2016 Mercruiser 6.2 ECT - long beep every few minutes???

[nola mike]

You get full range on vinyl. They remix digital to clip the highs and lows because blue tooth can't handle full range audio.

Long live vinyl and tube amps

They clip vinyl as well. Grooves can't handle full spectrum.

 

[tpenfield]

Doesn't the trim sender just change resitance as it moves i dont think there is voltage on it , or is it a different setup on these fly by wire newer boats?

As mentioned, it is the new (digital) 3 wire sender. I'm not sure exactly how they work vs. the analog style, but it seems that the 5 volts from the PCM power is brought to the sender as a reference and can be dragged down if the sender fails.

As for the vinyl (records) I still have some. Dynamic range and signal/noise ratio was the thing back in the day (college). In those days I messed around with audio stuff, trying to have the 'best' sounding stereo system among 'us' (which I did). Dynamic range compression of recordings was done to 'fit' the music into what the media (vinyl, tape) could handle; 50-60 dB was considered pretty good, IIRC. As a remedy, I built my own speakers and got me one of these . . .
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It did a pretty good job of expanding the compressed recordings of the day (vinyl, tape, etc).

Our digital audio world, although better, still has some limitations as mentioned. Anyway, I digress.

I have some ideas on how to remedy the inevitable failure of these trim senders (be they analog or digital). Probably something to work out during the off season. For now, I have been adjusting the trim by feel, and since the Port sender still works, I have an idea of the trim/tilt position, as long as I move the outdrives together.

 

[achris]

As mentioned, it is the new (digital) 3 wire sender. I'm not sure exactly how they work vs. the analog style, but it seems that the 5 volts from the PCM power is brought to the sender as a reference and can be dragged down if the sender fails.

Simple voltage divider. Put 5 volts on one end of the resistor, ground on the other, then pick up a voltage between 0 and 5 as the wiper runs up and down the resistor...

 

[achris]

Simple voltage divider. Put 5 volts on one end of the resistor, ground on the other, then pick up a voltage between 0 and 5 as the wiper runs up and down the resistor...

View attachment 365705

Just to expand on this. The old analogue gauge senders were just a (2 wire, gauge and ground) variable resistor, acting as a current controller. Most gauges just read current, they just happen to have 'Trim', or 'Oil Pressure', or 'Water Temp', or 'Fuel' written on them.

The reason for the 'change' is that ECUs like to have voltage inputs. They are basically crap at interpreting current inputs. So the change was made to 3 wire (voltage divider) senders.

Chris........

 

[tpenfield]

Simple voltage divider. Put 5 volts on one end of the resistor, ground on the other, then pick up a voltage between 0 and 5 as the wiper runs up and down the resistor...

View attachment 365705

Yes, that is what I figured. So if the sender gets full of water (salt water) it will drag the 5 volt reference down.

 

[achris]

Yes, that is what I figured. So if the sender gets full of water (salt water) it will drag the 5 volt reference down.

Yep, seawater's really good at that...

 

[tpenfield]

Since the 'digital' (3 wire) senders are about $150 each, and probably last only 3-5 years, I may re-rig the trim sending system to use mechanical bits for the under water part and electrical up inside the engine bay. I did something similar quite a few years ago with my old boat and the system never failed.

 

[nola mike]

Yep, seawater's really good at that...

So you get a faulty reading. Pcm sends out a separate 5v reference for each sensor (unless Merc is doing something "special"). Not seeing why that would impact the voltage in the rest of the system, or why the PCM thinks it's being supplied with a low battery/charging voltage.

 

[Lou C]

Since the 'digital' (3 wire) senders are about $150 each, and probably last only 3-5 years, I may re-rig the trim sending system to use mechanical bits for the under water part and electrical up inside the engine bay. I did something similar quite a few years ago with my old boat and the system never failed.

Interesting I thought of the same thing but never got past the just thinking part. With the old style sending units I found that they lasted anywhere from 2-7 years in salt water.

