21 EC volvo - need some info quickly

[lproulx]

Hi All,

My relatively new to me (last season only) has an engine problem. It's a D1-30 with the little square button panel inside to start and stop the engine. When I tried to start the engine prior to putting the boat in the water, there was absolutely no response from the little switch panel. I have found a Volvo dealer willing to let me drop the boat off tomorrow to look at it. I need to be able to give them some correct information to help fix things. They are particularly nervous about it being a boat wiring problem rather than an engine problem. I'm not sure I"m remembering everything correctly from last season.

First question: When you press the on-off button, it should beep? The hour meter display on the tach should turn on?

The above should happen regardless of in gear or not? (Understanding engine will not start in gear)

Second question: I always turned on the house battery before trying to start the engine. In digging into the problem, it seems this is not necessary. The Engine Start battery is wired directly to a little plastic control box on the engine with no switches or other interruptions. Can you start the engine without turning on the house battery?

Third question: I'm not sure my glow plug function ever worked correctly. In late fall I started the engine when it was cold and it cranked for quite a while before starting. There did not seem to be any delay for glow plug operation or an indication on the little screen. Is there supposed to be?

Any help would be appreciated so I can put the tech on the right track.

Larry

 

[Pilotnavigator]

First I assume you turn d on the starter battery. Should be a switch in the engine bay attached to the board in front of the batteries. The boat should have come with a “key” that looks like a red knob. It fits the black snitch and you turn it to connect the power. Key can’t be removed in the on position. I normally keep mine in the cup holder in the cabin.

 

[lproulx]

Thanks for taking time to reply - mine has no such switch. There is a wire that runs directly from the engine battery to a terminal on that black box on the engine labeled "battery".

 

[Pilotnavigator]

What year is the boat? There must be some sort of disconnect between the starter battery and the starter! The battery red wire should go to the alternator and then to the starter.

 

[cstpt]

Make sure the throttle is centred. If it’s just a bit off the engine thinks it’s in gear and will not start. At least that’s true on the Yanmar.

 

[Pilotnavigator]

Does that black box have a hole in it to receive the switch key? Check out my album I put a photo of one there

 

[lproulx]

Heavy cable runs from battery directly to big terminal on starter solenoid - not unusual - like most cars. Smaller wire runs directly to black plastic box on engine. One interesting thing is plastic box has what looks like rubber hole plug in top. Have not tried to pry out so far. This all worked last year. I'm going to drop boat off at service place tomorrow - will report what they say.

Picture in poster's photo album looks like a disconnect switch for the big fat cable running to starter solenoid. Seems like a good idea, buy my boat has no such item.

One thing I wish someone could tell me is exactly what is supposed to happen when you push the "on-off" button on the little square keypad. Beep? Display in tach window does what?

Thanks for all responses.

 

[Newf]

On my 2014 21EC when I push the on button you are referring too I get a beep after 5-10 seconds and the window in the tach shows the engine hours. This is in the neutral position. Not sure if it would do this if the shifter was in the in-gear position. The shifter on mine has to be centred or it will not start. When it won't start in neutral, jiggle it a bit to centre it and it will. The house battery does not have to be on to start the engine.

 

[Newf]

I just went out and confirmed that the window in the tach does light up and show the hours when it in gear,,,, both forward and reverse. Question 3. Nothing on mine to indicate glow plugs are working or not. Not sure if the beep is some sort of indicator that the glow plugs have cycled?????

 

[Pilotnavigator]

Perhaps the factory could help you, I was under the impression that having a shutoff on the starter was a must have to pass compliance standards. Call the factory and ask them.

 

[Pilotnavigator]

And don’t touch the black plug, there is a fuse in there. Let the factory walk you through what to do.

 

[Newf]

Volvo Penta MDI Black Box failure / Emergency Starting - YouTube.webarchive

Hi Larry, Not sure if this is relevant to your issue but it could be. Not sure if the link will open for you but found it on YouTube.

 

[Pilotnavigator]

Again the use of a clamp meter on the line to the engine will determine if there is in fact current reaching the engine. A clamp meter is indispensable in diagnosing electrical issues. I suggest every boater should have one. Also great to test the current coming from the solar panels under different daytime conditions.

 

[lproulx]

Got call from Volvo service people today. Sure enough, MDI black box. Engine was only placed in service a little over a year ago, so no charge. A malfunction in this box can produce a variety of problems, such as no response to on/off button, no starter, sudden stoppage, etc. They apparently still don't have a handle on how to make these parts, having tried a number of different changes. "Emergency" start button described on Utube link ealier in thread seems like great idea for all of us. It would seem this problem may extend beyond the MD1-30, as I think all MD series engines use the part. Thanks for all of your helpful comments.

 

[rayzickrick]

My MDI (black box) just failed yesterday. My D1-30F is also one of the replaced recalled engines less than 2 years old. I think I have about 170 hours. I'll be calling Andy Sweet at VP (hope he still works there) on Monday. I guess the good thing was, I was tied up at my slip when it failed. From reading some other boating forums, this should be VP SIXTH attempt at getting these MDI's fixed.