Slightly Scary D4-260 PCU Failure

[Momac]

A quick ring round to find out who will supply the unit at the best price (Keyparts ? ) and sounds like a 1/2 hour DIY installation if no set up complications.

I may be wrong but does the gizmo that failed need to be programmed or perhaps other gizmos need programming to accept the new gizmo - not just plug and play?
.

 

[SC35]

I may be wrong but does the gizmo that failed need to be programmed or perhaps other gizmos need programming to accept the new gizmo - not just plug and play?
.

Apparently the dealer needs to rock up with a Vodia as well.

 

[benjenbav]

The scary bit is ... what would have happened if the PCU had failed a few seconds later with the engine in gear?
Even the key didn't stop the engine.
The resulting video could have been a "boating fail 2022".’

I suppose the answer to that is that if the gearbox hadn’t disengaged you would have proceeded away from the dock and then driven around in circles until you could shut off the fuel to that engine.

Not nice. Glad to hear it’s been a simple (if not inexpensive) fix.

 

[Portofino]

I guess theses days modern diesels stuffed full of ECU electrotwackery need power to run said devises and a simply flick of the batt isolation switch’s ( even Mrs [ insert names] should know where they are ?) ought to kill them .

I wouldn’t try it to test it mindful of the delicacy of said ECUs , buts it’s there in the locker ( no pun intended) of emergency options sans engines room entry I would have thought?

 

[emmalina]

Had to chop the fuel line on a runaway genset once when the electronic control panel put it at full revs and wouldn't switch it off ! Melted the exhaust box and got extremely hot but saved it on the end.

 

[Portofino]

If you are in the marina and stuck in drive…then leaving MrsSC35 at the helm is also probably not the best idea.

Reminds me of this l
Sub “ motor car “ for boat chaps .

On a serious note raising awareness how much can your Mrs actually do ?
Fessing up first.
1- Handle lines + fenders very experienced no issues there at all when I am on the helm .So let’s call that berthing .
2- Anchor deployment / retrieval- again very experienced.

Now the nitty gritty bits ,
3 - Manoeuvres with the boat in a marina with rudders fixed and throttle / bow thruster only .Nope to frightening to have a go .
4 - ER stuff eg dip stick , removing gen covers , seacocks erh Nope .Probably has no idea about the stuff in my post # 7 and Julians ( when we had outdrives ) post #10 tbh .
Very much like the Harry Enfield lady if i am honest from a mechanical pov .


She knows about the life raft , ERIPB s , and holds a VHF cert although the last time she used one was 2005 on the course !

I reckon 95 % of “ Mrs “ are the same .Just an observation not a criticism.

We are in our 50s demographics wise if that helps before woke daggers fly

 

[julians]

I reckon 95 % of “ Mrs “ are the same .Just an observation not a criticism.

We are in our 50s demographics wise if that helps before woke daggers fly

Mrs julian is doing her powerboat level 2 (& getting the ICC as a consequence) this summer, I've been nagging for 20 years or more that she really should learn to handle the boat in order to be able to bring in onto the berth should there be a problem that means I cant do it, so this year she's doing it. She had a few practice goes at taking it in and out of the berth last week and found it easier than she thought....

 

[Bouba]

I guess theses days modern diesels stuffed full of ECU electrotwackery need power to run said devises and a simply flick of the batt isolation switch’s ( even Mrs [ insert names] should know where they are ?) ought to kill them .

I wouldn’t try it to test it mindful of the delicacy of said ECUs , buts it’s there in the locker ( no pun intended) of emergency options sans engines room entry I would have thought?

Knowing where the emergency stop is just part of the education….knowing how to handle yourself around running engines is another….no long hair, jewellery, loose clothing etc

 

[SC35]

I guess theses days modern diesels stuffed full of ECU electrotwackery need power to run said devises and a simply flick of the batt isolation switch’s ( even Mrs [ insert names] should know where they are ?) ought to kill them .

I wouldn’t try it to test it mindful of the delicacy of said ECUs , buts it’s there in the locker ( no pun intended) of emergency options sans engines room entry I would have thought?

I'm really not sure what would do and I don't intend to find out.
The alternators would still be generating volts, but unshackled from the batteries?

 

[Bouba]

Reminds me of this l
Sub “ motor car “ for boat chaps .

On a serious note raising awareness how much can your Mrs actually do ?
Fessing up first.
1- Handle lines + fenders very experienced no issues there at all when I am on the helm .So let’s call that berthing .
2- Anchor deployment / retrieval- again very experienced.

