2019 malibu txi 6L issues

[TheBigHead]

Hi everyone,

 

Our ski club has a 2019 txi with the 6L , we have had issues with this boat since the first day and I'm wondering if anyone else has had these issues and perhaps knows a fix. Our dealer doesnt know what to do and our club is losing a lot of ski time this year because of it.

 

Since the first day the service engine light will come on, and then after the first set the engine will overheat and go into limp mode. We can then get the boat working by turning it off and on and revving the engine a bit in neutral. *note our dealer claims that while checking the engine codes that there are none to be found. No fix/repair and we were told to continue using the boat.

 

At the end of july our boat began misfiring, we got the boat back "fixed" but it would not make power and certainly could not pull a skier even at slow speeds. Boat has been at the dealership now for a couple weeks and everyone says they are "stumped".

 

I believe this is a known issue with these malibu's with this engine. Last year I heard in the fall that these boats had an engine issue that sounded the same as what we are having. Unfortunately we had already ordered our boat so we couldn't make a change.

 

Has anyone else experienced this and hopefully found a fix?

 

 

Thanks!

 

Edit: put 6.2l but it's a 6L

[waterskicorey]

@Chad_Scott ??????

[bigtex2011]

Does the boat act like it's in limp mode still.

[pmski]

I'm curious does the exhaust note/sound change when the boat is up to speed?

[oldjeep]

Obvious question, has the impeller been changed and the circulating pump checked? Coolant level checked?

[TheBigHead]

@bigtex2011 no, limp mode if I remember correctly the boat wont get on plane.

 

When we had it back last time it could get a skier out of the water but would struggle to even get the lightest skier up and to speed.

[TheBigHead]

@pmski yes but I'm not sure what you mean. Exhaust note changes with the boat rpm.

 

@oldjeep at the point it's hard for me to say as it is with the dealer and they have claimed to have gone over everything. When we had the problem originally(the overheating limp mode issue) yes we checked the strainer/impeller oddly the boat would be fine if we kept it running with no break between skiers. That first issue seemed to happen when we stopped the boat waited a minute for the next skier and then idled over the the dock. If you didnt put it in neutral and rev the engine the temp would skyrocket and hit limp mode. From my untrained perspective it almost seemed as though a thermostat wasnt opening and the revving was somehow sorting that out (i dont really know for sure though)

 

If you had the engine light come on, and the boat overheat and go into limp mode would a technician be able to see some kind of code when they hooked it up to a computer? That was a strange one to us as the dealer kept stating the boat showed no engine codes

[oldjeep]

If you had to rev it, sounds more like impeller or air lock in closed part of cooling system.

[TheBigHead]

@oldjeep yeah and it very well could be. Unfortunately this has progressed beyond just that issue.

 

Actually when we got the boat back (after the misfiring) it didnt behave the same so it's hard to say if that issue still lingers or if it is gone. The new issue where it just makes very little power prevents us from even skiing.

[oldjeep]

You do realize that the engine codes, inactive or active are available in the malivue screens? Or do they have a stripped down version where you don't have the diagnostic screrns? Even my 2012 shows them. My recommendation would be to spend the money for diacom no point in owning a megabuck boat without the $600 tool needed to diagnose and maintain it.

[TheBigHead]

@oldjeep true and I totally get what you are saying.

 

We have the standard screen setup, I dont believe it shows anything other than "service engine" or similar. I could be wrong as I'm not in front of it right now.

 

But by the same logic what's the point in buying a new boat under warranty if the manufacturer and dealer cant fix it? (I see the irony, as that's why I'm here)

 

That's part of why I'm asking the specific question, if the boat comes up and says "service engine" or engine fault (I cant remember the exact terminology) then when it is taken into the dealer they should be able to see what that was when its hooked up to a computer correct? As according to the dealer it has not registered any fault codes. It seems very odd to us that there would be no codes when the engine fault light is on all day.

 

 

Dont get me wrong though the sentiment is growing, and the feeling is that our dealer isnt working with us and at the end of the day if we need to buy our own diagnostic tools we will. The most important thing is to have our club members skiing. If we lose out on a large portion of the season because our brand new boat wont run it could really impact our ability to operate.

[oldjeep]

They should be able to see both active and inactive codes. I'd quote the tommy boy definition of warranty, but i wont. Summer is a short and precious commodity, hauling a boat to dealer can waste a lot of it.

The diagnostic tools are a really cheap one time cost.

[TheBigHead]

Yeah that's the thing if the codes active and inactive are visible then I can only assume our dealer is not helping our situation.

 

Again, I'm hoping to find others that have had this issue or similar with this particular boat/engine.

 

As I said this is something that was described to me last year as an issue with these boats, so I'm hoping someone has been successful in sorting it out.

 

[PatM]

Call Malibu direct. I'm sure they won't let this go unfixed. Sounds like your dealer has no idea of what they are doing.

[TheBigHead]

@"Pat M" probably the next course of action. I'll give this a day to get feedback and then go direct.

[teammalibu]

As for the overheat warning make sure you don’t have a bunch of weeds or other crap in the tranny cooler!

