depth guage and sea water temperature not working

J

julians

New Member
Oct 18, 2006
126
on the sea
Boat Info
190 sport
Engines
Alpha
Hi all,

I have a 2006 sea ray 200 select with the 5.0 mpi and alpha drive, and today the depth sounder and sea water temperature displays on the smart craft LCD display failed, the depth sounder just displays '--', and the water temperature just displays -37c.

I understand that both these reading are taken from an airmar thru hull transducer, so I presume that somewhere between the transducer and the smartcraft guage the wiring has broken down. The system did spring back into life for a few minutes earlier on, but then went off again, which I guess is consistent with some corrosion in a connector somewhere.

Does anyone know what path the wiring takes on this boat or the colours of the wires in question so I can try and find the fault. The actual transducer couldnt be in a harder place to get at, being right underneath the starter motor at the back on the boat.
 
Update for anyone else with similar issues:-

I found a pdf explaining how to hook up an airmar transducer to the smart craft system at the link below:-

http://www.mercurymarine.com/_media...ft_manuals/Depth_Transducer_Install_Sheet.pdf

The connector block is at the top of the engine near the PCM, and in my case is not at all corroded, and looks in good condition, so at the moment I suspect that the transducer itself has started to leak water into it causing an intermittant fault.

I went to the boat today , and it was all working fine, so I'll use it for a while and see what happens, but I suspect that as soon as it gets wet again as water sloshes around the bilge, it will fail again.
 
Thanks for the info. My boat is displaying the negative temperture too, although I have to check to see what type of transducer I have. I was just assuming that I had a transducer that was incompatible with my Smartcraft system.

Newbie question (my apologies, not trying to hijack), but... Is there a post/detailed instructions showing how to replace a transducer with the boat in water (or is it impossible to do so)? I assume, but don't know, that the transducer face is wet.
 
I dont know of a guide, but if your transducer is the same as mine, it is a thru hull type which as the name suggests, pokes through the hull into the water.

You can tell by putting on a snorkel and mask and lookign under the hull to see if you can see it, itl will look like a raised disc on the underside of the hull.

As far as I understand , they just screw into place, so it should just be a case of unscrewing the old and screwing in the new. I have heard stories of people doing this with the boat still in the water, but this sounds pretty risky to me. You'd have to be fast at swapping them over.

Mine came with a 'plug' to put in , in place of the transducer, but I still wouldnt be confident doing it without taking the boat out of the water.
 
These transducers are known to go bad prematurely.

They can be replaced while in the water. That is how the dealer did mine and had no issues other than water in the bilge. If it were me doing it, I would try to take the boat out if possible.

It is an Airmar transducer but I was told by Airmar this was a spec ducer built for Merc and you have to buy the Merc Packaged ducer for it to work with Smartcraft.
 
julians said:
I dont know of a guide, but if your transducer is the same as mine, it is a thru hull type which as the name suggests, pokes through the hull into the water.

You can tell by putting on a snorkel and mask and lookign under the hull to see if you can see it, itl will look like a raised disc on the underside of the hull.

As far as I understand , they just screw into place, so it should just be a case of unscrewing the old and screwing in the new. I have heard stories of people doing this with the boat still in the water, but this sounds pretty risky to me. You'd have to be fast at swapping them over.

Mine came with a 'plug' to put in , in place of the transducer, but I still wouldnt be confident doing it without taking the boat out of the water.
Click to expand...

I'm nearly positive mine is thru-hull transducer. And like you, there is no way I would be changing out in the water myself.

jason78 said:
These transducers are known to go bad prematurely.

They can be replaced while in the water. That is how the dealer did mine and had no issues other than water in the bilge. If it were me doing it, I would try to take the boat out if possible.

It is an Airmar transducer but I was told by Airmar this was a spec ducer built for Merc and you have to buy the Merc Packaged ducer for it to work with Smartcraft.
Click to expand...

If mine was going bad, would it still work fine displaying depth and only have the temperature functionality bad?

Again, my apologies to the OP.
 
matthewmiller01 said:
If mine was going bad, would it still work fine displaying depth and only have the temperature functionality bad?

Again, my apologies to the OP.
Click to expand...

Yes. When I had mine replaced, the Depth was still working. I know several people who have long ago lost the temp functionality while the Depth still works fine and just ignore it rather than replace the ducer. I had just bought the boat so the dealer covered it.

Just to be sure, make sure your Smartcraft Sea Temp External Sensor setting is set to "YES" in Cal 2 for the engine that has the ducer connected and set to "NO" on the other engine. This will be done on the TACH for each side. If the External sensor is set to YES on both engines, that can cause this type of problem. On my boat the ducer is connected to the Starboard Engine

If it was working and just stopped, it is likely the ducer went out.
 
Sorry for the mess, it does not copy and paste well-​


EXTERNAL SENSORS
​
​
CAL2 Tachometer Calibration - External Sensors
EXTERNAL SENSORS ?
CALIBRATION 2
[SKIP] [EDIT]
24006
Selects and calibrates external sensors that are
installed in the system. Select [SKIP] to proceed
to the speed options. Select [EDIT] to proceed
to external sensor selection.
EXTERNAL SENSORS
CALIBRATION 2
PITOT SENSOR ? YES
[ NO ] [SAVE] [YES ]
24007
Is the boat equipped with a pitot sensor to
measure boat speed? Press "-" to select no or
"+" to select yes.
EXTERNAL SENSORS
CALIBRATION 2
PADDLE SENSOR ? YES
[ NO ] [SAVE] [YES ]
24008
Is the boat equipped with a paddle wheel to
measure boat speed? Press "-" to select no or
"+" to select yes.
TACHOMETER CALIBRATION
32
CAL2 Tachometer Calibration - External Sensors
EXTERNAL SENSORS
CALIBRATION 2
TRIM SENSOR ? YES
[ NO ] [SAVE] [YES ]
24009
Is the boat equipped with a trim sensor? Press
"-" to select no or "+" to select yes.

