ZO compatibility question to engine.

[Wish]

So I have a friend looking for a boat. He's settled in on SN 196 2002-2009 with ZO conversion if needed. What seems to be confusing is what is and how are these boats converted to ZO. Some Excalibur's need ECMs changed out to do it. Some don't is my understanding. Then throw in the 6L 409s...clueless

 

My limited understanding with an Excalibur SN boat

 

2002-2006-07 needs ZO and ECM change needed; $4000ish (Excal 330). Gateway box???

2008-2009 needs ZO but no ECM change needed; $2000ish (Excal 343). Reflash ???

 

No understanding if the boat has a 6L but not ZO for any year.

 

@Jody_Seal ?

[thager]

2002 needs an ECM change. Is part of ZO conversion. I think you are thinking of gateway. 2002 is wired system only. No gateway needed. 2003-2006-07 you need new gateway box.(ECM not sure on 03 but believe 06-07 can be reflashed.

[Wish]

Will change. Thanks

[Wish]

Control box ? ....well that’s prob what I was thinkn of then.

 

And reflashing ?

 

Well those put a new confusing twist on things. ?

[markn]

When my 196 limited was converted, there was increased cost due to changing out the gateway. Jody told me if it had been the "ski version" with key ignition, no gateway conversion required. Think the list price of the gateway wa about $1000.00

[markn]

Forgot to mention my 196 is a 2004 limited.

[UWSkier]

Isn't there more to it on the older boats than just an ECM change since they also need to be converted to electronic throttle rather than cable? Or was that just the pre-07 Indmars in the MC and Malibus?

[TEL]

@UWSkier my 08 196 with ZO has a cable

[swc5150]

'08-'09 Ex343 should be plug and play.

[markn]

Yes, on my 2004, a DBW E-control conversion was required.

[Blake5982]

I just went through this recently while boat shopping. I ended up buying a 2007 Nautique 206 with the Excalibur 330, keyed iginition and installing Zero Off. I needed the Zero Off kit (obviously), a few extra cables from Zero Off (discovered half way through the process...CAN bus extension cable and the Power Extension cable), then an ECU reflash (discovered after trial and error). All in ended up costing $2k+.

 

I believe the general guidelines in Post 1 are mostly correct. A few nuiances I learned along the way:

 

- For me, it was better to have the "base" model (keyed ignition) versus the LE or Team with the touch pad. A few less part needed. Also, non-ZO related, but I sought out a keyed ignition for maintenance concerns down the road.

- As I understand, you need an E Controls ECU. 2008+ have this. Some 2007s do. Mine did, fortunately, so no ECU swap required.

- My ECU did, however, require a re-flash. Which simply involved mailing it to PCM and waiting a week. I'm told this is because my 2007 was early in the production run.

 

Now, the ZO is working flawlessly and I'm loving the 206.

[UWSkier]

@TEL one cable only presumably for the transmission. ZO requires throttle by wire but doesn't care if it's electronic or mechanical shifting.

[thager]

@TEL As @UWSkier said. You do not have to change throttle control unit to throttle by wire. Standard old style throttle control works. Throttle by wire is activated on the engine by a special electronic box that reads what standard old style throttle wants and electronically tells the engine. Gear selection continues as normal.

[TEL]

Well that’s odd I have two cables one to the transmission and one to the throttle position sensor so does the 2012 200 sitting on my left right now

[UWSkier]

Interesting that Nautique/PCM stuck with cable to a potentiometer on the engine. I thought they all went the way of MC and Malibu with pure electronic throttles.

[Wish]

It’s in a 2003 196 Limited. Owner says 330hp but not sure on it being an Excalibur. Is it? Can it be converted to ZO?

 

[Sethro]

I think that’s the Excalibur without the plastic shroud.