 

[achris]

So you get a faulty reading. Pcm sends out a separate 5v reference for each sensor (unless Merc is doing something "special"). Not seeing why that would impact the voltage in the rest of the system, or why the PCM thinks it's being supplied with a low battery/charging voltage.

Sensor 5v is common for all sensors. If one drags it down, it's down for all.

 

[tpenfield]

Well, my joy is short lived. The stupid thing now is upset that the trim sender is ‘missing’. I may get one and just plug it in to keep the thing happy.

Also getting a Critical voltage warning and a steering warning on that engine. It seems like that steering does not like going to full lock-2-lock.

I am going to find that buzzer though and teach it some manners

 

[muc]

A few random thoughts on these engines:

The trim sender can be important on these packages, suggest you repair it.

Don't disconnect the warning horn on these engines, it will open a whole new can of worms.

This engine has three 5v ref circuits. A, B and C trim sender is on circuit C. This allows C to have problems and not effect the more important A and B

Both the 2 wire and 3 wire senders use voltage to monitor them, the circuit in the PCM is slightly different. Manual PCM 112 Diagnostics P/N 90-8M0109714 has a very good explanation in the system theory section.

There is a software update in S.B. 2015-07R2 last revised July 2018
Axius Joystick Piloting for Sterndrive CCM and TVM Calibration Update
recommend having this update done if it hasn't already.

There have been some recent changes to Diacom. Suggest you call Rinda before ordering.

This started as a STBD Helm 1 voltage low problem. I don't use VesselView so I'm not sure, but I don't think that's a 5v C circuit warning.

Yes the new boats are getting very complicated, but a lot of that is due to customer demand. A large percentage of new boat buyers want things like joystick, skyhook and integrated helm. And I enjoy not getting CO poisoning and be able to jump off the swim platform and not go thru a slick of gas on the surface of the water. I look at it like I look at how tight engine compartments now are. Most buyer are more concerned with how much space there is for them and their passengers. So the manufactures have done a VERY good job of cramming all the systems into as small a space as possible. I learned a long time ago that it doesn't matter how well a boat is built or how easy it is to service ----- if nobody buys it!

 

[tpenfield]

Thanks @muc Definitely a learning process. Yes, I will fix the trim sender issue. Today the VesselView4 complained profusely . . . like a toddler on a hot day.

I am getting other warnings, which I am not certain if they are caused from the trim sender or yet another issue. I'll post the errors when I can.

 

[tpenfield]

Here are the warnings Du Jour . . .


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I would really like toi know what thew 'critical' low voltage is. Probably should clear up the trim sender issue first.

 

[Scott Danforth]

me munching on popcorn thinking that my neanderthal / troglodyte simple boat is easy to use.

 

[alldodge]

Same here
I'm still looking for another boat, but no way I want one with any kind of a joy stick

 

[Lou C]

My brother is telling me his 2020 Merc has the service engine soon light on. I don’t have a scanner for modern boats so it’s going to have to go to the dealer….

 

[tpenfield]

Yes, bring on the neanderthal engines. My MEFI-1 seemed like a cakewalk compared to these new-fangled engines.
I'll be getting the adapters I need for my Diacom and at least a new trim sender.

It would be so nice if the VesselView would just tell me a bit more about the 'Critical Voltage' thing. @muc , would a 'critical' warning be one that is affecting the 'A' or 'B' voltage sources vs. the 'C'?

 

[tpenfield]

Question for those following along . . . maybe @muc @Fun Times , etc. . . .

I believe my engines have the PCM 112 controller, but not sure. If not then they probably have the PCM 09 controller.

Anyway the Rinda diacom adapters are the same for either. 94029 ( at a $249 ransom ) and 94032 ( $69 designer priced )

I also ordered the 8M0095310 trim sender to make the trim connection happy. Since the 'digital' (well not really) senders sense voltage rather than current, I would imagine the ohms resistance of the variable resistor is a lot higher than the old school senders, which were around 0-170 ohms, IIRC.

Anyone know the resistance for sure?

 

[achris]

Usually a voltage divider type sender should be around 10k ohms. I've not measured one on a MerCruiser though. (Maybe something I should do)...