ANGRY at PCM Engine Group...

[zad0030]

Sounds like you should be bitching at GM, because its their engine, not PCM's. PCM takes the block and marinizes it for boating use, along with a few other tweaks. Everything regarding the engine block itself wouldn't be much different than a regular 350.

[Timmy!]

Given this experience, I suspect that many of the sensors DO fail gradually, but the owners aren't sensitive enough to the subtle changes in engine operation to notice. By the time the symptoms are serious enough to attract their attention, the sensor has "completely" failed and that's how it gets reported.

You should create a marine system that monitors the sensors health so that owners know when the sensors aren't sensitive enough anymore! But what happens when that goes bad...oh man, that would be bad because then you wouldn't know that your sensors are going bad!

[gwhite94]

You should create a marine system that monitors the sensors health so that owners know when the sensors aren't sensitive enough anymore! But what happens when that goes bad...oh man, that would be bad because then you wouldn't know that your sensors are going bad!

Man if we continue with this type of logic we would not need ballast. The boat would be so freakin heavy with monitoring equipment we could have huge wakes. I hope I have been sensitive enough to the sensor issue. I am going to monitor my output on this topic..

[IDBoating]

You should create a marine system that monitors the sensors health so that owners know when the sensors aren't sensitive enough anymore!

You can create one yourself - by obtaining the service manual and becoming familiar with your engine. Then YOU are the monitoring system. {grin}

[dom w. forte]

All shop manuals for all manufacturers including mercury are broken down into catagories, example with merc, you have mech, 555 pcm, 555 ecm, fuel system, cooling system, outdrive, transmission, tsbs, and some systems we are not privey to, which we have to call in and they will give us test procedures and give us a part to try and see if problem is cured.
I will see what is available.

[IDBoating]

I will see what is available.

Thank you!

[Timmy!]

You can create one yourself - by obtaining the service manual and becoming familiar with your engine. Then YOU are the monitoring system. {grin}

I don't need one.

[IDBoating]

Here's a POSITIVE note...

Just so this thread isn't all complaints and negativity....

Yesterday I sent an email to Tige, asking about the ballast switches they use with their factory ballast systems. (My 24Ve didn't come with a ballast system and I'd like to use the factory switches when I install one.)

Within about 30 minutes I had an email response. I answered their questions and emailed back.

About five minutes later, my cellphone rang. It was Tige's Parts Manager, calling because "It's just faster and easier to give you this information over the phone than type it up in an email." He gave me everything... part number, description of how it works with the panel, how the 24Ve's differs from the RZ units, how they receive them from their supplier, all of it.

Tige absolutely ROCKS!

Folks, THIS is how Customer Service should be handled. Getting an answer was great. Getting an answer fast was outstanding. Getting a cellphone call with a complete data dump was beyond awesome.

If you need an example of how to properly take care of customers, look at Tige. To quote an earlier post here, Tige is a "great company with great products"... AND they are proud to back them up with great people and great support.

All too often we only hear complaints. I wanted to loudly and publicly give Tige massive props for doing things RIGHT! Thanks, Tige! I'm very happy and very lucky to be a member of the Tige family!

[JUST-IN-TIME]

you need 3 manuals for that boat

motor, if you want to rebuild it
electrical one
EFI one

its the same as PCM, u can get off their web site, well it used to be that way

[IDBoating]

you need 3 manuals for that boat

motor, if you want to rebuild it
electrical one
EFI one

So far I have the first one, which is a generic GM 5.7L engine manual (i.e not specific to PCM's application).

I've been told that PCM will not ship the other documentation to mere owners - you know, the documentation that is PCM-specific.

its the same as PCM, u can get off their web site, well it used to be that way

Not the most recent generation of info.

[dom w. forte]

Engine manual pcm is not generic it is the same as what is in the boat, lit. is available up to mefi 4 and drive by wire, if you obtain or read the DBW or MEFI 4 you will have an understanding of current system.
The evolution of the PCM computor controls is no different then the car industry such as fords MCU,ECC1,ECC2,ECC3,ECC4,ECC5, only speed of info and command changed with the systems with slight variations, but nothing that a trained tech couldnt diaginois with out available info, overall systems on imput and command remained consistent.
Also most of the current power plants in boating ( inboards ) systems work very simular , same imputs and commands , main difference would be fuel and igntion curves built into data.

[IDBoating]

Exactly, Dom. You've explained that to me personally a couple of times (for which I'm thankful!). It's easy to understand how each manufacturer would have their own curves to achieve their own goals for their specific application. As you said, a boat engine is "always driving uphill!" {grin}

Thanks!

[JUST-IN-TIME]

Starting next year 2011

no dealers/manufactures wil sell manuals to owners

Suzuki has been doing this for 3 years now

even as techs, its a pain in the *** to get manuals

yamaha and mercury are e-z because they are on the dealer's net

shoot me an email and i will send you PCM's EFI stuff

[IDBoating]

shoot me an email and i will send you PCM's EFI stuff

PM sent, with email address included. Thank you VERY MUCH in advance for whatever you can provide!

[IDBoating]

Starting next year 2011
no dealers/manufactures wil sell manuals to owners
Suzuki has been doing this for 3 years now
even as techs, its a pain in the *** to get manuals

Why? What is the rationale behind making it so difficult to own their products?!?