Volvo Penta d4 no power on port engine

[Stampede]

Hi Everyone


I have twin Volvo d4 and I have no power whatsoever on the port engine and display ..

Where should I start to look.

Could it be the dc/dc converter and is there a fuse that leads to that

Any help would be appreciated

 

[Seastoke]

Start with battery voltage is there an isolator, check neg connections

 

[Irish Rover]

Hi Everyone


I have twin Volvo d4 and I have no power whatsoever on the port engine and display ..

Where should I start to look.

Could it be the dc/dc converter and is there a fuse that leads to that

Any help would be appreciated

I had this problem many years ago. I called a Volvo mechanic. He came, knocked it out of gear, and started the engine. I still blush when I think about it .

 

[volvopaul]

If you have absolutely nothing when you turn the key , assuming it’s key start or is it button pack start ? The DC DC convertor is below the rear of the intercooler , check the plug hasn’t vibrated out .

 

[Stampede]

I will check when I get to the boat


It’s a key start

 

[Stampede]

Ok. Eventually got to the DC/Dc box. It’s really difficult to get at
The connection seems fine

I’m presuming a DC/Dc Replacement

 

[Stampede]

I just changed the DC/DC unit and there is no change. Still no power. When I plug in the old and new one there is a small noise coming from some where in the engine.

Any suggestions please for the next step

 

[Andyroonot]

There are a number of places to check but it’s long winded to explain via this forum. Where is the boat?
Have you got the engine generation that has an 8-pin plug above the air filter on the stbd side of the engine?
Have you checked for power at the helm?

 

[Stampede]

Ok. Just tried the ignition on both engines and a warning alarm came on. (Check EVC system

Then I noticed smoke coming from the port Joystick steering control unit in the engine compartment .it got extremely hot
Turned off power to port engine and it stopped. Could it possible that it’s related to the problem

 

[GusC@AK]

Sounds like you may need a new EVC for your port engine. I had same issue several years ago. An easy diagnostic test is to plug in your starboard EVC onto your port engine. If it starts, new EVC. I recall mine smelled like burning plastic when I removed it.

 

[Stampede]

Ok Guys just an update on the fault. Had a mechanic down to check everything.

it seems the control unit for the joystick (SCU) is burnt out. Disconnected the unit from the system and the engine started (with errors ) Expensive fix

 

[Mr Googler]

Sorry to hear that but at least you found it

A square bit of carbon fibre trim to cover the hole where the joystick was is competitive price wise

 

[Stampede]

New Steering Control unit (SCU) fitted at an enormous price and everything is working

Thanks for all your replies

 

[papparazzi]

There are a number of places to check but it’s long winded to explain via this forum. Where is the boat?
Have you got the engine generation that has an 8-pin plug above the air filter on the stbd side of the engine?
Have you checked for power at the helm?

Hi @Andyroonot , I today encountered the same issue like in the thread, essentially port engine no longer starting with no lights on helm control HCU or the instruments. I have the EVC-D which has 6 or 8 pin data link.

When turning on starboard I get lights on HCU, the typical beep sound from key controller (EVC d with keys use the analog/ digital key controller) as well as instrumental lights coming on.

My engine has 2 breakers mounted on top, I believe that's one for dc/DC and one for trim pump. I measured 12V on one of these breakers which tells me at least power gets to engine.

I also hear some noise when turning the battery isolator on, similar to a relay 'click'. The other engine makes more noise which is some movement or humming from the dph gear actuator.

My installation has no joysticks or electrical steering.

I would like to measure if power comes to key and key controller. Potentially I would also want to measure if power is on the multiport cable going into the HCU ?

Any recommendations where to start ? Thanks

 

[Stampede]

Hi Papparazzi

I would swap over the DC/Dc units and see does that work . Easy enough if you can get at them. What engines have you

 

[papparazzi]

Thanks @Stampede , I have 2 x d4-260-A-E on EVC-D with DPH drives. swapping the DC/DC unit is very painful as there is little clearance between the both engines. I would like to measure the DC/DC output first, however haven't been able to yet understand where the best point to measure would be.

My thoughts to check for now are:
1) Swap analog key from port to sboard to ensure it's not the key or the key harness
2) measure the datalink cable voltage of the port engine which has no power - the 6 pin should have 2 x red / 2 x black which I expect both to have 12V if the isolator is on. My understanding is that this is provided by the DC/DC converter - can anybody confirm ?
3) remove HCU (integrated into the throttles) and swap the port to sboard data link cables. I read that this may through error messages but still should work.

I also bought electic contact spray and intent inspect the data link cable on the engine mount bracket (oil filter side of engine near DC/DC) which I suspect will go straight to helm and also the Data link cable on the EVC-D which is mounted on the other engine side next to the air filter. (I am unclear why this data link is there, I assume it will route to the bracket on the other side of the engine). I want to see if water / humidity would have impacted the connections.

Attaching my EVC overview.

Summarized symptoms:
- port engine is without power , Sboard engine starts and runs as normal. This is a integrated / combined lever for both engines.
- no power (led lights) to the HCU/twin engine helm levers from the port engine. --> SBoard Engine can light up the HCU and start engine as usual
- no power on port LCD display and easylink port gauges (rpm, oil, etc)
- Battery is full / at least one of the 2 breakers on engine had 12V

 

[papparazzi]

Today I went down to the boat doing the troubleshooting. My data link cables had 12V and good ground, the anlog key also had 12V and turning the key to position 1 also resulting in the 12V being returned to the system as expected. As such I could rule out the DC/DC converter as power was at the helm. I finally swapped the port and starboard data link cables at the HCU and the failure stayed the same - port engine instruments and light on helm was not working whilst the port engine itself was connected to starboard controls and would have been able to start.

All indications was the HCU itself which is a 5200 USD replacement let alone the vodia guy to flash the firmware. My last attempt was to swap the 'analog key controllers' which Volvo calls network modules and it turns out that was the solution or the problem - essentially the network module was defective not sending the right signal back to the HCU and therefore the HCU never send a CAN 'wakup' back to the engines EVC & ECU systems.

It gets clear that these engines have to much dependencies on electronics which is no fun to troubleshoot or replace. I hope it helps someone else, thanks