EVINRUDE DIAGNOSTICS VERSION 5

A GUIDE TO GETTING STARTED

September 2021

INTRODUCTION

This guide is primarily intended to help Evinrude E-TEC owners.

The words, CONNECT, CONNECTED, CONNECTION and CONNECTING when used in this
guide mean the electrical connection of the Evinrude Diagnostics Program to the EMM.
The symbol -> means navigate to / select.
The Evinrude Diagnostics Program communicates with the Engine Control Unit (ECU) of
Evinrude Fitch, D.I. back to 1997 and the Engine Management Module (EMM) of Evinrude
E-TEC G1 (Legacy) engines and is used for retrieving engine diagnostic information, setting
engine operating parameters, performing engine maintenance and obtaining engine history
reports.
As the Help Section of Evinrude Diagnostics Version 5 is an integral part of Evinrude
Diagnostics Version 5 software it cannot be accessed without first installing the Evinrude
Diagnostics program.
This Guide To Getting Started is intended to help potential users of Evinrude Diagnostics by
providing information on setting up Evinrude Diagnostics before installing it.
Evinrude Diagnostic Version 5 Kits are available from Evinrude Dealers and online retailers.
Apart from the quality of the copy of the Evinrude Diagnostics software the main areas of
concern with online retailers are the quality of the connection cable and chipset used in the
Serial Port Adaptor.
The Serial Port Adaptor is usually hard wired into the connection cable of the kits available
online.
Evinrude recommends Serial Port Adaptors with an FTDI chipset.
Evinrude Diagnostics Version 5.9.0.0 which should also include the latest Engine Maps is the
most recent version available to consumers.
Evinrude Diagnostics Version 5 is backwards compatible. This means it will work with all the
models listed below.
EVINRUDE E-TEC. G1 (Legacy)
15HO, 25HP, 30HP, 40HP, 50HP, 55HP, 60HP, 65HP, 75HP, 90HP, 115HP, 130HP, 150HP,
175HP, 200HP, 225HP, 250HP, 300HP.
FICHT.
75HP, 90HP, 115HP, 135HP, 150HP, 175HP, 200HP, 225HP, 250HP.
DI.
100HP, 115HP, 135HP, 150HP, 175HP, 200HP, 225HP, 250HP.

TOPICS BY ORDER
1.Purchase Evinrude Diagnostics
2.Hardware and Software Requirements
 3.Using Help
4.Getting Started
5.Outline - RS -232 Serial Port Adaptor, Connection Cable
6.Application Starting
7.Initial Setup
8.Update Evinrude Diagnostics - Notes
9.Software Registration - Requirements - Edit Details
10.Communications Setup - Comms port
11.GUI Effects Setup - Customise appearance
12.CONNECTING Evinrude Diagnostics
12a. E-TEC 15HO-30HP Tiller Steer - Has12 V battery
12b. E-TEC 15HO-30HP Tiller Steer - Has No 12 V battery
12c.Video - Has no 12V battery - Power On the EMM
13.EMM CONNECTION / DISCONNECTION
14.Set USB Serial Device (FTDI chipset)
15.EMM CONNECTION Warnings
16.Application Closing and Disconnecting
_______________________________________________________

1.PURCHASE EVINRUDE DIAGNOSTICS VERSION 5


From an Evinrude Dealer.
Support the business that pays the bills to make this site https://www.etecownersgroup.com
available at no charge.
Barnacle Bills Marine
4584 Route 47 Delmont NJ 08314 USA
Parts call (856) 785 9455
Have your model number ready
Evinrude Customer Service call (844) 345 4277
Have your model and serial number ready
Barnacle Bills Online Store
https://www.bbmarinesupply.com/

From an online retailer

There are many online retailers of Evinrude Diagnostics Version 5 for the G1 (Legacy) E-TEC
The online retailers of Evinrude Diagnostics Version 5 listed below have proven to be reliable,
sell a good quality product and have good customer support.

https://matthewnavis.com/
They supply their V5 diagnostic kit with the software on a USB memory stick as most computers
/ laptops don’t have a disc drive.
They also have an eBay store but purchases made direct from their website (above) may be
cheaper.
https://www.ebay.com/str/europecarsbodyparts
PowerSports A long time retailer of BRP / Evinrude Diagnostic Kits. They supply their Evinrude
V5 diagnostic kits with the software on a disc but when their V5 kit is purchased they supply
login information to access their Customer Support Area from where the software may be
downloaded.
https://www.powersports-diag.com/en/evinrude-diagnostic-kits/6-evinrude-diagnostic-kit-evdiag.
html

While most online retailers accept responsibility for their product’s quality they can’t accept
responsibility for the users lack of computer skills when installing and using Evinrude
Diagnostics.
—————————————————————————————

