Safety Letter from PCM Regarding Ethanol Fuel

[Skidave]

FYI... I received a letter yesterday from PCM regarding Ethanol Fuel and the Fuel Control Cell. There is a new wiring harness for engines / FCC that were built prior to 2007 (that use a FCC). The letter states that the wiring harness is subject to possible deterioration if exposed to ethanol blended fuel over time. I called to see if this new wiring harness was a no charge part for those affected by this notice. I'm waiting to hear back. The new wiring harness is part # RF121085.

I scanned the letter and attached it to this post.

[Skidave]

Just heard back...list price for the part is $95.09.

[wakejunky]

Interestingly enough, I just went through this on Monday, local dealer wanted $95 plus tax and found it online via PN discount at Nautique parts for $85. What pisses me off is that it probably should be covered under liability but, I can dismiss that. It really should be around $25-$30, it's basically a cable harness with a screw in interface for the top of the FCC.

[gatorgates]

I got this letter too late. A year ago, fuel started leaking out around where the wiring enters the top of the fuel cell. A made some ill-advised and half-a$$ed attempts to repair the leak, none of which worked for more than a few trips out. So I gave up and bought an entirely new fuel cell which came with the newly designed wiring harness. It was an easy replacement. I can't remember what I paid, but it was more than $85.

[obd666]

good to know, thanks for passing it along.

[shag]

The federal government should have to reimburse people for all the problems associated with Ethanol.. It's been determined to be green neutral, meaning there is no real benefit to the environment when you factor in production and the fact that it makes your car slightly less efficient. Just my .02

[wakejunky]

Shag...Just like Methanol of the 90's. Cost us more, got lower fuel mileage and then was killing fish...Gotta love the Gov.

[jkallen21]

Just curious if I'm in the minority here, but I almost never use ethanol-based fuel in the boat (2006 SANTE). I used to have a small Sea Ray that I did put it in, but only if I knew that I would burn the whole tank that day (I didn't want it sitting in the boat and engine for long). I always pay a lot more for this fuel too - about $1.00/gallon on the water and about .50/gallon on land.
Do you guys regularly buy ethanol? If I'm on the water, I don't even have a choice - it's always non-ethanol, but I only have experience on 2-3 lakes in the southeast.

Thanks

[kend]

Just curious if I'm in the minority here

In DFW Texas and there is no ethanol free fuel within 2 hours drive. I heard it was fed regulation for counties with more than a certain population are not allowed to sell it. I've looked at websites that track stations that sell it, but none are a practical distance for me to drive. I end up using additives, especially over the winter.

Shag, Same with summer blend gas -it evaporates less but makes your car get up to 10% worse mileage....what kind of genius thinks that is good for the planet.

[wakejunky]

So, I did the upgrade the other day and after looking at what I got and the replacement. I think I would have done the fix myself and saved $100. The new kit has a brass fitting instead of plastic and the wires are about 1/2 the guage and doesn't have sheathing on it.
I should have pulled it off put the wires back into the connector, gone down to my local autozone and bought gas resistant epoxy and and epoxied the wires back into the fitting. The fitting isn't in question, it was the epoxy they used to "glue" the wires into the connector.

[shag]

Wake junky, I remember (when I was a kid) Gasohol... The thing with the ethanol is that supposedly you get a tad more HP, but obviously lose the same in efficiency.... Plus the negative effects... Someone was a good salesman..

[Beach-TJ]

Thanks for posting this, those who did not purchase there boats new wouldn't get this sort of information anywhere else.

[vortech347]

Thanks for posting this, those who did not purchase there boats new wouldn't get this sort of information anywhere else.

Not necessarily. i bought my boat new in 99 and I have not gotten this letter.