first ride in new boat. List of issues

[sptjet90Reflexx]

Some of you may know I was looking at a 2004 Sea ray Select recently. I picked it up yesterday after they fixed the water not pumping and drive lube leaking issues.

Put 2 brand new batteries in and hooked up muffs. Started boat on trailer no issues. Voltage showing 13.2v, oil pressure, and all other sensors good.

This boat is equipped with smart craft gauges. and the Tach is the sensor display.

Engine: 496 Mercruiser Drive: Bravo I

Issues:
1. speedometer not working - Pitiot Fault error

2. Trim on digital smartcraft gauge shows 0.0 and doesnt change.

3. Separate needle gauge for trim also does not move.

4. After 2 passes on the lake and some light choppy water the battery voltage alarm goes off and engine guardian forces me to reduce speed. The voltage when the alarm sounds says over 17v. Not only is the digital volt gauge showing this but the needle volt gauge also pins at 18 and drops to a normal 13.2 when I get back to idle and alarm stops.

Lets start with that.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: first ride in new boat. List of issues

batteries not connected to the alt or alt regulator is bad.

 

[tinkerguy70]

Re: first ride in new boat. List of issues

^^^ I'd go with Bt Doctur on this one. ^^^

 

[sptjet90Reflexx]

Re: first ride in new boat. List of issues

why would the voltage go up to 17+ volts if the alternator was not connected to the batteries? Also I tested with the battery cut off switch set for batt 1, then batt 2 and on Both it made no change.

I will google how to test alternator regulators.

 

[tinkerguy70]

Re: first ride in new boat. List of issues

If an alternator doesn't sense any voltage, it can go up as high as 60 volts on the output side.
One of the three wires on the alternator is a sensing wire, it tells the alternator the state of charge of the battery, which then is compensated by the voltage regulator in the alternator. If it is sensing low, or no voltage, the alternator will increase the voltage to the battery.

If I where you, I would start by checking/cleaning the battery terminals and work your way back along the charging system to the alternator. If you don't find anything there, use a separate voltmeter and find out what the voltage is at the battery when the engine is running. If it is actually 17+v, then you know you have a problem with the alternator.

 

[sptjet90Reflexx]

Re: first ride in new boat. List of issues

What are the chances (if the voltage gauge was accurate) that the 17+/- volts damaged anything?

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: first ride in new boat. List of issues

If you switched the battery selector switch while the motor was running and is was not a "MAKE-BEFORE-BREAK" you most likely blew the alt diodes.
Without "seeing" a source of 12V the alt just runs wild.

 

[sptjet90Reflexx]

Re: first ride in new boat. List of issues

Alright well the sensors were not lying. My volt meter shows over 15v on idle. I need to find where the sensor wire from the alternator goes to. I can see the wires from the Alt but they are not accessible.

 

[sptjet90Reflexx]

Re: first ride in new boat. List of issues

Trim sender is working again.. not sure why but it is.

I fixed the Pitiot fault. On the sensor i pulled the plug and 1 of the wires was not pushed in enough to make contact. I repaired the connection and the smartcraft gauge no longer reads a fault.

 

[sptjet90Reflexx]

Re: first ride in new boat. List of issues

Does anyone know where the alternator sensor wire should be connected to?

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: first ride in new boat. List of issues

Check in here ,Basically the purple is wired to the ign on circuit, and red/purple wire to a fixed source ,where circuit breaker and slave solenoid get there power.
http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Servmanl/16/16F4R2.PDF

 

[sptjet90Reflexx]

Re: first ride in new boat. List of issues

Purple and pink go to a plug on the alternator Then the large Orange and ground.

 

[sptjet90Reflexx]

Re: first ride in new boat. List of issues

Alright well I guess the internal regulator on the alternator is shot. Just going to take it to the shop and file a warranty claim.

 

[sptjet90Reflexx]

Re: first ride in new boat. List of issues

only took about 15 minutes to pull the alternator out. Found a local rebuild shop in town who confirmed the regulator was shot. Also the bearings were bad as well. 55.00 to rebuilt it. YOU BET!

 

[airshot]

Re: first ride in new boat. List of issues

Wow you got a good buy on an alternator rebuild. Because it is a boat and around the water most of its life, take the time to clean "all" your electrical connections, I even go as far as to add a dab of silicone grease to the connections to stop corrosion or at least slow it down.
You might be surprised how many things will work and work correctly once the connections are clean.

 

[sptjet90Reflexx]

Re: first ride in new boat. List of issues

Alright.. Alternator in the boat and went for a ride. Not getting over 12 volts no matter what engine speed. Holds around 11.4-11.8v according to the on-board computer. However when I put my volt meter to the batteries I get around 12.5v. Still to low...

Starter also went out on me last night and I had to drift to the nearest dock and tie up for the night. Thankfully it was a neighbors dock.

Going to take her to the shop and use that warranty to fix the starter. Also might have them just slap in a brand new merc alternator as long as it is covered..