[TheBigHead]

@teammalibu if that particular issue persists after the more serious/new one is sorted out we will take a look for sure.

[teammalibu]

Feel your pain mines in the shop for the second week also!

[RAWSki]

Have you tried getting in touch with PCM/Crusader directly? Have heard and experienced this in Malibus..... It seems to only be an issue with the Crusader motors installed in TXI's but not all of them....

[Dacon62]

Try putting a 2x4 under the front of the motor box to see if it’s an air starvation/overheating issue. If that is the case then one or more of your air intakes could be pinched, plugged or not hooked up?

Take off the air filter as well and inspect it and the air intake plenum for obstructions/damage.

Good luck.

[TheBigHead]

@RAWSki thanks for the insight

 

@Dacon62 thanks good idea.

[Rednucleus]

Are they supplying you with a loaner yet?

[jpwhit]

I recently fixed a similar issue to your original overheating issue. When the boat overheats at idle, but not when it's rev'ed up. And the impeller has been checked and is good, then it typically means there is air getting into the cooling system on the input side of the raw water pump. The input side of the raw water pump operates at a vacuum. At idle you end up with almost all air coming in if there is a leak, but at higher RPMs the raw water pump is spinning fast enough to pull in enough water to cool the engine. That kind of issue can be really hard to diagnose

 

I found it by literally taking apart the entire cooling system. In my case, the problem turned out to be a cracked fitting under one of the clamps. The clamp was over tightened to the point that it cracked the fitting.

 

If your engine overheated a number of times, then one possible explanation for the loss of power now is engine damage due to the overheating.

 

Yes, if you had the engine overheat enough to generate a warning, there should be a fault code stored. It seems pretty clear your dealer doesn't know what they are doing....

[Brewski]

DONT WAIT ANOTHER MINUTE >>>>CALL MALIBU~!!!!

[dbutcher]

Several years ago I had a boat overheat problem (not Malibu) and found out that the thermostat had broken into several pieces. Sometimes it miraculously worked, and other times it caused overheating, especially at idle.

[E_T]

Call mastercraft order a new boat problem solved

[bigtex2011]

@"Jack Kinne" pretty sure it's the PCM Crusader 6L. that's what was in my 2017

[Andre]

Questions for the experts.

Is the PCM 6.0 Crusader marinize in a different way then the PCM 6.0 Nautique or exactly the same? Is it raw water cool or with a heat exchanger ?

I'm with @Brewski, Call Malibu ASAP.The fact that you got the boat back from the dealer with no power is not good sign...Which dealer is it?

[LLUSA]

Call Malibu

[bigtex2011]

@"Jack Kinne" no. I believe the new 6.2's are

[DW]

@TheBigHead - as noted, your initial issue sounds like a raw water pump supply issue, either input side air leak, defective impeller or pressure side obstruction. Your dealer should be able to diagnose that and correct it or suggestions noted above.

 

As it sounds like that lead to a secondary poor running issue, I would run a leak down test to confirm that no internal engine damage has been done. The SBC (small block chevy and I am assuming yours is an iron block engine and not an LS aluminum one) engine has siamesed exhaust valve between the center cylinders which taxes the head gasket between the two center cylinders, if poor coolant flow existed at elevated throttle openings, you could potentially damage the head gasket which does lead to a misfiring condition. If an iron block with aluminum heads, that is an even more sensitive setup for head gasket issues.

 

I would also suggest having the key sensors either tested or replaced, perhaps a defective sensor is a root cause.

 

Good luck, and agree with previous posts, Malibu direct and/or marinizer contact is appropriate to correct the issue.

[TheBigHead]

@Rednucleus unfortunately no, they did offer us a boat at one point but it was an older one without zero off or PP. We declined and a member loaned their boat to the club to get us skiing. Definitely not ideal.

 

@jpwhit that does sound like what was happening so I'll add it to the list of things to check.

 

@Andre cant say if it's different from the nautique version. I'd prefer not to share the dealers name yet, I dont want to put them on blast before we sort it out.

 

Looks like I'll be giving malibu a call, I'll post an update as this unfolds.

 

Thanks for all the input everyone!

 

 

 

[Andre]

@TheBigHead On second toughts,good of you not naming the dealer...but still unacceptable to return to a customer's a 2019 boat not running good.They should be working on it all day long with the help from PCM...

Hopefully,Chad Scott could help you...

I also don't understand why no codes is showing up but hooking the laptop to it should display what parameter is wrong for the boat to make no power.

[pmski]

@TheBigHead let me first say I agree call Malibu they will be more than happy to assist you. with that said an exhaust pitch change can tell you a lot, how many hours are on the boat?

[TheBigHead]

@pmski i believe the boat has about 200 hours on it now, the overheating issue was from the first day, and the misfiring was at about 200 hours.

 

@Andre yeah i think as was previously suggested we are going to need the diagnosis cable/software. Others have stated the trouble codes should display if the are active or inactive, so we definitely are going to need to see for ourselves.

 

@DW thanks for the insight!

 

[Zman]

@TheBigHead

A pic and a couple screenshots for you.

The pic has the Malibu screen that shows the engine diagnostics. In this case, the code for engine coolant slightly high, "stage 1" on one side of the engine.

