MEFI 3 (16237009) vs MEFI 3 (16236999) help needed
 

Hey everyone,

I am having a difficult time in getting any clear answers on my current situation and hope that someone has the time and knowledge to help me out here!

Situation: ECM (sent to OBD and confirmed its toasted)
Boat: 2000 Shamrock 246 wa
Engine: 5.7l plus EFI (350cid)

This inboard engine says seamaxx on it. The part I need exactly is a MEFI 3 Delphi ECM model number 16237009 but a member on these forums has told me that he has a MEFI 3 Delphi ECM but its model number is 16236999. Can anyone help me out in determining if this is compatible with my engine (after getting it tuned ofc) or will it not work simply because its a different model number period.
If there is any additional information required please let me know I will respond very actively and quickly!
Thank you for all your help!

Either ECM will work on that engine. However, the calibrations are not directly interchangeable. Meaning, you can not just download a cal for an 009 into a 999 ECM. The cal can be converted though. There are a few guys that can do that. I'm not sure if ODB is capable of converting your file or not. If not, then you would have to find someone that can or find 999 cal for that engine (if it even exists). I'm not sure about your particular engine but Merc had some engines that used both over the years. The 502 mag for instance, used both a 009 and a 999. You could use either. Your engine may have only been available with the 009. That is a question that I can't answer.

So, you have a few choices. Either find a 999 cal for your engine and use the ECM that you found, have your 009 cal converted to work with a 999 ECM and use that one, find another 009 ECM and load your cal or use a 999 and have a cal written for it. It will probably need to be tuned in the boat though.

As far as the harness, sensors, etc are concerned, there is no difference. Give a call if I can help.
Eddie

Here is some additional info thru what I recall Merc training that applies

ECM 16236999 will have a moving desired idle mode that will operate between 0 % and 5 % throttle plate opening, By doing This - will allow more consistent speeds at part throttle engine running speeds since the ECM will try to maintain a very steady rpm within that range. On inboards and ski inboards (Merc) apps as well used ECM 16237009 in which had a load anticipation mode that additional IAC counts are added when in gear and then removed when going back in neutral.

MEFI 3 ECM has a password protected EEPROM so not just anyone can go into it and reprogram it. .

also with moving desired RPM mode (MEFI 3 16236999) the rpm speed of idle to around 1200 will be maintained more constantly plus will make the transition from idle rpm to higher throttle positions a lot smoother but at 5 % or greater throttle position SENSOR setting the moving desired rpm mode is not active then.

I would estimate OBD could do the work.

Great information guys I really appreciate it!

My biggest concern is that my good friend had found 16236999 at a nearby boat junkyard (claims that was the exact model number but I didn't see in person) said that he tried it in the boat and it fired up BUT he says that between the 16237009 and 16236999 that there is a difference in how many pins there are. 009 had 13 pins and 999 had 16 ....so thats our biggest concern at the moment with grabbing this part from the nice gentlemen on this forum who informed me that he has it available right now. ALSO to note he told me that it was pulled off a 350cu engine and ours is a 350cid which I don't know if that makes a difference

***I am not by any means a very mechanically inclined guy so i apologize for the my horrible understandings on some of these issues but I am learning fast lol

SO my next question would be about the connections -Eddie noted at the end of his reply that everything should connect the same but is there possible anyone who can confirm that the connections are exactly the same? same amount of pins - same harness etc? I'm just being extra cautious as buying a part for lots of money to learn it doesn't fit is fairly depressing lol and I'm just trying to avoid that because as I said before that my friend claimed to have tried the 6999 one but told me that it has more pins. Wish I was there to testify this was true or not

there should be J 1 and J 2 with - 1 thru 32 for J1 and 1 thru 32 for J 2 connections but not all are used

Some of the differences

7009 was used a lot for inboard MIE apps and again had load anticipation mode, It also had an signal from the neutral safety switch on the transmission side that went back to the ECM terminal J2 -20

this was used on the 454 and 502 MIE / inboard apps also

mercruiser MIE were inboard apps and Mercruiser MCM were sterndrive apps

more info I am having computer problems - I think OSO is a virus farm for my computer. Jeepers and I have webroot what junk .

anyways trying recall - MEFI 3 for the MCM Alpha merc there is a shift switch circuit from the ECM J2 - 9 terminal through the shift switch, to ground that is used and of course bravo;s did not use that ( shift switch)

Mefi 3 only the V 6 4.3 and the smallblocks 5.0 and 350 had a low fuel pressure sensor that if the ecm inputs was seeing low fuel pressure for 5 straight seconds a warning horn would sound

the FP sensor was installed for efi tbi in the throttle body unit and fo MPI the FP sensor was installed in the port fuel rail - rear engine side.

also for the 454 certain year(s) MEFI 3 had 2 knock sensors for the ECM inputs

these also had there own circuits and inputs to the ECM MEFI 3

Thanks for all of that in depth information BUP I am able to follow a majority of what you have said and in short my question then is even though there is slightly different number of pins between 7009 and 6999 could I get away with the difference in the 6999 by simply having it calibrated / reprogrammed to my engines specs ALTHOUGH a pins are slightly different? Everything connects like 7009 Ecm does but 6999 has 3 extra pins I believe

Yes, as long as you have the correct calibration, the ecm will just plug right in and work fine.

