38' 2007 Sundancer

M

MHillman

New Member
Jun 14, 2009
10
Arizona
Boat Info
44 Sundancer 06'
Engines
Mercrusiser
I have a 2007 Sundancer and one issue they are having trouble fixing is that when I am underway my gauges will reset and then go back to where theyr were about every 40 minutes. I have a Raymarine system in the boat that is connected to the smartcraft system. They disconnected the raymarine from the smartcraft and still cound not find it but limited it to the raymarine syatem. Anyone have any ideas:huh:
 
I have a 2006 340 SDA and I think I have the same problem. What happens on my boat is that all my analog guages will just drop to "0" and then go back to where they should be when I am running. The smartcraft digital readout never changes nor does the boats operation. It just looks like the guages reset for no apprent reason. I have talked with service and there were 3 boats at Colony Marine who presently have that problem. They say that if you transplant the input cables on your smartcraft it gets rid of the problem. I have not tried that yet as I want service to continue to handle this problem as I want it fixed under warranty. This issue has been going on for 3 years and it is very intermittent and I havent been able to get them to fix it. It doesn't seem to hurt the boat but it is strange and it is just one more thing to worry about. I would prefer to have it fixed and if someone out there has an idea I am all ears.
 
I think you should ask the new member Happy Times....I'll bet he has the answer.
 
I don't know if this helps, but when I took delivery, my guages went to zero and never came back until I pulled the blade type fuse on the battery terminal, left it out for 60 seconds, and reset the system. I was back online, but had erratic readings on my guages, requiring a software upgrade done by the Mercruiser technician. It was beyond the capabilities of the Sea Ray service dept. I have not had a problem with it since.
 
When you say you pulled the blade type fuse on the battery terminal, was the fuse specific for the guages or what?
 
I have captained enough of these Sea Rays since 2001 to have seen this many times on all smartcraft equipped boats, both gas and diesel. By measuring the alternator output I was able to trace the problem to fluctuating battery voltage on three different boats. It seems to be a combination of "tired" batteries and sudden voltage loads from elsewhere on the boat causing a sudden drop in voltage and the batteries and alternators are not able to sustain a constant predictable voltage for the ecm. The alternators were actually outputting about 55 amps per engine at cruise speed (first sign of tired batteries) which is close to their rated max output. There was no need for such high output from the alternators since there was no load from any other dc appliances besides the fridge/freezer and minimal electronics (maybe 15 amps total). On two of the boats the problem was very severe (gauges resetting every 5 minutes) and when we installed new batteries the problem went away on both boats.
Another place to look is the harness connection that is mounted on the engine. They are notorious for working themselves loose or slightly separating due to extreme heat changes in the engine room and sometimes causing the engine to not start at all or causing the engine to go into limp mode because it cannot confirm diagnostic circuits. This connection should be taken apart every two years and have dielectric grease applied to the contacts.

Hope this helps.
 
eauty said:
When you say you pulled the blade type fuse on the battery terminal, was the fuse specific for the guages or what?
Click to expand...

It was specific to the Smartcraft. I have Smartcraft Vessel View. There is an inline fuse on the positive terminal of one of the batteries that goes directly to the Smartcraft guages. Pull it out and the ECM is reset.
 
I have the same boat and same problem. I too am having the dealer look into it again this year, but they didn't find the cause when they tried last year. I wonder about the battery weakness noted above since it has done the drop to zero and back from when it was purchased.
 
If it could be battery, it could be battery connections. Make sure they are clean and secure. Also make sure the batteries have water if appropriate. This might save you a trip or some cash.
 
I have had the boat stored with the dealer now for two winters, indoor cold where they pull the batteries for the winter and service them. Both seasons I have run the boat I have had the gage problem, so I'm thinking it would not be a connection or battery issue. They have been trying to solve it over the winter storage twice now, maybe the third time is the charm. I'm working on getting them to pick up the charge since it was an issue on the original warranty punch list.
 
Bluebelly,
What you say is interesting as I replaced all of my batteries at the beginning of this season and the problems essentially went away. Unfortunately at the end of the season when warming the engines to change the oil, the guages did their reset while the boat was just idiling. The weird thing is the smartcraft digital values never change nor does the operation of the boat. It just looks like the ignition switch gets turned off and then back on or better yet the statter switch is engaged and all the analog guages go to "0" then restore to running mode. I'm just afraid one time they won't come back. Thanks for your input
 
version 3.0 and 3.5 smartcraft had some issues with the incorrect harness at the junction box to smartguage. check your mercury dealer for proper installation from factory.
Some times the manufacturer of the boat uses old harness assy. on hand but puts in a slightly newer engine that requires more GROUND.

Battery voltage is a huge factor too anything below 11.5 volts. But that generaly affects the smartguage as well since the link guages get there info from the smartguage. but since it is on both port and stbd I would ASSume it is the software. Hope your still in warranty! :smt021
 
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Just talked to the mechanic at Skipper Buds. He said batteries have only 650 amp cold cranking and minimum recommended by Mercruiser is 750 amp, 1000 preferred. SeaRay says this is voltage issue with gages and reset drop should cease.

I'm getting new batteries since we are starting year 4, but the under amp batteries are the ones when the boat was delivered from SeaRay, unless Skipper Bud changed them out.
 
I hate to keep reviving this thread, but Skipper Bud is out of ideas on how to fix the issue. Has anyone isolated the cause and fix or have any new ideas? It just always takes your breath away for a second when they reset. I did email SeaRay to see if they have a solution but have not heard back as of yet.
 
After having the service writer at the dealer refer me to Mercury Marine and Mercury refering me back to dealer, the mechanic called Mercrusier again and supposedly these kits will fix the problem. About $50 per engine plus labor.

Thank you for contacting MerCruiser.

The MerCruiser Consumer Service Department does not function as a diagnostic or technical service department. We refer our consumers back to the dealership as they are in the best position to trouble shoot problems.

I did see that Skipper Bud's contacted our technical support personnel on 6-23-10 about the problem with your gauges. They were instructed to install a reset module to prevent voltage loss. Please contact Skipper Bud's to have this issue resolved.

If you have any other questions or concerns please feel free to contact MerCruiser Customer Service.



Best regards,

Jo-Ann Lawson
Consumer Service Specialist
MerCruiser Customer Service
 
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