Then, a couple screenshots from the PCM Diagnostics Manual for this fault code.

Let me know if you need the diagnostics manual and can't find it with Google.

In my case the fix for this code was stopping the air intrusion into my raw water in-line filter screen housing. Sometime the SS mesh screen doesn't seat well into the upper housing and keeps the clear filter housing from seating the gasket when screwed on.

Good luck.

 

 

[TheBigHead]

@Zman that's the old screen, we do not have that on the 2019 txi, I'll see if we can get that info on our version.

[RAWSki]

I don't believe the Crusader 6L comes with a heat exchanger. In fact I am pretty sure PCM dropped that system on their 6L and went to traditional raw water in 2016. Not sure if it's still an extra cost option or if they made engineering adjustments so that that the heat exchange was unnecessary. We have one 14 6L with the exchanger and a 17 using RAW water. Same performance and running temps. But The 14 is WAY easier to winterize!

[LeonL]

I see that no one has responded with similar problems on the same model boat, so it may not be a known problem exactly. Malibu had its share of problems last year with insufficient power. It may be that you just have a one off problem and maybe a lemon. I'd be asking Malibu run a new one under it. If it was truly in an overheat situation that continued and not a sensor problem (as previously stated) you may have sustained irreparable damage.

[buechsr]

Big head,

 

Can you define "overheating issue"? What temp readings were you getting over 200 hours of use? Has anyone (as suggested herein) checked the tranny cooler, which is generally where debris and impeller bits collect?

[jhughes]

FWIW our 19 has been fantastic, one of my favorite boats. 155hrs, no problems.

[TheBigHead]

@LeonL you could be right, i only mentioned it seemed to be a known problem as i was warned about this last fall in regards to the 2018's and the new 2019's. I have had 2 other reports now one from regionals and one from Nat's regarding Malibu issues but nothing that is concrete that we could work off of. You are right its very possible that the original issue going unaddressed has caused further damage (thats our suspicion now) . If it turns out to be the case then this is straight dealer neglect as we raised this issue multiple times from the first day with the response being that there were no fault codes in the computer so it must be nothing :(

 

@buechsr the overheating issue was defined in my original post. Boat would run totally fine for multiple passes. Upon idling to pick up the next skier the temp would start climbing up, break past 200 degrees and then show the engine overheat warning and go into limp mode. Again this didn't happen every time, but the check engine light would come on regardless of it overheating or not.

 

@jhughes im super happy for you, and i know there are other people without issue. We do love skiing behind the boat when it was working.

 

 

Im going to be calling Malibu today, will give you all an update afterwards.

 

 

[Chad_Scott]

Call Malibu. These issues are with the PCM 6 liter engine. Malibu will reach out or have someone from PCM work with you to solve.

[Andre]

There you go!

Dealer should have done this a long time ago.

[TheBigHead]

@Chad_Scott Thanks for the insight, I talked with Malibu and i think that is going to help, the person i am dealing with is very receptive to our issue and sounds like he genuinely feels our concerns. They are getting in touch with PCM and the dealer which will hopefully get some solutions. Ive had enough reports now from others to personally believe this is a known issue with the 6L PCM.

 

I was pretty bummed to find out the dealer didn't look into the issue originally and after three weeks of being down they hadn't contacted Malibu at all, especially since PCM hadn't been returning their calls according to them.

 

There were engine codes showing misfires from when we originally took delivery and they have now found some kinked hosing that could have been the cause of the overheating. Things that could have been found and solved the first times we alerted the dealer and when it was at the shop.

 

The tech was great and very helpful, tech believes that the misfiring is the original sign of the issue even though at the time we weren't noticing power loss.

 

The manager(who i think is an owner)... not so much. After purchasing a boat from this dealer every year for a long time now I cant believe the attitude I received.

 

I tend to give everyone the benefit of the doubt, so I'm going to stay positive that they will get this sorted out quickly now that Malibu is involved. I'm trying to be very careful as I personally just took up the mantle on this issue so it is only the second time i have been directly in contact with the dealer, i don't want to rush to any conclusions based on second hand knowledge/frustrations.

[JaredSmith]

@TheBigHead is sounds like your issue is NOT the more common know issue with the 6.0 PCM in the Malibu Response, the know issue is the Intake Air Temperature (IAT) tends to warm to the point where the ECM impedes the engine timing leading to power loss. This know issue (not a issue on all 2017-2019 Response's) has not been addresses by Malibu or PCM since the new Response came out in 2017!

[OscawanaSkier]

@JaredSmith, not sure if you’re suffering with the IAT issue, or just in the know, but after much testing I’ve solved that issue on my 2018 TXi. If you (or anyone else) need info on what worked for me, message me and I’ll try to pull together the details.

[JaredSmith]

@OscawanaSkier I'm sure several on this forum including me would love to hear how you solved the IAT issue.

[UWSkier]

I hear there's a fix available for the IAT issue if you have that. This problem doesn't sound like that problem.

[OscawanaSkier]

Ok...I'll pull together some photos and my shopping list and post new a new topic so as not to hijack this thread (@UWSkier is right, they are NOT the same issues as the OP).