However, just because the ecm is from another 5.7L doesn't mean that it will have the same cal, especially if they are from different manufacturers...ie. from a Merc engine to a Volvo. They could have different size injectors for example. Just be sure the cal you get is for your exact engine. That may be the hard part.
Eddie

Thanks Eddie! I actually tried to call you today lol
Anyhow if I'm understanding you right even though it may have been on a different engine can I take this Ecm that most likely has the wrong calibration and have it reprogrammed for my engine spec? - I plan on sending the ECM to OBD (bob) who has assured me he can program for my engine.

Can the ECM be re calibrated and also is that the same as asking can it be reprogrammed? Or is calibrating different from programming

Recalibrated/reprogrammed is the same thing. Basically there is a file (.bin file, or binary file) that has all the data for fuel, timing etc. etc. that goes to specific memory addresses and the ECM accesses that data based on sensor input (MAP, rpm, coolant temp, throttle position etc.) Its really quite simple and eloquent at the same time. All you do is upload/flash the file to memory if needed.

Bob should be able to help you.

Sorry, I am on a cruise ship right now. Won't be back in the shop until Monday. But to answer your question, yes you can take the ecm and just load another cal in it. Bob can load the cal without erasing the ecm and the hours will remain (whatever amount the engine had that the ecm was removed from ) or he can recover (wipe clean/erase) the ecm and then load the cal. This will start the hours over at 0. You can not put in your current amount of hours.
Wddie

Guys thank you thank you thank you
I really appreciate your timely responses and awesome information it has helped me out a ton! Can't wait to finally be back on the water. This has clarified everything I needed to know to move forward and get this damn part fixed already! You guys are the best thanks again!

And don't be sorry man - enjoy your vacation brother :coolcowboy:

I have been busy and got ur message now. Different engines have different CALS. example a Mercruiser inboard engine of the same year and the same CID does not have the same CAL as an I/O. the same goes for freshwater cooled to closed cooling. And the same for engine CID and year engine all the same but one has an alpha outdrive and one has a Bravo outdrive the cals will be slightly different to more different. I was posting examples of the MEFI 3 and some of the difference between the ECM's and as to why.

Anyways if you can buy a used ECM very cheap enough and have it recal to work for your app then do it but it has to be cheap enough because some of the recalls are not as cheap as you think nor an 100 % exact fit for your app. Especially doing it over the phone and mail. .

Asking was your Sea Max an Inboard engine crate app installed in an I/O app ?

If I recall correctly Seamax was PCM / Crusader Brand ?

You are correct good sir.
Its a inboard Sea Maxx product made by PCM / Crusader but I am not so familiar with mechanics so I am unsure if there is an I/O app installed or not. (sorry mechanic terminology is lackluster for me)
My good friend has actually found this part at a junkyard nearby and the guy only asked $150 - My friend put it in the boat and it fired right up! but then it choked out and wouldn't stay running so he brought that ECM back to the junkyard and apologized explaining sadly it did not work out (the owner was kind and let him bring it back) then through my research and trying to find information on it I found this website (offshoreonly) and noticed people were looking / selling these ECM's specifically MEFI 3 16237009 and 16236999 so as I hit every dead end on the internet not finding the help I needed I got so much help from people here and as everyone clarified this part and its inner workings to me I realized .....holy fukn ****....my friend had the ECM in his hands! (the one from the junkyard) and all it needed was to be re-calibrated! because he said he knows for a FACT that the model number on it was 16236999 So hopefully tomorrow morning when we go to check this junkyard place again the owner will still have it - if not then I bite the bullet and pay $400 to another person who's selling it online here and then another $200 to Bob over at OBD to have it recalibrated ...still beats $1500 for a "new" one.

Even if the MEFI 3 ECM didn't work on your engine model but it possibly works in general... then for $150.00 you could see if Bob is willing to test it and if all good sell it online for enough money to recoup some of your losses from your adventure mentioned above.
At one point there was a high enough demand for the older ECM's that even Mercruiser was asking for them to be returned for internal dealer credit. Maybe even Bob could use it/make a deal with you for possibly another future OSO forum customer. Just some thoughts is all, good luck.

The junkyard still had the ECM and we were able to grab it! Next step overnight this baby to mr. Bob over at OBD and sit n wait for its return.

what junk yard - Boats and where ?

It was a junkyard here in Tampa, Florida
More specifically in Largo I believe. My good friend went and got the ECM back today from them and they still had it so we're very lucky on that end. Apparently this place also does restoration / rebuilds engines I believe. Did you want the actually name of the business? I can ask my friend.

***ECM mailed to bob will update when it comes back and we fire her up.

Mefi 3 16236999
 

I need MEFI 3 16236999 to replace my old ECU, Somebody know where I can buy ?

Any one has ever got the password for a MEFI 3 or 4?
 

I have a 5.7 Gxi that I need to tune! Help!!!

Hard nut to crack, bob at mefiburn doesnt have unlock codes for 5.7's, at least for TBI 5.7, not sure on yours . so whoever does it will probabaly have to erase it and put a base tune in then tune it in your boat or on a dyno. With the unlock codes, your tune could be unlocked then modified as needed, Smitty