2.Hardware and Software Requirements

Navigation. Main Menu -> Help -> Contents -> Introduction -> Hardware and Software
Requirements.
Notes
Since Evinrude published these Hardware and Software Requirements, Microsoft has released
Windows 10.
Evinrude Diagnostics Version 5 will run on Windows 10.
Evinrude Diagnostics Version 5 requires very little System resources
Evinrude Diagnostics Version 4 is an earlier version of Evinrude Diagnostics which will work with
Evinrude Fitch, D.I. and Evinrude E-TEC up to Model Year 2012. Evinrude Diagnostics V5 is
required for E-TEC G1 Model Year 2012 and later.
Refer Version 5 backwards compatibility in INTRODUCTION.
Compatibility Mode

Notes. Do not run Evinrude Diagnostics in Compatibility Mode.

3.Using Help
Navigation. Main Menu -> Help -> Contents.
Help may also be searched by Topic.
Navigation. Main Menu -> Help -> Contents -> Search -> Type in keyword -> List Topics ->
Select Topic to Display -> Display
4.Getting Started
Navigation. Main Menu -> Getting Started -> Outline
5.Outline
Getting Started will help the user perform basic program startup, connecting,
disconnection and shutdown
Notes.
Using a jumper wire as described in 12a and using a 12 Volt battery as described in 12b
eliminates the need for the harness with “cigarette type adapter,” and DC adapter as described
in the Outline.
With reference to RS-232 Serial Port in Operational Notes above, most computers, usually
laptops, do not have a Serial Port and will require a Serial Port Adaptor to CONNECT Evinrude
Diagnostics. Most Evinrude Diagnostics Version 5 Kits bought from online retailers have a
connection cable with the RS-232 Serial Port Adaptor built into the CONNECTION cable
i.e.hardwired and there is no need to purchase a Serial Port Adaptor.
The Device Drivers for the RS-232 Serial Port Adaptor, where it is built into the connection
cable, are usually installed automatically when installing Evinrude Diagnostics.
Brief installation instructions for a USB to RS-232 Serial Adapter
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hDLTK6E0uJC7K8ND5h62Q2oyyTe0UVik/view?usp=drivesdk
Those who obtains Evinrude Diagnostics V5 as software only will need an RS-232 Serial Port
Adaptor and Evinrude’s Interface CONNECTION Cable # 0437955.
Alternatively a user could make the CONNECTION cable.
A guide to making the CONNECTION cable
https://continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum6/HTML/002257.html
Evinrude recommends the StarTech RS-232 (FTDI chipset) Serial Port Adaptor. It’s Device
Drivers will either be on a disc included with the Serial Port Adaptor or available as a download
from the manufacturer’s website.
Further information. Update Driver and Set Comms Port
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hgIRvcICWJ2uLawGPlgMpxxFI3Uic0gk/view?usp=drivesdk

6. Application Starting
The order in which the Application is started

Auto files backup

Navigation Main Menu -> Tools -> Options -> Application -> Auto Files Backup. Select when
Backup happens
Depending on the Backup Files setting selected, an Engine History Report will be automatically
generated and saved to the Exports folder when Evinrude Diagnostics is CONNECTED to the
engine.
Email or print an engine History Report
Navigation Main Menu -> View -> Exports -> Select File ->
Right Click-> Share -> Select Email / Print option

Notes The engine History Report file is a PDF and it’s file identification number is a combination
of the engine’s serial number and the date the Report was generated. If more than one Report is
generated on the day then it will also be numbered. e.g.(3).pdf
Example History Report I_5381552_272018 (3).pdf
5381552 - engine Serial Number
272018 - date, Month/Day/Year format, 7th February 2018
(3) - 3rd Report on the day
.pdf - Portable Document Format

Select the Confirm Close option to prevent accidental Close.

Notes Fuel Injector Data Hand Scanner (e.g. Data Matrix Code Scan App on a smartphone)
must be selected to replace Fuel Injector Coefficients using a scanner or App.

Automatically Save “Engine Data File” (EDF)

Navigation Main Menu -> Tools -> Options -> Reports -> Engine CONNECTION ->
Automatically save EDF
An EDF is normally saved every time Evinrude Diagnostics CONNECTS to the engine.
Notes Engine Data Files (EDF) are used to aid in EMM Recovery or Replacement. The EDF is
the equivalent of your computer’s backup files. If the EMM ever fails and requires
reprogramming or replacing, the information contained in the EDF, i.e. the EMM’s backup, is
critical in the process of restoring or replacing of the EMM.

