Checking True Engine Hours?
 

Quick question for you guys. Looking at a 1999 Baja with 256 hours showing and 158 actual. Previous owner claims the key was left on for 98 hours!! Can the engines be hooked up to a computer to tell true engine hours? Wouldn't the low oil pressure alarms go off with the key left on? Engines are 502 MPI's

Re: Checking True Engine Hours?
 

hook to computer. Will read the hours off the ECU's.

No reason to believe the previous owner.

Re: Checking True Engine Hours?
 

I agree with Mike check the ECU, but keep in mind that the ECU can be changed or reflashed which means that you cannot completly rely on that either. Use the hours as a guide and do a comp/leak down test and then make a decision.

Re: Checking True Engine Hours?
 

Absolutely. With the scanner you can read hours off the ECU. What the owner says can be true. I did it once in my single 288 for five days (Sun-Fri) and added an extra 120 hours to the meter. Then again he could be BS'ing. But yes do the scan.

Re: Checking True Engine Hours?
 

See what that last beer did to ya? :drink:

Re: Checking True Engine Hours?
 

If MPI engines, definitely check with the scan tool. Even if the hour meters were correct, the scan should be relatively close to the numbers. You won't get all sync perfectly. The odds of ECU's being reflashed are slim, but it is possible.

Re: Checking True Engine Hours?
 

Assuming they are all stock 502 MPI's, not really a reason to have messed with the ECU's. I would tend to think they show the actual hrs.

Did he offer the info on the hr descrepency on his own?

Re: Checking True Engine Hours?
 

Broker boat at a dealership. The dealership had it listed it that way and that was their story. I know it's been awhile since I've been around the boat (long winter) but doesn't the alarms sound if the keys are left on letting you know low oil pressure?

Re: Checking True Engine Hours?
 

I'm fighting that right now trying to get the alarms working right last couple of days.
Mine do not sound if I just turn the key on. Just the 3 short self-test blast. From looking at the wiring diagram, the warning buzzer sytem appears to be tied into the computer at the engine. So I'm am leaning towards the motor has to have been at least running for a couple of second to build oil pressure, then it will activate the warning system. Other wise it is disabled to keep the buzzer for sounding constantly when the key is just turned to the on position w/o actually having started the motor.
Just my thoughts, but everything is pointing that direction.

Re: Checking True Engine Hours?
 

mine only sound a short while if the key is left on. then silence.
i have 93 502 efi's

Re: Checking True Engine Hours?
 

That info is stored in non-volatile ram and can be accessed via some pretty simple serial communication strings. If you can build your own serial communication device(ttl to cmos and vica versa) and have the ability, I can post what cmds need to be sent, otherwise hooking up a merc scanner will tell you. If you have the ability to get deeper, you can also find out how many times(if any) the ecu has been reprogrammed as this is OTP and cannot be changed. From what I can tell, this reprogram number is not always dead accurate as OTP bits can only increase, but not always as a byte increase, but instead a bit increase, and if you understand bitwise changes, you also understand they do not correlate to single byte increments. :chimp:

Re: Checking True Engine Hours?
 

How difficult would it be to get data that MEFI outputs and used for a Fuel Consumption gauge?

At onte point Teleflex said they were going to market an aftermarket Smartcraft system fro older engines but it never got off the lab bench.

I know the data stream includes GPH and that Smartcraft will display data but only on MEFI-4 controllers. No one can sem to say for sure if Smartcraft would read MEFI 1 data so I'd like to just get this one piece of data nad display it on a digital or analog guage.

Flowscan on my engine becomes too complicated because my EFI system returns unused fuel to tank.

Possibilities?

Re: Checking True Engine Hours?
 

Daaaaamn Dick, I'm glad we gottcha on board,, for the computer stuff,,I think you're gonna be handy! :)
The great thing about these forums is the vast array of knowledge from all the contributers,,,
Just wondering when I might know an answer.

Re: Checking True Engine Hours?
 

I agree, if someone here doesn't know the answer, the question was never asked.

Re: Checking True Engine Hours?
 

p.s. upon further thought, one unit could be designed to work on all versions of mefi's with enough internal coding to allow identification of the controller.

Re: Checking True Engine Hours?
 

B&G Instruments makes a display that will show data, including GPH, from the serial data stream of a MEFI ECM. They call it the "Network Engine Instrument". I think it runs about $400.00.

Dave

Re: Checking True Engine Hours?
 

Looks like B&G has obsoleted that product based on web site--but I'm gonna call them tomorrow--maybe they still ahve some laying around.

Sounds like it's really yhe Canbus interface rather than the data that makes Smartcraft not compabitble with older vintage MEFI's ???

Thanks

Re: Checking True Engine Hours?
 

What's the website of B&G instruments?
A few weeks /months ago I remember seeing a advertsing of software for reading/ analysing the mercruiser ECU. It wasn't that expensive and (as long as you can believe publicity) very easy to use on a portable!
Can anyone remember that adress? thx reply

Re: Checking True Engine Hours?
 

I don't know the current production status, but I have seen the B&G Engine for sale on a few websites. Google "B&G ESYS".

Evaluex,
Was it the "Diacom" marine EFI software from Rinda Technologies that you saw? I am not aware of any other software products for monitoring / diagnosing MEFI systems.

Dave

Re: Checking True Engine Hours?
 

Can ECM's be repaired? I might have just fried mine the other day.

New ECM's are running $750. BAM says no longer availble, but Boatfix still shows them.
For a '99 502MPI.

Re: Checking True Engine Hours?
 

I haven't looked at Ed's(Rhinda) software in quite a while, looks pretty nice. Anyone have a copy I can look at? :D

Re: Checking True Engine Hours?
 

DAVE N
Thx reply yes it was the RINDA software I was looking for. Seems to be real nice.. Does anyone already bought it? Can you also reset the error codes or only read them? Engine hours can be read? Is reprogramming also possible? Engine hours??

Re: Checking True Engine Hours?
 

DAVE N
Thx reply yes it was the RINDA software I was looking for. Seems to be real nice.. Does anyone already bought it? Can you also reset the error codes or only read them? Engine hours can be read? Is reprogramming also possible? Engine hours?? :D

Re: Checking True Engine Hours?
 

I have had the Diacom Software for about 3 1/2 years. I use it just about every day. It is the best diagnostic tool available for EFI systems.

You can read and clear codes, perform diagnostic tests, and record and export data for later review/analysis.

Engine hours can be accessed.

Reprogramming in not possible useing Diacom (Factory authorized dealers can "reflash" an ECM if needed)

Dave

Re: Checking True Engine Hours?
 

Talked to B&G this morning about fuel monitor. It's still a current product and is offered for sale by a number of online vendors. B&G will drop-ship from Clearwater for the dealers.

The guy I talked to was the product engineer. He said it was accurate to within 1 gallon/hour and could also give GPM with a NEMA gps signal. There is small cable from the display back to the engine and a single guage anc give all enigne data about a pair of ongines with a small datalink cable that's included in the price.

http://www.bandg.com/pdfs/FAQs/faq032.pdf
http://www.bandg.com/pdfs/FAQs/faq033.pdf
http://www.bandg.com/pdfs/FAQs/faq034.pdf

I ordered one and hope to install this weekend. Seems like a better, simpler alternative to Floscan.