Now the nitty gritty bits ,
3 - Manoeuvres with the boat in a marina with rudders fixed and throttle / bow thruster only .Nope to frightening to have a go .
4 - ER stuff eg dip stick , removing gen covers , seacocks erh Nope .Probably has no idea about the stuff in my post # 7 and Julians ( when we had outdrives ) post #10 tbh .
Very much like the Harry Enfield lady if i am honest from a mechanical pov .


She knows about the life raft , ERIPB s , and holds a VHF cert although the last time she used one was 2005 on the course !

I reckon 95 % of “ Mrs “ are the same .Just an observation not a criticism.

We are in our 50s demographics wise if that helps before woke daggers fly

A quick observation of a busy Med port and it’s obvious that boating is about old ladies with boat hooks...my wife is qualified to drive a boat but when it comes to parking she prefers to handle the ropes as well...it’s quite a strange form of chauvinism because it’s the hardest, messiest and most dangerous part of the procedure....I would prefer it if I did the hard work but as a captain I am still outranked

 

[KevinV]

View attachment 137012
Its actually kinda spring loaded to trigger shut just needs a twist and it snaps shut killing the motors .

I'm curious - every emergency cut off I've ever used has been push=off, twist=reset - the logic being that "just hit the big red button" is a simple and obvious action.
Is there a particular logic to having it the other way round?

 

[Portofino]

I'm curious - every emergency cut off I've ever used has been push=off, twist=reset - the logic being that "just hit the big red button" is a simple and obvious action.
Is there a particular logic to having it the other way round?

You may be correct .All I know it’s easily triggered to off .Not quite a fly landing on it but not far off , i am always unknowingly catching one of them .

 

[Bouba]

Ok one last thought....the OP has outdrives....if power to the outdrives hasn’t been affected, then raise the outdrives high as possible so that there is as little forward motion as possible....then get into the engine room to stop it

 

[Portofino]

Ok one last thought....the OP has outdrives....if power to the outdrives hasn’t been affected, then raise the outdrives high as possible so that there is as little forward motion as possible....then get into the engine room to stop it

Would that risk popping a bellows off either old and split it or vibrate a rusty clamp free ? Furthermore super stress up the U/ J s .Theses might be a bit corroded , aged anyhow .
In theory yes while running , stuck in gear etc you can raise a VP outdrive .In practice bit like cutting the batt supply when running ( the Alternator issue ) I think you are compounding the potential bill for repairs by adding stuff you have bust as a consequence of theses actions , how ever well intentioned.

 

[Bouba]

Would that risk popping a bellows off either old and split it or vibrate a rusty clamp free ? Furthermore super stress up the U/ J s .Theses might be a bit corroded , aged anyhow .
In theory yes while running , stuck in gear etc you can raise a VP outdrive .In practice bit like cutting the batt supply when running ( the Alternator issue ) I think you are compounding the potential bill for repairs by adding stuff you have bust as a consequence of theses actions , how ever well intentioned.

Wreak your boat or wreak other people’s boat...it’s a dilemma

 

[luke collins]

Those lumps keep running even with the battery switch turned off, they do odd things but do run as I have had a failed battery switch. The emergency switch is the best route but it’s not easy to get too in an emergency situation. (Engine hatch up, drop down to engine avoiding open belts etc and a firm hold of the button. I think the switches are on spade terminal so could be moved.

 

[Andyroonot]

I’m not able to look it up right now but am pretty sure the e-stop just opens the power supply circuit to the ECU, and so there is no reason I can think of as to why a normally-closed remotely mounted e-stop extended outside of the engine bay wouldn’t work, and be piggy-backed off the engine mounted e-stop terminals. Either switch would work as long as it’s the correct orientation of circuit & negate the need to even go into the engine bay

 

[Andyroonot]

I’m not able to look it up right now but am pretty sure the e-stop just opens the power supply circuit to the ECU, and so there is no reason I can think of as to why a normally-closed remotely mounted e-stop extended outside of the engine bay wouldn’t work, and be piggy-backed off the engine mounted e-stop terminals. Either switch would work as long as it’s the correct orientation of circuit & negate the need to even go into the engine bay

No, forget that-I’ve not thought it through as the ECU would still have a power supply via the second switch ?‍

 

[julians]

No, forget that-I’ve not thought it through as the ECU would still have a power supply via the second switch ?‍

You could wire them in series rather than parallel then either switch would stop the engine.

 

[KevinV]

You could wire them in series rather than parallel then either switch would stop the engine.

Exactly how I have them wired for our (commercial) kitchen gas supply - 1 next to the cooker, 1 on the outside of the front door - hit either and the gas stops.