ETEC I-Command Gauge blank

[thb]

I have been having intermittent blanking of my i-Command gauge on my little 18 ft flats boat which has a 90 hp etec. In the past turning the system off then on again would allow it to power up. The other day, that did not work for 6 or so times until it finally did work but without fuel quantity indication. The boat is about 4 years old.

After messing with it at home after a day of scalloping, the whole system will not come on at all. I wonder if the gauge itself is bad as I have remade all the connections at the concentrator and power strip and still nothing. The fuel sender wiring has been inspected at the tank and at the connection to the fuel module and I see nothing there and where it hooks into the T connector.

I could rob an I- command gauge off my big boat and try it if need be.

Does anyone with I-command knowledge have any recommendations on where to look first.

Regards
Tom in Steinhatchee

 

[boobie]

Re: ETEC I-Command Gauge blank

I would take it to a dlr and have him put his laptop on it and look for any codes or faults. Damn, I just love these newer mtrs. LOL!! Have you checked all the fuses you can find in the system??

 

[thb]

Re: ETEC I-Command Gauge blank

Thanks for the input. Only problem is dealer is in St Marks which is about 75 miles away. All else fails, I will take a drive this coming week and see what the computer says. I do not remember any fuses in the system when I installed it and rigged the boat 4 years ago but my memory ain't what it used to be.
Regards
Tom in Steinhatchee

 

[seahorse5]

Re: ETEC I-Command Gauge blank

thb,

Often a software update can take care of the problem if it is not a faulty guage. There is a recent ICommand gauge upgrade that takes care of a lot of strange problems with the system.

 

[boobie]

Re: ETEC I-Command Gauge blank

Not to be a smart a** but you still need a computor to check out the system. Aint it wonderful? It seems all the new motors today require a laptop to do any trouble shooting on them.

 

[thb]

Re: ETEC I-Command Gauge blank

I talked to my e-tec guru who has been thru e-tec school and has the laptop software and interconnect cable. He is actually very close to being an e-tec dealer. Anyhow, since the computer and software will only look at the engines computer (EEC ) and its memory, how is that going to go downstream to look at a gauge or wiring which is looking at the same data off the engine computer (EEC). Sure it can interrogate the EEC, but it can not see the i-command gauge and wiring which is on the output bus of the EEC. Are we missing something here???
regards
Tom in Steinhatchee

 

[Haffiman]

Re: ETEC I-Command Gauge blank

If the instrument is totally 'blank' it means it has either lost the external B+ and negative to instrument or the instrument internally has a broken connection.
No need for a lap-top read out.

 

[thb]

Re: ETEC I-Command Gauge blank

I found the two in line 7.5 amp fuses from Batt 1 and Batt 2 to the power hub blown. Replaced and still no red power on light on the power hub. Did find the remnants of a mud dobber nest on an unused terminal of the power hub.

Removed the EMM harness at the power hub and noted the shield wire for the white and black pair is deteriorated and broken down. This shield wire was bare copper.

Right now nothing works. Engine will not turn over, trim and tilt inop and i-command inop. Help, help, help.

What would cause the battery power fuses to blow???? Bad power hub????

Might be time for a 75 mile trip to the dealer in St Marks.

Regards
Tom in Steinhatchee

 

[boobie]

Re: ETEC I-Command Gauge blank

Haffiman. If the I-command gauge doesn't get it's info from the EMM, where does it get it from??

 

[Haffiman]

Re: ETEC I-Command Gauge blank

It gets its info from the EMM but like any electronic apparatus it at least needs power to work. Same with a simple rev counter. No power - no function. Start with the basic.

 

[boobie]

Re: ETEC I-Command Gauge blank

If the EMM isn't putting out how can the gauge tell. Just like a bad rectifier that the tach won't work.

 

[seahorse5]

Re: ETEC I-Command Gauge blank

When you say the gauge goes blank, do you mean blank like when you shut if off, or blank meaning there is no data on the screen anymore - like tuning in to an unused TV channel?

Now that you have various electrical problems and wiring abnormalities, I guess it doesn't matter and should be a job for a trained technician. From your wiring description, I assume you are in a saltwater environment.

Let us know what they find and fix.

 

[Haffiman]

Re: ETEC I-Command Gauge blank

The engine used to run, but instrument working on and off: Indicates power supply problem or instrument problem and not EMM problem. Maybe a bad connector/contact in the harness system.
Now nothing work, not even the non-EMM power trim and starter circuit: Indicates a total breakdown in the power supply to engine/remote. Fuse, main power relay, battery cable connection?????
With a broken screen, you do not get much info out of your comp either.
Rule number one: Check power supply!!!!! (B+ and negative)
Is power trim working on the lower cover buttons?

 

[thb]

Re: ETEC I-Command Gauge blank

No, power trim does not work.
The 10 amp fuse on the motor blows as soon as I turn the key switch on and the two 7.5 amp fuses feeding the power hub are blown again as well. Gauge and motor are dead as a doornail. Battery connections are all good as the hyd jack plate works and it draws some current.
Time for trip to St Marks.
Thanks for the suggestions, will post what dealer finds when known.
Tom in Steinhatchee

 

[thb]

Re: ETEC I-Command Gauge blank

Well it is kind of embarassing but here is what the dealer found. All of the following were induced by yours truely in an attempt to fix the blank fuel qty indication.
1. A purple and black wire under the console were hooked up which should not have been connected. Don't remember doing it but I must have. This caused the main 10 amp fuse for the EMM to blow.
2. One of the i-command Tee connectors had the pins twisted so that they were shorting out and blowing the 7.5 amp power hub fuses. I guess I must have done this as well as these are up under the console and you can not see the keying of the connectors due to it is at arms length away. They took that tee connector out of the system as they did not have a replacement one. The connectors have been changed by BRP from units built 5 years ago so the new connectors are configured differently.

Found some old tee connectors on e-bay but have not tried to do any further troubleshooting of the fuel qty indication system. May convert to a separate fuel gauge and keep I-command a little simpler.

I think I qualify for the dumb *** of the year contest on this one.
Regards
Tom

 

[Haffiman]

Re: ETEC I-Command Gauge blank

Just imagine in 10 years time when most of these engines starts traveling on the second hand market and owners without manuals try to hook it up?
Then you may lean back and say: 'Been there -done that' when reading the questions and comments on this board!
Just take it as a lesson and wash it down with a cold one!

 

[wilde1j]

Re: ETEC I-Command Gauge blank

This thread shows exactly why BRP didn't used to allow users to rig their new E-Tecs, if you wanted any warranty.