Volvo D1-30 warning triangle on LCD tacho panel

[jlavery]

I've got a newly fitted reconditioned D1-30, which is running fine.

On power up, the control panel is alarming with a large exclamation mark in a triangle in the LCD panel. I can cancel the alarm and then get the two 'ready to start' beeps. The engine then starts and runs fine, but the alarm symbol remains.

The MDI and panel seem to be displaying genuine alarms correctly - when my alternator was over charging, the battery alarm and associated symbol was triggering, and I could cancel it. Now that i've replaced the alternator, I don't get this alarm.

Any thoughts on how to diagnose the problem?

I know there has been a long history of MDI failures - but looks like mine's (more or less) working!

James

 

[Neeves]

I've got a newly fitted reconditioned D1-30, which is running fine.

On power up, the control panel is alarming with a large exclamation mark in a triangle in the LCD panel. I can cancel the alarm and then get the two 'ready to start' beeps. The engine then starts and runs fine, but the alarm symbol remains.

The MDI and panel seem to be displaying genuine alarms correctly - when my alternator was over charging, the battery alarm and associated symbol was triggering, and I could cancel it. Now that i've replaced the alternator, I don't get this alarm.

Any thoughts on how to diagnose the problem?

I know there has been a long history of MDI failures - but looks like mine's (more or less) working!

James

The MDI failures are still current and ongoing. There appear to be new batches of serial numbers needing replacement.

However my information is that failures are terminal - you get nothing, you at least to have something even if you do not like it. I have no idea where the MDI unit numbers are located - but have a search on the unit and then contact your Volvo dealer and enquire whether your number was, is, on a recent recall. However its a recon unit and may fall outside any recall.

Jonathan

 

[jlavery]

I've got to the bottom of the problem.

I spent time with an engineer from Ocean Marine Services at Chichester Marina, swapping out everything - MDI box, cables, even control panel.

Then the engineer noticed a spare wire, and a spare terminal on the engine block.

Long story short, someone previously didn't realise that this wire was the temperature sensor, and thought it was the alternator sense wire.

Reconnected it to the block and - success - I now have a fully functioning D1-30 and control panel.

By the way, because as part of the investigation it appeared that the sense wire wasn't working, I bypassed this and connected from the sense to the starter motor +ve, so the alternator regulates correctly.

A happy ending! I now know that the reconditioned engine has done 3,500 hours in 10 years of use, but is running really nicely after its rebuild.

 

[foxinsox8]

I've got to the bottom of the problem.

I spent time with an engineer from Ocean Marine Services at Chichester Marina, swapping out everything - MDI box, cables, even control panel.

Then the engineer noticed a spare wire, and a spare terminal on the engine block.

Long story short, someone previously didn't realise that this wire was the temperature sensor, and thought it was the alternator sense wire.

Reconnected it to the block and - success - I now have a fully functioning D1-30 and control panel.

By the way, because as part of the investigation it appeared that the sense wire wasn't working, I bypassed this and connected from the sense to the starter motor +ve, so the alternator regulates correctly.

A happy ending! I now know that the reconditioned engine has done 3,500 hours in 10 years of use, but is running really nicely after its rebuild.

Resurrecting this thread.. can you tell me the details of your sensor wire rewiring at both the alternator and starter... what terminals? thanks Tim

 

[jlavery]

Resurrecting this thread.. can you tell me the details of your sensor wire rewiring at both the alternator and starter... what terminals? thanks Tim

Hi Tim,
Not much more to tell you, I'm afraid. That's sort of all you need to know. You need to identify the sense wire on the alternator. I assume the alternator documentation will tell you which that is. From hazy memory, I think on mine it's the brownish or yellowish one. Connect this to the positive terminal of the starter motor connection.

James

 

[VicS]

Hi Tim,
Not much more to tell you, I'm afraid. That's sort of all you need to know. You need to identify the sense wire on the alternator. I assume the alternator documentation will tell you which that is. From hazy memory, I think on mine it's the brownish or yellowish one. Connect this to the positive terminal of the starter motor connection.

James

Yellow!

Maybe this diagram will assist foxinsox8 ( click to enlarge)

 

[foxinsox8]

Yellow!

Maybe this diagram will assist foxinsox8 ( click to enlarge)

View attachment 172503
View attachment 172504

Thanks James that does help