Volvo Penta MDI recall

[Cactus Sailing]

Just had a recall letter through for our MDI, history here is our MDI failed and was replaced under warranty back in Feb last year, turns out the replacement needs replacing too, although its been fine for 85hrs, i guess my engine hours will be lost again when they replace it.

at £380 IIRC from the guys who changed it under warranty just thought i'd share it here in case anyone else has an MDI which is effected and hasn't been contacted as it looks like the service bulletin went out in April last year!

 

[jwilson]

Couldn't believe a recall for an MD1 - a 7 hp built from 1958 to the early 1980s. Plenty still running: flywheel alone possibly heavier than most complete new 20-30 hp engines. Had one once in a boat that if new now would probably have 30 hp.

Is the failure of your D1 or D2 series mechanical or electronic?

 

[pvb]

Couldn't believe a recall for an MD1 - a 7 hp built from 1958 to the early 1980s. Plenty still running: flywheel alone possibly heavier than most complete new 20-30 hp engines. Had one once in a boat that if new now would probably have 30 hp.

The recall is for the MDI (mechanical diesel interface - part of the control system), not for the MD1 engine!

 

[Heckler]

The recall is for the MDI (mechanical diesel interface - part of the control system), not for the MD1 engine!

Hee hee!

 

[Heckler]

Just had a recall letter through for our MDI, history here is our MDI failed and was replaced under warranty back in Feb last year, turns out the replacement needs replacing too, although its been fine for 85hrs, i guess my engine hours will be lost again when they replace it.

at £380 IIRC from the guys who changed it under warranty just thought i'd share it here in case anyone else has an MDI which is effected and hasn't been contacted as it looks like the service bulletin went out in April last year!

I have been helping people with this issue from last year. One of the guys was in the Carib, I phoned the VP help line in Belgium, gave them the serial number and they sent two out FOC straight away. It is a serious issue, if you check the parts website there are a load of consecutive parts numbers there, they seem to be struggling to fix it! Apparently it is something to do with encapsulated relays. The interface isnt a controller per se, just a means of getting engine data in to the bus to display on MFDs. In an emergency they can be frigged by the trusty old piece of wire from power to the solenoid.

 

[Heckler]

Just had a recall letter through for our MDI, history here is our MDI failed and was replaced under warranty back in Feb last year, turns out the replacement needs replacing too, although its been fine for 85hrs, i guess my engine hours will be lost again when they replace it.

at £380 IIRC from the guys who changed it under warranty just thought i'd share it here in case anyone else has an MDI which is effected and hasn't been contacted as it looks like the service bulletin went out in April last year!

An even bigger issue I believe is this one where they are actually replacing whole engines! http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f136/volvo-penta-d1-30-and-d2-40-engine-recall-188024-2.html

 

[Cactus Sailing]

I have been helping people with this issue from last year. One of the guys was in the Carib, I phoned the VP help line in Belgium, gave them the serial number and they sent two out FOC straight away. It is a serious issue, if you check the parts website there are a load of consecutive parts numbers there, they seem to be struggling to fix it! Apparently it is something to do with encapsulated relays. The interface isnt a controller per se, just a means of getting engine data in to the bus to display on MFDs. In an emergency they can be frigged by the trusty old piece of wire from power to the solenoid.

yeah my previous MDI faulted and they replaced it in Feb 18 - not sure if the one they have replaced it with is the "new" type and they are just recalling by engine numbers regardless if its been replaced, i will check the number on the MDI as IIRC certain numbers were not effected?

they're saying they need to go via a VP dealer, although the yorkshireman in me is wondering if they will post one out to me so i can keep it as a spare after all they just plug in

An even bigger issue I believe is this one where they are actually replacing whole engines! http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f136/volvo-penta-d1-30-and-d2-40-engine-recall-188024-2.html

i put my engine number into the websites recall section and only the MDI comes up, it was installed in Jan 2017 but has extended 5 yr warranty until 2022 but im in the UK if that makes a difference on emissions controls - should i be concerned?

 

[Heckler]

yeah my previous MDI faulted and they replaced it in Feb 18 - not sure if the one they have replaced it with is the "new" type and they are just recalling by engine numbers regardless if its been replaced, i will check the number on the MDI as IIRC certain numbers were not effected?

they're saying they need to go via a VP dealer, although the yorkshireman in me is wondering if they will post one out to me so i can keep it as a spare after all they just plug in



i put my engine number into the websites recall section and only the MDI comes up, it was installed in Jan 2017 but has extended 5 yr warranty until 2022 but im in the UK if that makes a difference on emissions controls - should i be concerned?

The link I saw in Cruisers Forum, talk was if you registered the engine with a USA address, then it would appear in the recall liat, so just Americans getting it done. Tougher emissions rules in California?

 

[pvb]

The link I saw in Cruisers Forum, talk was if you registered the engine with a USA address, then it would appear in the recall liat, so just Americans getting it done. Tougher emissions rules in California?

Yes, the engines didn't meet the US regulations.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Mine's being done today, the engine is a 2017 D2-60.

I've just had a call from the Volvo fitter doing the work to tell me that the engines hours meter is reset to zero as a result of the work. I've asked him to call VP to check this and he assures me it's correct.

Not happy.

 

[Cactus Sailing]

Mine's being done today, the engine is a 2017 D2-60.

I've just had a call from the Volvo fitter doing the work to tell me that the engines hours meter is reset to zero as a result of the work. I've asked him to call VP to check this and he assures me it's correct.

Not happy.

yes it resets the engine hours, my engine was first fitted in 2017, 1st new MDI was fitted in 2018, now the new one in 2019, so my new engine now has 2 hours on the clock, although in reality i have done 92hrs on it since having it.

i have a log book showing the boats movements and engine hours with notes on when it was reset, not alot more i can do

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Indeed, same here. I've asked the VP tech to record the MDI swap in the engine log with the hours before and after, and today's date, and photos of the hours on the meter. I keep a cockpit log on every journey so will add the hours reset to that next time I'm out.

 

[[3889]]

Slight thread resurrection (at least appropriate given time of year) but as my D2-55 MDI has been declared deceased I'm wondering how hard others have had to press Volvo for a replacement. I've spoken with support in Belgium who said there is no record of my engine SN being due a replacement though it falls within the ranges of the the service bulletin posted by Cactus S.
Another question: my current MDI has a blade fuse accesible via a rubber plug on top. I've read that this feature was only introduced in 2014 and my engine is 2011 build. PO is no longer with us so cannot check whether it's been replaced once already. Any opinions on this?