2005 Mercruiser MPI - Raw to Fresh Cooling - ECU Reflash?

[tenmile]

Hey guys,

I'm looking at purchasing a new boat that has spent it's life on the lakes. It has a 2005 Mercruiser 5.7 MPI but is completely Raw Water cooled. If I am to bring it to the pacific, I want to install a FWC system on it. Monitor Products provides the OEM kit -- supposed to be the same as the Horizon system on the Mercruisers -- cost is roughly $1000.

Anyhow, the dealer claims that installing the FWC system on the boat will run almost $5K -- $1000 for the part -- PLUS they've indicated that they have to remove the ECU, and send it back to Mercruiser to have it reflashed.

I don't see any documentation on requirements for reflashing the ECU and wonder if I am being fed a load of BS by a dealer wanting to preserve some profit margin? Guidance is appreciated.

PS: boat in my pic below is conditionally sold...

 

[Don S]

Re: 2005 Mercruiser MPI - Raw to Fresh Cooling - ECU Reflash?

Unless Merc is doing things differently, they don't reflash the ECM's, they replace them. And yes, they use different ECM's or raw water cooled, and close cooled engine. Different temp ranges of operation.

 

[muc]

Re: 2005 Mercruiser MPI - Raw to Fresh Cooling - ECU Reflash?

When I worked for a new boat dealer (2001-2008) had Merc and Volvo reflash quite a few ECM's.
Most of the time would ship it to them but every once in a while the TAM would come out and do it while it was still on the boat. Almost all of them were engines still under warranty, might be different in a retail situation.
Haven't had to install too many closed cooling kits ( I work in Minnesota, don't think you can get farther away from salt water ) but didn't need to mess with the computer on any of them.
But I have read a parts bulletin or heard it talked about at a update class that some models do require it.
If you would have posted a serial number somebody might be able to look up your engine.
Engine year doesn?t mean too much nowadays.

 

[tenmile]

Re: 2005 Mercruiser MPI - Raw to Fresh Cooling - ECU Reflash?

Thanks guys. Haven't purchased it yet, so don't have the sn on the engine. Interesting that the OEM FWC vendors don't mention the ECU change or flash...that's poor product representation...