I recently purchased a 2011 204FS with 138 fresh water hours. Power is from a Volvo Penta 5.0GXi. Right before my purchase the boat was completely serviced and bellows were replaced by an authorized VP service center. On my first day boating the engine alarm sounded after about 10 minutes on the water. I was running about 3,000 rpm. Motor did not go into “safe mode” but both “engine status” lights illuminated. Temp & pressure gauges normal. Boat still running fine. All fluids fine. Put it in the buoy and had a cocktail.
Next day back on the boat and running with no issues for 30+ minutes. No alarm. No lights. Pulling back into the buoy field at 5 mph and the alarm sounds and engine status lights light up. Put it in the buoy and had a cocktail. Similar scenarios repeat for a few days - completely random alarm as far as I can tell and even a few runs with no alarm.
I love technology so I buy the VP Easy Connect to allow me to check diagnostic codes. Get the Easy Connect installed and run the boat today. Runs great. No engine alarms or lights. BUT - now I can compare the gauge information to that on the computer and I discover my tach is totally inaccurate. At idle the computer reads 600 and the tach is reading 1600. At 25mph the computer reads a respectable ~2300 and the tach displays 5-6,000. At 2900 on the computer the tach needle is pointing straight down - to around 8,000 I’d guess but it’s off the scale.
When I shut the boat off the tach needle sits at 800 (with all power off). Turn the key to the accessory position and the needle drops to 0. Start the motor and the needle jumps to 1600-1800 (while the computer indicates a correct 600).
So - after all of that here are my questions:
There are no diagnostic codes stored so any idea why I’m getting this seemingly random engine alarm and engine lights?
Could the alarm issue be related to a somehow faulty tach/speed sensor? Maybe an over-rev alarm - although the alarm at just above idle speed in the buoy field would likely rule that out.
And - any thoughts on what might be causing the tach issues?
I know previous owners and they claim never to have had these issues in the past - and they are willing to participate in any costs associated with necessary repairs so I don’t think they are trying to pull a fast one here.
Any thoughts, ideas, comments are GREATLY appreciated. I’m hours away from the servicing dealer and I don’t want to have to pull the boat and drive there if at all avoidable.
Next day back on the boat and running with no issues for 30+ minutes. No alarm. No lights. Pulling back into the buoy field at 5 mph and the alarm sounds and engine status lights light up. Put it in the buoy and had a cocktail. Similar scenarios repeat for a few days - completely random alarm as far as I can tell and even a few runs with no alarm.
I love technology so I buy the VP Easy Connect to allow me to check diagnostic codes. Get the Easy Connect installed and run the boat today. Runs great. No engine alarms or lights. BUT - now I can compare the gauge information to that on the computer and I discover my tach is totally inaccurate. At idle the computer reads 600 and the tach is reading 1600. At 25mph the computer reads a respectable ~2300 and the tach displays 5-6,000. At 2900 on the computer the tach needle is pointing straight down - to around 8,000 I’d guess but it’s off the scale.
When I shut the boat off the tach needle sits at 800 (with all power off). Turn the key to the accessory position and the needle drops to 0. Start the motor and the needle jumps to 1600-1800 (while the computer indicates a correct 600).
So - after all of that here are my questions:
There are no diagnostic codes stored so any idea why I’m getting this seemingly random engine alarm and engine lights?
Could the alarm issue be related to a somehow faulty tach/speed sensor? Maybe an over-rev alarm - although the alarm at just above idle speed in the buoy field would likely rule that out.
And - any thoughts on what might be causing the tach issues?
I know previous owners and they claim never to have had these issues in the past - and they are willing to participate in any costs associated with necessary repairs so I don’t think they are trying to pull a fast one here.
Any thoughts, ideas, comments are GREATLY appreciated. I’m hours away from the servicing dealer and I don’t want to have to pull the boat and drive there if at all avoidable.