7.Initial Setup
Ignore this BOSSWEB dialog box below. As a user without access to the BRP Evinrude Dealer
site BOSSWEB the user will not get updates nor will they be able to update the software
without installing a later version of Evinrude Diagnostics.
See 8 Update Notes
The user will still get update prompts but they can be ignored.
8.Update Evinrude Diagnostics
As a retail consumer the user can only update Evinrude Diagnostics by obtaining and installing
a later version.
Version 5.9.0.0 is the latest available to consumers.
However if a user purchased an earlier version of Evinrude Diagnostics e.g. V5.7.6.3 from an
Evinrude Dealer, possibly the Dealer may update it.
Where a later version is to be installed on a computer already running an earlier version don’t
uninstall the earlier version as while the later version will delete it, all the Evinrude Diagnostic’s
settings and details, ie. engine details, History Reports, EDF, Comms Port, Settings, Faults etc
will be saved to the newer version.
The existing earlier version does not have to be running when a later version is installed.

Update Check Overdue

As explained above, ignore the update prompts.
Notes. Annoying as this may be, the user cannot stop the 30 day interval notification from
appearing but the over 30 days notification
can be stopped by checking the box “do not show this message again”

9.Software Registration
Navigation Main Menu-> Information -> Register Software.
Or Main Menu -> Help -> Contents -> Windows, Forms, Frames and Dialogs -> Information->
Register Software
Figure 1
Notes Refer Figure 1. Australian Postal / Zip Codes have four digits e.g. 2439. To make it five
digits, 02439, put in 0.
Evinrude Diagnostics will not Register with a four digit Post Code.
Aborting on initial registration will close the application.
The user need not be concerned that the Registration information will be reported back to BRP /
Evinrude as it will not be.
Registration information is only used for identification purposes on reports.
Registration information is shown on the engine’s History Reports. The Registration, if filled in
truthfully, will assist with identifying the engine when it is being serviced / repaired. Also if the
user wants to sell the outboard, a History Report with truthful user's details on it, would be a
handy “selling tool.”

Registration Requirements
Software registration is required to run Evinrude Diagnostics
Evinrude Diagnostics will not work if registration is not completed.
Number; Use any six digits e.g. 000000
Zip Code; Use a minimum of five digits e.g. 12345
Figure 2

Edit Registration Details

View or change the Registration details.
Navigation. Main menu -> Information -> Register Software.
Edit details in the Software Registration dialog box -> OK to save.

10.Communications Setup
Notes.
When a connection cable with the Serial Port Adaptor built in, or an individual Serial Port
Adaptor is connected to a USB port on your PC
(Doesn’t need to be connected to the engine) prior to installing Evinrude Diagnostics then when
installing Evinrude Diagnostics the Comm’s Port will be selected and allocated as part of the
installation of Evinrude Diagnostics.This will save time later with having to manually set the
Comms Port if after installing Evinrude Diagnostics it “Auto Runs”.
If, without having first plugged the Serial Port Adaptor into the
computer, after installing Evinrude Diagnostics it Auto Runs(or when it is next run) a Dialogue
Box will appear advising “no Comm Port found.” If the user then clicks on Continue another
dialog box will appear advising “No Comm Port Allocated” (words to that effect) then just click on
“Continue”. This is mentioned only because if it happens it is something that can be confusing.
Running Evinrude Diagnostics once in Administration Mode with the Serial Port Adaptor, or
cable with inbuilt Serial Port Adaptor, plugged into the computer will set the correct baud
(communication) rate and allocate the USB Comms port.
Once the Comms Port has been set any USB Port on the computer may be used to CONNECT
Evinrude Diagnostics but if a USB port that hasn’t already been allocated is used to CONNECT
Evinrude Diagnostics then the user will have to allocate that USB port.
See 13. ECU / EMM CONNECTION / DISCONNECTION

Figure 2.
Notes.
Figure 2. Evinrude Diagnostics Version 4 is an earlier version of Evinrude Diagnostics which
works with Evinrude Fitch, D.I. and with Evinrude E-TEC up to Year Model 2012. Evinrude
Diagnostics V5 is required for E-TEC G1 Year Model 2012 and later. See Version 5 backwards
compatibility in INTRODUCTION.

11.GUI Effects Setup

Customise the appearance of Evinrude Diagnostics.
By using “Skins” the user may customise the appearance of Evinrude Diagnostics on their
computer screen. There are many Skins to choose from and each Skin’s appearance may be
further customised by changing the Hue Offset and Saturation.
Skins are a very useful way of pre-setting the computer’s screen display to allow for different
light levels and once a Skin has been set up it can be saved and selected later as required.

Select and customise a skin.

