Volvo DPH Drive Power Trim Problem

[nje822]

Can anyone help? Has anyone met this before?

Unit is DPH-A drive leg connected to Volvo D6 310hp about 10 years old - but boat is new to me. The Power Trim works correctly with engine running. But I find I have no control of the drive unit tilt at all with the engine stopped, even when the 'ignition' is switched on and there is electrical power to all the control system - so it's not possible to move the leg at all under those conditions except by using jumper leads and applying supply direct to the tilt unit pump motor.

The problem occurred when I lifted the drive leg into the ´beach´ range with the engine running. If you go just a tiny bit too far into the ´lift´ range then the engine cannot be started again, and without the engine running the tilt does not work to lower the leg back into the operating range.

The fact that the lift control works normally with the engine running indicates the raise/lower relays are OK, so I suspect this may be a problem somewhere deep in the EVC. The manual suggests that I should be able to override any interlock by pressing the ´N´ button at the same time as the trim control button, but this doesn´t work for me.

Any ideas?

 

[GrahamHR]

On my DPH set up, the trim does not work even with the ignition on unless the EVC control panel is locked.

 

[nje822]

On my DPH set up, the trim does not work even with the ignition on unless the EVC control panel is locked.

Thanks for that tip. I am fairly certain my EVC control was locked, but it's soimething to check on next time I am on board.

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

Yep, agree w Grahamhr. In a twin installation you will find that the evc trim panel is powered by only one of the engines, so turn both ignitions on (without starting the engines) and power the evc panel (press the lock button) and you should then be able to trim your errant leg back down.

 

[nje822]

Yep, agree w Grahamhr. In a twin installation you will find that the evc trim panel is powered by only one of the engines, so turn both ignitions on (without starting the engines) and power the evc panel (press the lock button) and you should then be able to trim your errant leg back down.

Thank you. I'll certainly try playing with the lock button, but on my case it's just a single engine so no doubt about which system is supposed to power the trim panel!

 

[AndreasHallberg]

Don´t forget to press lock button again when starting engines....

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

Thank you. I'll certainly try playing with the lock button, but on my case it's just a single engine so no doubt about which system is supposed to power the trim panel!

With ignition on, did you press the lock button before trying to trim the leg down?

 

[GrahamHR]

Mine's a single installation as well. Seems bonkers to have to lock it as it's the only one, but that's the way VP decided it had to be..

The US manufacturer of my D4 engined boat decided to omit what I think is an essential kill cord. Lower powered, slower petrol engined versions of the same boat have one ! Bonkers, just profiteering by the OEM but the UK importers should have sorted them out..

 

[aquatom]

We've had exactly the same fault as you which turned out to be a faulty helm control unit HCU

 

[julians]

I have a single d4 engined boat and its the same as the above,you have to lock the helm before it will let you adjust trim without the engine running

 

[aquatom]

I have a single d4 engined boat and its the same as the above,you have to lock the helm before it will let you adjust trim without the engine running

Never had to lock the helm before it failed and didn't need to lock the helm after new HCU was fitted.

 

[GrahamHR]

Never had to lock the helm before it failed and didn't need to lock the helm after new HCU was fitted.

Maybe it depends on the EVC version ? Mine's an EVC-C.

 

[nje822]

Firstly, thank you all for your input. The answer has proved to be embarrassingly simple. But "The man who asks a question is a fool for a minute, the man who does not ask is a fool for life."

My boat has a single engine with two helm stations, but as a matter of routine I only use one - the one with the key start as opposed to the remote one on the fly bridge. When I start up normally, once the power is switched on and the key is in position 1, nothing much happens except the engine goes through its pre-running checks, and the control panel carries out a function check (all the lights come on briefly). When I switch to start, the engine starts and the EVC control panel detects where I am and the 'in control' light comes on. So I don't normally make a practice of selecting the control position using the button with the key symbol on it - it all happens for me.

What I had failed to notice is that the system only decides which panel is in control as a result of that start signal - if I just turn the key to position 1 then no lights show on the control panel after the initial check and the trim control panel remains dead. To bring it alive all I need to do is to select the control station using the button with the key symbol. Once that is done I have control of the power trim without starting the engine. And that happens without me having to press the button a second time to lock the control station and bring up the illuminated padlock symbol.

For the record my system is EVC-A. But I don't know why some of you have reported you have to lock the control - just making sure I select it seems to work for me.

But thanks again for your help.

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

Firstly, thank you all for your input. The answer has proved to be embarrassingly simple. But "The man who asks a question is a fool for a minute, the man who does not ask is a fool for life."

My boat has a single engine with two helm stations, but as a matter of routine I only use one - the one with the key start as opposed to the remote one on the fly bridge. When I start up normally, once the power is switched on and the key is in position 1, nothing much happens except the engine goes through its pre-running checks, and the control panel carries out a function check (all the lights come on briefly). When I switch to start, the engine starts and the EVC control panel detects where I am and the 'in control' light comes on. So I don't normally make a practice of selecting the control position using the button with the key symbol on it - it all happens for me.

What I had failed to notice is that the system only decides which panel is in control as a result of that start signal - if I just turn the key to position 1 then no lights show on the control panel after the initial check and the trim control panel remains dead. To bring it alive all I need to do is to select the control station using the button with the key symbol. Once that is done I have control of the power trim without starting the engine. And that happens without me having to press the button a second time to lock the control station and bring up the illuminated padlock symbol.

For the record my system is EVC-A. But I don't know why some of you have reported you have to lock the control - just making sure I select it seems to work for me.

But thanks again for your help.

Nothing wrong with embarrassingly simple answers - it's refreshing to hear about a Volvo Penta problem that didn't cost a gigantic pile of cash to resolve!

 

[GrahamHR]

Locking it works on my boat. The only way it will work. No idea why. They had to put a separate EVC trim switch panel as the simple up/ down trim switch on the shift lever would not work. EVC; Super, super, super complication for the sake of it !