Check Engine Alarm

Just a quick update-

After reading through my SmartCraft and Mercury manuals, I found a partial answer to my issue. The SmartCraft manaual did not apply to my boat. I have an audible alarm, but not the one that gives specific guidance. The audible alarm has three possible answers - one, a continuous burst that says you have oil or colling problems; second, a constant beeping that says your drive lube is low; and third, two bursts every minute that says you have a sensor failure.

Mine would be number three. Unfortunately I do not have the elusive code reader. Priced them out at $1,200 for the basic model. I also do not have a shop manual so I can identify and test the individual sensors. Besides ordering through Mercury, does anyone have any suggestions for a good location to buy a shop manual?

Thanks for the feedback!

John
 
Bring it to the dealer :grin:
 
I think it's good to take it in this time and then get yourself geared up. Also, in the area it sounds like you're boating you will want to learn the safe paths so this doesn't happen. That will get tough on your outdrive.

Best of luck and keep us posted
 
1200 bucks for a sensor failure?? Most likely its your water pressure sensor...easy fix. I ordered my shop manual from mercury. 70 bucks
 
papogator24 said:
1200 bucks for a sensor failure?? Most likely its your water pressure sensor...easy fix. I ordered my shop manual from mercury. 70 bucks
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Hey Prop,

That was $1,200 for the sensor READER. Similar to the OBD 1 and 2 readers for autos. However, as Dave (I think?) has said, Navman products hook right in to the SmartCraft technology and give trouble readouts.

He has mentioned that the Navman equipment will identify faults in plain English, but the faults he noted were faults that the standard SmartCraft equipment will tell. What I would really like to know is will the Navman equipment tell me WHICH sensor failed or will the Navman equipment simply display "Sensor Fault"?

Any help here?
 
If you have the sc500 systems view, I believe it will display the actual fault detail as read from a reader.
 
Just an update-

The Idle Air Control Valve went out. Anyone ever had this? The name is pretty self explanitory. I've read that it causes the engine to stall although I did not have that issue. Anyway, $91 for the part and $140 for the diagnosis and repair - most likely two bolts and a wiring connection.
 
They fail all the time. It's on top of the engine just behid the throttle body, 2 allen type screws, a gasket thats not provided and a wire w/ a clip connection. Easy to replace. The engine heat bakes them to death. Plan on a new one every few years.
 
unlvrebel said:
Just an update-

The Idle Air Control Valve went out. Anyone ever had this? The name is pretty self explanitory. I've read that it causes the engine to stall although I did not have that issue. Anyway, $91 for the part and $140 for the diagnosis and repair - most likely two bolts and a wiring connection.
Click to expand...


That doesn't sound right to me. I had two of the IAC's fail on me and both times, the boat would not idle. The engine would die everytime I take the throttle down to idle. To start it, you would have to put the engine in neutral and give it some RPM's, and then you would have to quickly slam it back into N and then back into gear, again with Rev's.

When my IAC did fail, I got the audible Smartcraft Alarm (a couple of beeps every minute or so) along with the Check Engine indication.
 
pete5016 said:
That doesn't sound right to me. I had two of the IAC's fail on me and both times, the boat would not idle. The engine would die everytime I take the throttle down to idle. To start it, you would have to put the engine in neutral and give it some RPM's, and then you would have to quickly slam it back into N and then back into gear, again with Rev's.

When my IAC did fail, I got the audible Smartcraft Alarm (a couple of beeps every minute or so) along with the Check Engine indication.
Click to expand...

Yep, a couple of beeps then a minute or two of silence. The IAC can fail in any form of open/closed - from completely closed to partially open to completely open. Sometimes you get lucky, sometimes you don't...
 
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