Added vessel view 4, now it won't start

[madmatic]

Hey guys,
Up untill now I have been using the vessel view Mobil alone to monitor engine parameters on my new 300 fourstroke. This morning I installed a vessel view 4 and noticed the 300 pro four stroke was listed but not the regular. I selected that engine as it was the closest to mine but it won't display any current values such as fuel level or battery voltage. Then I realized it won't start either. I turned off the ignition removed the j box so it is wired as before and turned the key only to find that it won't crank and also the trim does not respond. Any ideas what could be going on? I disconnected the battery terminals and will leave them off overnight to see if it re sets but it's strange that just by hooking up a vv4 display It would lock me out. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Also non of the fuses are bad and the battery is new and fully charged.

[madmatic]

If it helps there was the red terminator cap on the engine and two purple term caps on the j box for the unused spaces

[PanRonnie]

​fuse?

[HydroSkreamin]

Sounds like clean power fuse is popped. Probably right at the battery, it’ll be a 2A or 5A in-line fuse, I believe.

You should hear your horn beep when you key up also.

[madmatic]

Just got to the boat and is not a fuse. Is it possible the ecu locked me out?? I left the battery disconnected for a few days and still nothing. The vvm module boots up but isn't reading engine parameters either. Upon checking the fuse block there is no voltage other than to the fuel fuse terminal I'm starting to think maybe the key assembly?????

[flabum1017]

Did you disconnect the battery when you installed the VV4? And if so, is it possible a wire fell behind the battery that was not re-connected? I see this a lot where I work, customer replaces a battery, wire is behiund battery and all of a suddenn something does not work.....

[madmatic]

I did not... It's acting like the ecu is dead but all i did was connect a vessel view 4 and jbox with the ignition off. I'm going to call Mercury tomorrow and see if there is something else to look for before taking it in to the dealer.

[Motv18]

If I’m reading right did you disconnect the engine plug install terminator back. Just unhooking the vv4 will leave the computer searching.

I cant see it messing anything up unless it’s not compatible and downloaded something to the pcm.

Been a a while since I messed with the electrical gizmos

[madmatic]

You are correct. I checked the software for the vv4 and it is current. Right now it has a red terminator cap and vessel view Mobile located under the engine cowling. Then the j box has two purple caps for the unused spaces at the helm and from the j box it goes to the vv4 with no other connections. I'll be messing with it this sunday but im beginning to feel that it's going to take a mercury tech.

[madmatic]

Update- I was told I need two terminator resistors in the can bus harness. So I removed the vessel view mobile from the engine harness and plugged in a yellow terminator cap I picked up from the local shop. I have decided to leave out the mobile unit until things are sorted out with the in dash display. At the jbox under the helm I installed the red terminator cap that came with the Mobil box, I was told the red and yellow caps are the same is this true? Still nothing going on with the system. Voltage is present on the purple wires and the kill switch is connected and working as it should along with the neutral safety switch. When in the the vessel view system at its own device list it shows "status: buss off". There is also still no voltage present to the fuse block mounted on the engine with the key on. This leads me to four possibilities.

1) there is a fuse/contacor between the clean power supply 5amp and the fuse block that I can't find. since I do not have a schematic I would assume that key on ignition would close a circuit to the fuse block which then allows current/voltage to power the pcm and it's channels.

2) I have the wrong configuration with resistor caps which is causing the pcm to lock out the can bus and not accepting signal voltage, this is assuming that it operates like most electronics taking 5v inputs. Right now there are 3 resistor caps. Yellow on the engine, red at the j box, and a blue that came with the wire harness which reads 120ohms.

3) when I booted the vv4 it had conflicting operating software which locked out the pcm and shut down the buss connection. I have tried to update the software on a micro USB but it does not boot into a format mode. It just starts as usual. I will be calling Merc for the latest software version to check what is currently installed.

4) the pcm is ****ed and Simon will have to repair it and flash it. Which to me is the least likely.

I would greatly appreciate any and all suggestions, I also ordered a new ignition switch just because it's the cheapest/ fastest thing to replace.

[RSWORDS]

Just got to the boat and is not a fuse. Is it possible the ecu locked me out?? I left the battery disconnected for a few days and still nothing. The vvm module boots up but isn't reading engine parameters either. Upon checking the fuse block there is no voltage other than to the fuel fuse terminal I'm starting to think maybe the key assembly?????

