Vesselview mercruiser Bluetooth 8.1S

[superwa]

The good news is that mercury just confirmed that my 2001 horizons can do this. So another question. Once I have this set up, can I replace the old system monitor to something that can connect to these smart craft boxes I’m installing by the helm?

 

[superwa]

Also one more question. Is there a way to reprogram one engine to port without having to go to the dealer? Wondering if I can just get the equipment to do so.

 

[scooper321]

Also one more question. Is there a way to reprogram one engine to port without having to go to the dealer? Wondering if I can just get the equipment to do so.

Yes. You’d need an engine diagnostics tool, like a Rinda. The dealer will be A LOT less expensive.

 

[superwa]

I have one for the car and I do like to check on things in case I can handle. Any details one of them? Rinda? Which is the cheapest to get error codes and so forth?

 

[scooper321]

I have one for the car and I do like to check on things in case I can handle. Any details one of them? Rinda? Which is the cheapest to get error codes and so forth?

http://www.rinda.com/

 

[LG111]

Looking at the diagram online I don’t see 84-892323T01 in your list that ties the two engines before going to the module. Did the module come with that?

No. That was a seperate special order. My mechanic looked you the part number for me and found it on line.

 

[PeteL]

I am curious about the set up. On the 280's the engines are close together, and the smart craft terminal is near the rear bulkhead. Can I go with one cable from each engine to a 4 way junction box? 1 plug from each engine, one for the VVM and one dust cover or resistor?? or do i need two junction boxes and the cable between them.
Thanks

 

[LG111]

I am curious about the set up. On the 280's the engines are close together, and the smart craft terminal is near the rear bulkhead. Can I go with one cable from each engine to a 4 way junction box? 1 plug from each engine, one for the VVM and one dust cover or resistor?? or do i need two junction boxes and the cable between them.
Thanks

You can order a 6 way.
Two harnesses
One BT
Two Dust covers
One Resistor

A 4way will leave you short one port and not leave an open port to hook a computer up to program port and starboard.

 

[DaltonGang]

The part numbers are the same for any size engine that is smartcraft compliant.
If single engine all you need is VV BT 8m0115080

Note there are a couple of ways to set up twin based on the Jbox configuration you may already have under the helm. However starting from scratch, this what I did.

1- VVBT 8m10115080
2- 10ft cables 84-879981T10
2- jbox 878492K14
1- jumper cable 891957K01
2- Terminator resistors 859318T1

Mounted the jboxes to the firewall forward of engines. Starboardside of my 410.
Placed the jumper between the jboxs. Ran 10ft cables from engines to jbox. Yellow band side to motor.
Plugged in the VVBT and resistors one on each jbox. Dust covered the rest . Dust covers come with the jbox.

You need a mechanic with their laptop to plug into the dust cap spot to program and smarten up the engines so one says Port and the other says Starboard on your device.

Then block any of the sensors you don't have installed to stop the faults.

Next, just play and have fun .

I know this is an old post but I'm hoping someone can answer. I'm about to order these parts and do the same setup for my twin 8.1s. Someone told me be very careful not to connect both engines together with the power source. Like the port on each engine has power and they shouldn't be combined. I assume the way its mentioned above this means it takes care of that problem. What I'm trying to understand is why 2 jboxes are needed?? also, what ar the resistors for exactly?

thanks

 

[R-and-R]

Like the port on each engine has power and they shouldn't be combined. I assume the way its mentioned above this means it takes care of that problem. What I'm trying to understand is why 2 jboxes are needed?? also, what ar the resistors for exactly?

thanks

Ive been very happy with mine, I think you will too.

As mentioned in the last post right before yours, you only need a single junction box as long as you get a 6-port box. If you get 4-port boxes, then you will need two, as well as another resistor.

The resistors are technically terminators. Because of the computer network technology on these units, every cable end or port must have a termination point. Your 6-port box will have a single unused port that needs to be terminated, that’s what the resistor is for.

keep in mind, you will need a technician with a computer to rename one of your engines.

 

[superwa]

I’m doing it this year. Someone posted this pic in the past which seems like a great way to set it up.

 

[DaltonGang]

Ive been very happy with mine, I think you will too.

As mentioned in the last post right before yours, you only need a single junction box as long as you get a 6-port box. If you get 4-port boxes, then you will need two, as well as another resistor.

The resistors are technically terminators. Because of the computer network technology on these units, every cable end or port must have a termination point. Your 6-port box will have a single unused port that needs to be terminated, that’s what the resistor is for.

keep in mind, you will need a technician with a computer to rename one of your engines.

ok makes sense. I think I will stick with the 2 4 port boxes. I'm having trouble wrapping my head around a 6 port box and how 5 ports would be used.

1) port engine
2) starboard engine
3) to vesselview
4) a single resistor
5) ???
6) extra port for diagnostic tool

what is that 5th port used for?

 

[R-and-R]

ok makes sense. I think I will stick with the 2 4 port boxes. I'm having trouble wrapping my head around a 6 port box and how 5 ports would be used.

1) port engine
2) starboard engine
3) to vesselview
4) a single resistor
5) ???
6) extra port for diagnostic tool

what is that 5th port used for?

My initial post might have been confusing...for your port 5 ???, you can simply put a dust cover on it. You'll also want a cover for port 6 when it's not in use by your mechanic. This configuration is correct and spares you from having to buy two 4-port boxes and a y-cable.

 

[DaltonGang]

My initial post might have been confusing...for your port 5 ???, you can simply put a dust cover on it. You'll also want a cover for port 6 when it's not in use by your mechanic. This configuration is correct and spares you from having to buy two 4-port boxes and a y-cable.

ok thanks for clarifying.
So someone told me that both engines provide electrical power and you can't just run both and combine them. it will mess something up. Have you heard of this? He was saying you use just one engine to provide the power and disable the pin on the other or something like that.

I showed him the 2 J box setup and he said that works too. But now I'm wondering if running both engine harnesses to one j box will I run into this power issue?

 

[R-and-R]

I haven’t heard that concern.
I wired mine according to instructions that Mercruiser sent me. I found their tech support people to be very helpful.
Three years so far with no problem.

 

[LG111]

On another VV post just last week or so I posted a picture off all the part numbers for twin application. No issues ever bridging both engine's. Pictures of set up was also included.

 

[scooper321]

ok thanks for clarifying.
So someone told me that both engines provide electrical power and you can't just run both and combine them. it will mess something up. Have you heard of this? He was saying you use just one engine to provide the power and disable the pin on the other or something like that.

I showed him the 2 J box setup and he said that works too. But now I'm wondering if running both engine harnesses to one j box will I run into this power issue?

This is accurate. You don’t want both engines powering the Smartcraft bus. See the image here:

 

[superwa]

Looks like a different set up?

 

[scooper321]

Looks like a different set up?

it is. This setup is for 2003 5.7L. The point isn’t the part numbers. The point was to show that if you’re connecting two engines via SmartCraft, you DO need to make sure you don’t power the SC bus from both engines.

do these 8.1’s use SmartCraft?

 

[superwa]

They do use smartcraft