should I look for a replacement?

seahorse posted 08-12-2014 07:03 AM ET (US)

If you have a sharp technician to support that motor, you will probably be in good shape after the EMM is rebuilt along with the power distribution panel. Those were weak areas in OMC's last gasp before George Soros and his crew shut the business down in Dec. 2000.
The Bombardier built FICHTS were redesigned and greatly improved when they started production in Qct. 2001 for the 2002 model year.

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Author	Topic: Ficht Ram starting problem
jack frost	posted 08-08-2014 08:07 AM ET (US) I recently purchased a 20 ft. open fiberglass boat with a 75 hp ficht Ram motor (E75FSXSIG) appears to be a 2001 model. Motor runs fine and has lots of power,problem is that often when I turn the key nothing happens! Cycles through the diagnostics but the starter doesn't energize. What's making the problem so difficult to diagnose is that with the least amount of movement,such as removing the engine cover, touching wires or a slight tap on the engine cover the motor starts fine! I have checked for broken wires, loose connections, poor grounds, fuses, relays, solenoid switch, ignition switch and everything else that I can think of but can't seen to remedy the problem. Can anyone help me with this or tell me where I can find an electrical schematic? Thanks in advance!
jcdawg83	posted 08-08-2014 03:32 PM ET (US) Once the engine is running, does it ever shut off unexpectedly? If not, it seems unlikely to be loose or broken wire. Check the starter for rust around the bottom. I have a '99 90hp Ficht and I had to put a new starter on. Mine would spin but not engage the flywheel. Your issue sounds like it could even be a loose connection within the starter itself.
Whalrman	posted 08-08-2014 03:41 PM ET (US) Look at the wires going into the engine pan where the clamp is. Take the clamp loose and see if any wires are chafed. you mentioned touching wires it will start, which wires are you touching?
jack frost	posted 08-09-2014 09:07 AM ET (US) No,the motor has never shut off unexpectedly. When this happens I think the power is not getting to the starter solenoid coil but it's very difficult to verify because the slightest movement such as removing the cover or a slight jar will fix the problem for awhile! I have cleaned all connections,looked for poor grounds, checked relays, fuse holders, plugs, ignition switch/wires but can't seem to remedy the situation. I now suspect it's somewhere on or near the board where the relays and fuses are located but can't pinpoint any problem. Sometimes it will run all day without a problem, next day I may have to give the engine cover just a slight knock each time before it will start. Very frustrating because I know sooner or later the knock is not going to work!!
seahorse	posted 08-10-2014 03:14 PM ET (US) The power distribution panel, where the 7 fuses are located, is a known problem child. Tapping the housing or wiggling the wires sometimes can help. You can have it repaired through dfitechnologies.com as the circuit board solder joints fail. The other thing to remember is that the starter delay relay has its ground wires tied into the gray tachometer circuit for initial starting and then to the electric fuel pump relay brown wire. Both wires have diodes to prevent backfeeding any current. It is the EMM that activates the ground wires for the appropriate circuit. If the motor will not crank over but you hear the electric fuel pump run for about 10 seconds, wait an additional 20 seconds with the key ON, then try the starter again. There is a 20 amp separate fuse that feeds the EMM and if corrosion gets inside the fuse holder, that could keep the EMM from booting up and the EMM from turning on the fuel pump. Usually the problem is intermittent and hard to find unless you know where to start looking.
jack frost	posted 08-11-2014 08:39 AM ET (US) Thanks for the great information! I have suspected the power distribution panel may be the problem. Will investigate further. Thanks again! Any suggestion as to where I could purchase a service/repair manual?
seahorse	posted 08-11-2014 02:49 PM ET (US) Any suggestion as to where I could purchase a service/repair manual? www.outboardbooks.com
seahorse	posted 08-11-2014 03:00 PM ET (US)
seahorse	posted 08-11-2014 03:06 PM ET (US) Jack, Sorry, I forgot that outboardbooks.com only went to 1996. See an Evinrude dealer for the manuals. The 2001 manual was not produced but was a supplement to the V-4 2000 service manual that showed the changes for that last production model year of OMC.
jack frost	posted 08-11-2014 10:30 PM ET (US) Thanks again seahorse. What's you thought on the this 01 model? Is it dependable? It looks like new and other than this starting thing seems to work just fine now but what can I expect in the future? Is it worth hanging onto or should I look for a replacement?
seahorse	posted 08-12-2014 07:03 AM ET (US) If you have a sharp technician to support that motor, you will probably be in good shape after the EMM is rebuilt along with the power distribution panel. Those were weak areas in OMC's last gasp before George Soros and his crew shut the business down in Dec. 2000. The Bombardier built FICHTS were redesigned and greatly improved when they started production in Qct. 2001 for the 2002 model year.