They are talking about the clean power fuse that powers the ECM. It's not in the fuse block on the motor. SHOULD be on a battery but a lot of people put them on the switch.

[RSWORDS]

Take the resistir at the j box off. The system requiers 2 120 ohm resistors of 60 ohm total. The resistor at the motor and the blue one at the helm are the proper location in a single engine application.

[RSWORDS]

Do you get a fuel pump at key on.

Main power relay?

[madmatic]

The clean power fuse at the battery is fine, I replaced it any way along with the fuses in the box under the cowl, mecury tech told me to disconnect everything from the harness and reconnect it with a yellow resister on the engine, blue on the harness, and red at the jbox. Then plug it in the the engine and see what the can bus status is. I do not get fuel pump with the key on or any voltage at the fuse box in the engine.. They said if this does not work there may be something wrong with the harness. I will get back to the boat again later this week with a new ignition switch and update the post

[RSWORDS]

Your tech is wrong. Two terminator resistors not 3.

[RSWORDS]

Check that your clean power is plugged in tight to either the plug on the rear of the motor or the j box (depending on where yours is) and check the main power relay. Can be swapped with a trim relay to test.

[madmatic]

Where is the main power relay?

[RSWORDS]

God you gonna make me work now. Lol. I honestly dont remember on the new motor. I do "believe" it's on the back under the cover. I can look later when I get back to the shop. At a conference today

[madmatic]

I just looked up the relays and it looks like there are two under the back plastic cover and the other 3 might be under the intake? I will be checking them this Friday.

[madmatic]

I just looked up the relays and it looks like there are two under the back plastic cover and the other 3 might be under the intake? I will be checking them this Friday.

[RSWORDS]

Does the trim on the cowling work?

[madmatic]

No the trim does not work.

[flabum1017]

do you have power at the battery cables where they hook to the engine? ( I know dumb question, but someone has to ask it)

[madmatic]

Yes. I have 12.3 volts at the starter and the same at the clean power connector

[RSWORDS]

Does the trim on the cowling work?

To be clear. The trim switch on the cowling doesn't work? Not the one on the controls the one in the motor

[madmatic]

Correct, the trim switch at the cowling does not work

[RSWORDS]

Not the main power relay then. You've lost power or ground somewhere important or fried the harness somehow.

Does voltage at the engine connections go away if you try and trim on the cowling?

[powerabout]

Yes. I have 12.3 volts at the starter and the same at the clean power connector
12.3 is under half charged voltage, is that when you crank?

[madmatic]

powerabout - the engine does not crank. The jack plate which is on the same battery moves great with out dropping voltage so i do not believe it is a battery issue. RSWORDS - i have not taken voltage while trying the trim. I was thinking of disconnecting the control harness from the engine while leaving the clean power connected, if the trim works with the can bus cable disconnected that should at least tell me the problem is ahead of the engine right?

[Motv18]

Disconnect everything you added and restore it to the way it last operated correctly.

Thats what I was after but messed up how to say it.

in other words eliminate vv4 from the system completely both ends.

To prevent chasing a compound issue.

[RSWORDS]

The trim button on the cowling needs two things to work. GOOD power, and the clean power harness plugged in. The main harness can be disconnected. Where is your clean power plugged into? Engine or j-box?

[RSWORDS]

I dont think you have an issue up front. I think you lost either power or have a engine harness issue. Unplugging the main harness, leaving the clean power hooked up at the motor and watching the voltage when you hit the trim (voltage at the cable ends at the motor) will tell which way to look.

Shot in the dark you left the main engine ground off the battery. We all are guilty of it. You have voltage under bo load because its grounding through the harness, but the wont carry the load any real work

[Turborr]

I am thinking a ground also. Once the main positive and negative cables are connected to the battery the trim on the engine will work.

[madmatic]

I swapped batteries with a brand new one today, connected the hot, ground and clean power. Still Nada. I hate giving up but I think it's time for the dealer. When i hit the trim button the voltage didn't even flinch.

[flabum1017]

RSWORDS, is there a main fuse or fuseable link that could have fried on that motor?

[madmatic]

I swapped batteries with a brand new one today, connected the hot, ground and clean power. Still Nada. I hate giving up but I think it's time for the dealer. When i hit the trim button the voltage didn't even flinch.

[RSWORDS]

I'm still thinking you lost a ground somewhere
It's hard to diagnose this kinda thing without being hands on though