Fly by wire remote issue

[Bellissima]

Hi all
Can anyone help please ?

I have a 1999 Azimut 42 with a fly by wire throttle issue.
When I put the port throttle into reverse the remote bleeps and flashes red. This stops when it’s put back in neutral or forward gear is engaged although bleep and light comes back when you select reverse again. Despite the bleep and light everything works fine for a few shifts into forward and reverse then it stops engaging forward or reverse altogether. Only way to get it to work again is to kill the port engine and re-start it then the all of the above happens all over again.
Any thoughts clever people ?
Thanks
Graham

 

[philipdawsonladds]

I had a similar issue with one engine going into neutral and refusing ro go forward or reverse. Only cleared by turning off ignition which reset the controls. Resolved with new cable as resistance was generating an error condition and forced neutral.

 

[Bellissima]

I had a similar issue with one engine going into neutral and refusing ro go forward or reverse. Only cleared by turning off ignition which reset the controls. Resolved with new cable as resistance was generating an error condition and forced neutral.

Thank you really helpful

 

[Bellissima]

I had a similar issue with one engine going into neutral and refusing ro go forward or reverse. Only cleared by turning off ignition which reset the controls. Resolved with new cable as resistance was generating an error condition and forced neutral.

 

[Bellissima]

Thank you really helpful. When you say cable do you mean electrical cable or shift cable ?

 

[rafiki_]

Thank you really helpful. When you say cable do you mean electrical cable or shift cable ?

The ZF Command Module in the engine room takes the signal from the electronic throttles. Then there are mechanical cables that then control the engine and transmission. So it could be one of the cables in the engine room?

 

[Bellissima]

Thank you.

 

[oldgit]

Google Microcommander problems.
A known history , many involving lack of volts to control unit.
Somewhere your instruction manual details the number and the frequency of alarm bleeps indicates where the problem lies.
Shutting the whole thing down and restarting will sort the problem.
Worse still is when the engine refuses to go from ahead to astern when approaching a mooring or close maneuvering.

 

[Bellissima]

Thank you

 

[oldgit]

Good luck in UK finding somebody to sort it.
Search for this Forum thread and several Youtube videos.

D

Thread 'Problem with ZF electronic engine controls'

23 Sep 2019

Last couple of times I've taken my boat out, I have experienced an intermittent problem with my flybridge ZF engine controls. When moving the levers from ahead into neutral, the engines will suddenly go into astern after a couple of seconds in neutral. This is a bit scary when you are trying to back into a Med berth with the SWMBO making sarcastic comments about why she isnt driving. Moving the throttles into ahead momentarily returns the engines to neutral. Sometimes this happens with just one lever, sometimes with both and, as I said, it is intermittent so it is not going to be easy to...

• Deleted User YDKXO
• Replies: 73
• Forum: Motor Boat Forum

 

[Mr Googler]

Well @oldgit ……we sorted it in an hour. Cable throw was wrong and “over pulling” hence the alarm and drama. Not exactly sure why but have identified it as a 585 system. After reading once home, you can alter the travel distance via DIP switches but we relocated the gear cable clamp at the engine which worked great.

Has anyone ever identifed which potentiometer was used in 400 series heads? Theres an intermittent fault on the up helm. A little research points to the same one volvo used for early EDC but not 100% sure

 

[oldgit]

Well @oldgit ……we sorted it in an hour.

Has anyone ever identifed which potentiometer was used in 400 series heads? Theres an intermittent fault on the up helm. A little research points to the same one volvo used for early EDC but not 100% sure

Been there
A brave individual might dismantle the throttle housing and discover this inside, suspect a custom pot unique to this device ?
A really foolhardy soul might then drill a tiny little hole in the casing and apply quick a quick squirt of electrical contact cleaner.

 

[Mr Googler]

Thanks oldgit……really helpful. Did it work though! Is that whatto other side looks like?

 

[oldgit]

Ooo thats interesting.....
On mine the little button (Red/Orange wires) that you have to push to "activate" the electronic throttle had also been replaced at some time in past.
Some skippers are rumoured have lost faith in this device in the past and gone to the trouble of ripping them out and retro fitting Bowden Cables.

 

[Mr Googler]

Thats just an internet picture. Not sure @Bellissima will let me tear it apart

 

[yatnus]

Hi Graham


seen similar weird behaviour on older fly by wire setups before and a couple of times it ended up being voltage related rather than the control head itself. when you select reverse there’s a small load change and if the system sees a dip or unstable signal it can start bleeping even though everything still works for a bit

• things id probably check first
• port battery condition and terminals
• engine earths (very common on boats of this age)
• ny corrosion on the fly by wire connectors at the engine end
• whether the control head is actually seeing stable voltage when reverse is selected

the fact it clears after an engine restart usually points to something electronic resetting rather than a mechanical issue

 

[Mr Googler]

Hi Graham


seen similar weird behaviour on older fly by wire setups before and a couple of times it ended up being voltage related rather than the control head itself. when you select reverse there’s a small load change and if the system sees a dip or unstable signal it can start bleeping even though everything still works for a bit

• things id probably check first
• port battery condition and terminals
• engine earths (very common on boats of this age)
• ny corrosion on the fly by wire connectors at the engine end
• whether the control head is actually seeing stable voltage when reverse is selected

the fact it clears after an engine restart usually points to something electronic resetting rather than a mechanical issue

See post #11 beeping sorted…….intermittent operation remains on outside upper helm yet to resolve but connect / corrosion issues seems likely

 

[oldgit]

On mine the problem manifested itself on the Thames after short trips between locks failed to top up the batteries that the MicroCommander was connected too.
Shutting the entire thing down electrically and re starting appeared to reboot the system.
A complete change of leisure batteries appears to have made the problem go away.
Personally would trust the Microcommander electronics a far as could throw it.

A post on here not long ago regards a boat being sold at a unusually competitive price due to a "minor" problem with the electronic control system.
Suprise Suprise it was Micro Commander causing grief.

 

[rafiki_]

I believe that Bellisima has new batteries and a smart charger? So battery voltage should not be an issue?

 

[oldgit]

I believe that Bellisima has new batteries and a smart charger? So battery voltage should not be an issue?

Think the system was very voltage sensitive, once the battery volts dropped beyond a certain point the thing simply stopped operating.
Heading for a mooring and suddenly a loud insistant bleeping warns that the gearbox actuator is no longer accepting commands from the throttle lever at the helm, life then gets interesting very quickly.
Not a faulty throttle control either, has happened both when on the flybridge and when at the lower helm in the saloon.