Yanmar Engine Hours Not Showing

[laika]

I have a yanmar 3JH4E with the basic instrument display (tacho + LCD for engine hours). Trouble is the engine hours display is blank. It used to work. I don't really remember when it stopped. Tacho is fine. Light on the engine hours display is fine. Connectors in the back of the display all seem secure. Not really sure where to start with it. Anyone got any thoughts of likely things to check?

 

[scottie]

Sure you don't have a Volvo?

 

[Pye_End]

Not uncommon I am afraid. In all likelihood the hours will still be recorded, but the display is not giving the information. Mine does the same these days at this time of year when it is cold and damp. Running the engine for a whiles sometimes brings it back to life, or wait for warmer times to see. If not there was a thread a little while back on fitting a second hour display, with a link to a reasonably priced unit.

 

[jwilson]

They all do that (Yanmars and Volvos) after a few years .....

 

[laika]

Very disappointing to hear. I haven't seen a reading on it for possibly a couple of years (although last year doesn't count as I was mostly out of the water) and the engine is only 4 years old.

 

[Cloven]

Very easy to fit a stand alone hours meter & you may even get one to fit the existing hole in your panel. My Yanmar did not have one in the panel so I bought a meter and just wired it to the ignition switch. When the ignition is on the meter runs and I only turn the ignition on when I run the engine. The only disadvantage for you is that it will be starting from 0 hours

 

[LittleSister]

Very easy to fit a stand alone hours meter & you may even get one to fit the existing hole in your panel.. . . The only disadvantage for you is that it will be starting from 0 hours

You can progress the display on from zero by wiring it up with 12 volts to the relevant pin, and leaving it connected for the requisite number of hours. You could do this before fitting it to the boat, or by leaving the ignition on while you're on the boat.

 

[nigelmercier]

Very easy to fit a stand alone hours meter ...

See "Replace Volvo Penta Hours LCD" on the Downloads page on the Bavaria Yacht Forum, see my signature.

If this is useful to you, please keep the old LCD and send it to me, I'm doing some research into alternatives.

 

[tri39]

My recent Yanmar panel now fails to ndisplay engine hours and the tacho no longer works either.
It's only had a couple of Med seasons. The engine is good quality but the panels seem to be cheap and nasty!!!

 

[charles_reed]

I have a yanmar 3JH4E with the basic instrument display (tacho + LCD for engine hours). Trouble is the engine hours display is blank. It used to work. I don't really remember when it stopped. Tacho is fine. Light on the engine hours display is fine. Connectors in the back of the display all seem secure. Not really sure where to start with it. Anyone got any thoughts of likely things to check?

Mine, on a 3YM, frequently disappears. I catch it occasionally, usually just after starting the engine - which does for my needs.
Marine Power informed me that the only known repair is to replace the panel. As I can buy a cheap electronic hour-meter for about £4.00 we agreed that the proposed rectification was non-viable.

 

[charles_reed]

My recent Yanmar panel now fails to ndisplay engine hours and the tacho no longer works either.
It's only had a couple of Med seasons. The engine is good quality but the panels seem to be cheap and nasty!!!

I'm afraid the problem probably lies with the alternator - failure of rpm means imminent failure of amps. The Yanmar Hitachi alternator appears unable to stand Med temperatures (mine literally melted) but you can get cheap and cheerful replacements for <€100. I now carry, together with a spare raw-water pump, a spare alternator.