New 4-tec has rough idle - is this normal?

[rduval]

I have a brand new 04 Sportster with a 4-Tec that has a somewhat erratic idle. It acts more like a 2 stroke than a 4 and it idle between 1600 to 1800 rpm. Is this normal? I've never owned a 4 stroke of anykind that misfired unless there was something wrong with it.

[Technical Support]

Re: New 4-tec has rough idle - is this normal?

No, that's not normal, it should be almost rock solid stable. You will need to take it to a Sea-Doo dealer for service.

[Gulfstar]

Re: New 4-tec has rough idle - is this normal?

I have the same problem only mine goes between 1850 and 2300 at idle. Did you find a problem that could be corrected. when I took mine in they said that nothing was wrong, that it checked out on the computer. It seems to surge up and down. Either on the water, where it is less noticible, or on the trailer where you can easily hear and see it on the tach. In fact it also surges at different RPM's when traveling also.

[rduval]

Re: New 4-tec has rough idle - is this normal?

See...I keep getting conflicting reports...some say it's "normal" others say it's not.

I agree with SBT that it "should" be rock stable! It's an EFI 4-stroke for @#$% sake! My dealer's been "working on it" for months now. Everytime I get it back it's the same. I called Sea-Doo support and asked them if it's normal and their reply was "it's up to the dealer to determine that". What a cop-out.

I told the dealer if they can't fix it I want my money back or get me one that doesn't do it.

Any opinions?

[Phil STX15F]

Re: New 4-tec has rough idle - is this normal?

The 4-TEC engines have a very smooth idle. If they are running right there should not be a rough idle. Sounds like a fouled plug or bad coil on top of the plug. I had a 4-TEC foul a plug and it did as you say yours is doing.

[1fastski.com]

Re: New 4-tec has rough idle - is this normal?

everyone ive ever worked on or seen has had a nice smooth idle . you should try a differnt dealer . if you have any way of sending a short video of it running most of us on the web here could tell you if yours is normal or not if we can hear it run .

that could be a new tech section for SBT . short vids of good and bad running ski so people could compaire :-)

[Technical Support]

Re: New 4-tec has rough idle - is this normal?

You never know what's right around the corner ;)

[DaveG]

Re: New 4-tec has rough idle - is this normal?

Make the dealer show you one of theirs run. If it runs smooth then make them fix yours.

[Gulfstar]

Re: New 4-tec has rough idle - is this normal?

Misery loves company. Mine is the one the runs between 1850 and 2300 at idle. It does not seem to be missing as much as it is hunting. Almost as if the injector computer is correcting for a bad injector or sensor. I would be interested to hear others that have a perfectly smooth idle. It would not only give hope, but even might enlighten those who work on these things. My shop wants to fix it, but the computer says "all is well".

Mark

[bic1]

Re: New 4-tec has rough idle - is this normal?

We have a n/a 4-TEC. It had a rough idle at the end of the season which was traced to a faulty spark plug (@105 hours). We run our ski one a week for 2 minutes on the hose during winter and we've noticed that it runs rough when cold, but smooths out once it's been running a while.