VP D4 oddities - again

[julians]

So today, zipping along nicely at 35 knots , all guages reading normal. the drive (VP dph) suddenly drops out of gear and into neutral, the engine shuts down and the warning buzzer emits a continuous loud beep, and the dash warning lights are on ( various can't remember exactly which) . I switch the ignition off,wait for the noise to stop. Check the engine bay, but it all looks fine.

Restart the engine, all fine,no beeps,warnings , guages all good. I carry on my way as if nothing had happened.

I didn't have time to read the fault code ( too near to rocks), so anyone got any ideas as to whats could be wrong.

Thanks all.

 

[julians]

Btw - Engine is. 2006 VP d4 260 on dph drive

 

[julians]

I checked in the water in case I'd hit something,but there was nothing to see.

There's no visible damage to drive or props, or hull.

 

[julians]

Have I stumped the collective?

Having looked in the manual, the only fault that can result in the computer stopping the engine is fault code 1.7.7, which is a 'serious fuel fault ' - air leak in lines, or leak in fuel lines. But the engine started right up immediately and then ran perfectly normally all the way back to the marina.

I'll keep an eye on it - no doubt (as is the way with these things), its a sign of something not being quite right, hopefully it wont work out too expensive.

 

[Bubblegtt]

I had that once with D4's first one engine and then the other in a boat new to me and taking it to it's home berth. Not very good in a strange boat and no power steering trying to get into a new berth!

First thing that I checked was the fuel filters and yes they were full of sludge.

 

[julians]

I didn't check the fuel filters ,but I probably should have done.the fuel level wasnt low, probably down to about one third left in the tank.

Boat is in Mallorca, and I'm back in the UK now,so it'll have to wait until it gets services in April next year

 

[aquatom]

If there is any water in the fuel system it’s probably not a good idea to leave it until April!

 

[jrudge]

How long was the trip back?

When you stop ( a ) filters can temporarily clear as the fuel settles (b) if there were for example a breather blockage then it has time to equalise. If a long trip back ignore the above !

I would get it serviced now. Clean oil for winter and if they do find anything there is time for parts and the guys are not daft busy in prep for Easter.

 

[julians]

How long was the trip back?

When you stop ( a ) filters can temporarily clear as the fuel settles (b) if there were for example a breather blockage then it has time to equalise. If a long trip back ignore the above !

I would get it serviced now. Clean oil for winter and if they do find anything there is time for parts and the guys are not daft busy in prep for Easter.

The engine stopped when I was rounding cala figuera lighthouse, port Adriano is about another 4 nm on from there. I ran it at full throttle(purely in the interests of trying to reproduce the fault obviously...) back to the marina, it achieved the normal max speed.

I'm only guessing at that fault code as it's the only one in the manual that says it can result in the engine stopping. I don't know it was a fuel issue. I'll have a chat to the person who looks after it and see what he reckons and go from there I think.