Navigation. Main menu -> File -> Select Skin

Notes See Skin Hue Offset and Saturation Panel where Hue Offset and Saturation may be
adjusted.
Navigation. Main Menu -> Tools -> Skin Hue Offset and Saturation
12.CONNECTING EVINRUDE DIAGNOSTICS.
Evinrude Diagnostics Version 5 will CONNECT at key ON to the EMM of all E-TEC G1
outboards that have an Off/On/Start Key Switch.
The EMM must be powered ON to CONNECT Evinrude Diagnostics.
When the engine is running it generates the power to power ON the EMM which allows
Evinrude Diagnostics to CONNECT.
When an engine with an OFF/ON/START key switch is not running, turning the key ON will
supply battery power to power ON the EMM.
However the E-TEC 15HO-30HP Tiller Steer Models do not have an OFF/ON/START Key
Switch so when the engine is not running the EMM requires another source of power to allow
Evinrude Diagnostics to CONNECT.
12a.Power ON the EMM. E-TEC 15HO-30HP Tiller Steer Electric Start Models (with 12 Volt
battery)
Connecting a jumper wire to pin 5, red / violet strip wire and pin 4 violet wire, of the 6 pin
Deutsch connector (Figure 4 below) will power ON the EMM to allow CONNECTION of Evinrude
Diagnostics.
This eliminates the need to run the engine.
Note. A workshop alternative to using a jumper wire.
Evinrude Key Switch #5005800
Key Switch Cable Assembly #0586262

When the EMM is powered ON (engine not running, lanyard in place and not in gear) these two
LEDs will light up.
Figure 3

The six pin Deutsch connector has a dust cover (blank plug, no internal wedge or pins), with six
white blanking plugs in the back.
Figure 4. The connector is located about opposite the throttle cam. Remove the dust cover and
insert the jumper wire into pin 5 red/violet stripe wire and pin 4 violet wire. This will power ON
the EMM.
The pin numbers which are very small are moulded into the back edge of the 6 pin Deutsch
connector.
Figure 4 Jumper wire connecting pins 5 and 4.

12b.Power ON the EMM of E-TEC 15HO-30HP Tiller Steer Pull Start Models (without 12
Volt battery)
Connecting a 12 Volt battery, Positive + to pin 4 violet wire and Negative - to pin 3 black wire
of the 6 pin Deutsch plug (the connector shown above in Figure 4) will power ON the EMM to
allow CONNECTION of Evinrude Diagnostics.
As above in Figure 3 (engine not running, lanyard in place and not in gear) when the EMM is
powered ON those two LEDs will light up.
12c.VIDEO - Connecting a 12 Volt battery to supply power to the EMM and allow
CONNECTION of Evinrude Diagnostics.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XN53m2fL-BY

13.ECU / EMM CONNECTION and DISCONNECTION

Screenshot below. See Run as Administrator to set the correct baud / communication rate.
Also see 14. Set USB Serial Device. FTDI chipset
If after installing Evinrude Diagnostics a USB port, that has not already been used to CONNECT
Evinrude Diagnostics is used, when the user clicks on CONNECT a dialogue box will appear
advising the user that that USB port has now been allocated for use and to click on Continue to
proceed with CONNECT.
If a USB port previously used to CONNECT Evinrude Diagnostics is used i.e. a USB port that
has already been allocated, the user will not be shown the (Figure 2) dialogue box again.
While it may be convenient to always use the same port it is not essential but as above, if a port
is used that hasn’t already been allocated then that dialogue box appears and the user has to
confirm it’s allocation by clicking on “Continue.”
When Evinrude Diagnostics won’t CONNECT the user will always be shown a dialogue box
advising that it can‘t CONNECT with also a list of possible reasons why (not). e.g. Key not on,
cable not connected.

(Figure 2 is the Dialog box above)

Note.In this screenshot above the reference to “Figure 1” is a typo.
The reference is to “Figure 2”

14.Set USB Serial Device (FTDI chipset)

The USB Serial Port Adaptor and especially it’s Device Drivers are where most users have
problems with CONNECTING Evinrude Diagnostics. See Device Drivers in Topic 5 Notes.
Evinrude Diagnostics Help contains more information on this subject.
Navigation. Main Menu -> Help -> Contents -> FAQ -> RS-232 Serial Adaptors and
-> Set USB Serial Device (FTDI Chipset)
15.EMM CONNECTION Warning
Examples.
USB SERIAL DEVICE ERROR
NO CONNECTION CAN BE ESTABLISHED

BOOTSTRAP TOOL CONNECTOR WARNING

********This needs to be done

**************
This below needs work re disconnect button.
16.APPLICATION CLOSING AND DISCONNECT
1 Close Evinrude Diagnostics on your computer.
The CLOSE CONFIRMATION. Also see 6.Application Starting
Confirm Close.This is optional but does help prevent accidental
CLOSE.
2 Turn the engine’s key to OFF / Disconnect power from the EMM
3 Disconnect the Evinrude Diagnostic’s connection cable

CLOSE CONFIRMATION
After completing the installation of Evinrude Diagnostics the user is encouraged to read through
the Help section. This should give the user a good understanding of how to correctly set up and
use Evinrude Diagnostics. Many of the service and repair procedures in the Service and Repair
Manual require the competent use of Evinrude Diagnostics.

END