EXTERNAL SENSORS
CALIBRATION 2
SEA TEMP ?
[ NO ] [SAVE] [YES ]
24010
YES
Is the boat equipped with a water temperature
sensor? Press "-" to select no or "+" to select
yes.


EXTERNAL SENSORS
CALIBRATION 2
STEERING SENSOR ?
[ NO ] [SAVE] [YES ]
24011
YES Is the boat equipped with a steering sensor?
Press "-" to select no or "+" to select yes.
SPEED OPTION
CALIBRATION 2
[SKIP] [EDIT]
24012
This section configures the following speed
sensors. Select "EDIT" to calibrate the sensors.
Select "SKIP" to proceed to the depth sensor
screen.
PITOT SENSOR
100 PSI TYPE
CALIBRATION 2
[ NO ] [SAVE] [YES ]
24014
Select pitot transducer type. Choose between
100 or 200 psi. (100 psi is the most common)
PITOT SENSOR
CALIBRATION 2
[DOWN] [SAVE] [ UP ]
24018
MULTIPLIER = 1.00
Adjust the pitot pressure sensor to correct
display readings that are too high/low. Press "-"
or "+" to calibrate the pitot sensor multiplier
down or up.
PADDLE SENSOR
CALIBRATION 2
[DOWN] [SAVE] [ UP ]
24021
PULSEFACTOR = 3.0
Adjust paddle wheel frequency to correct
display readings that are too high/low. Press "-"
or "+" to calibrate the paddle sensor pulse factor
down or up.
TRANSITION SPEED
CALIBRATION 2
[DOWN] [SAVE] [ UP ]
24022
TRANSITION = 30 MPH
Set the speed at which the gauge stops reading
the paddle wheel and starts using pitot sensor
to measure boat speed. Press "-" or "+" to
calibrate the transition speed down or up.
DEPTH SENSOR
CALIBRATION 2
[DOWN] [SAVE] [ UP ]
24023
OFFSET = 3 FEET
Electronically configure a depth offset. Entering
a negative number gives you a water line offset.
A positive number gives you a keel offset. Press
"-" or "+" to calibrate the depth sensor offset​
down or up.
 
jason78 said:
Yes. When I had mine replaced, the Depth was still working. I know several people who have long ago lost the temp functionality while the Depth still works fine and just ignore it rather than replace the ducer. I had just bought the boat so the dealer covered it.

Just to be sure, make sure your Smartcraft Sea Temp External Sensor setting is set to "YES" in Cal 2 for the engine that has the ducer connected and set to "NO" on the other engine. This will be done on the TACH for each side. If the External sensor is set to YES on both engines, that can cause this type of problem. On my boat the ducer is connected to the Starboard Engine

If it was working and just stopped, it is likely the ducer went out.
Click to expand...


I will try messing with the setup in the electronics when I am on the boat next. As for the temperature indication working and then quitting... I don't know. I bought it used and it didn't work when I bought it. As stated before, I just thought that I had an incompatible transducer, so I failed to ask about it.

Does anyone know what a new (compatible) transducer will set me back? Thanks.

Also, is there an easy way to tell which engine the transducer is connected through or just try it and then try it the other way?
 
Last edited:
matthewmiller01 said:
I will try messing with the setup in the electronics when I am on the boat next. As for the temperature indication working and then quitting... I don't know. I bought it used and it didn't work when I bought it. As stated before, I just thought that I had an incompatible transducer, so I failed to ask about it.

Does anyone know what a new (compatible) transducer will set me back? Thanks.
Click to expand...

I think Dealer Price is around $335. Online price is about $240 and I have seen them under $200 on ebay. When I did mine about a year ago the current replacement part number was 888828A12 . I am pretty sure this p/n is still current. Supposedly this one is "improved" over the original part. You will have to get this ducer. You have to get the Merc ducer.
 
Last edited:
jason78 said:
Yes. When I had mine replaced, the Depth was still working. I know several people who have long ago lost the temp functionality while the Depth still works fine and just ignore it rather than replace the ducer. I had just bought the boat so the dealer covered it.

Just to be sure, make sure your Smartcraft Sea Temp External Sensor setting is set to "YES" in Cal 2 for the engine that has the ducer connected and set to "NO" on the other engine. This will be done on the TACH for each side. If the External sensor is set to YES on both engines, that can cause this type of problem. On my boat the ducer is connected to the Starboard Engine

If it was working and just stopped, it is likely the ducer went out.
Click to expand...


Jason was absolutely correct! I selected the port engine (on a guess) to "No" and indication is now working just fine. Thank you so much for the advice. You saved me from buying a completely unneeded transducer.
:thumbsup: :smt038 :grin:
 
I am amazed to see this stuff work out, thos is a great site made great by fantastic members. Hope the OP has similar luck. MM
 
matthewmiller01 said:
Thanks for the info. My boat is displaying the negative temperture too, although I have to check to see what type of transducer I have. I was just assuming that I had a transducer that was incompatible with my Smartcraft system.

Newbie question (my apologies, not trying to hijack), but... Is there a post/detailed instructions showing how to replace a transducer with the boat in water (or is it impossible to do so)? I assume, but don't know, that the transducer face is wet.
Click to expand...

My transducer has a plug attached to it that is used to fill the hole when the transducer is removed with boat it the water. Find a plug and you can then leave the boat in the water.
 
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