There are two reasons why my install was so easy: (1) The boat has DTS, so it already has a junction box at the helm. (2) I have two MercMonitors, and I already used them to program one engine as port and the other as stbd.
Wally has been great very responsive. However with my boat being older and I do not know much about VV I am finding this to be a real PITA not to mention that the cables and J boxes are about $350. Not much merc support around here for that at this time of the season. I am kind of sorry I got involved but would still love to have it....lol
2002 342 Fiesta Vee PC Point Of Pines YC Revere MA. popyc.org raybo3@live.com
Hang in there Ray. This is supposed to be a trial run to get the bugs out...and I think the bugs are emerging and hopefully getting swatted! I'm sure these is hope for your ride, maybe some growing pains with this new add-on but hope!
MT I cannot find the connector for/with the yellow resistor to save my life. It's not easy to access this on my boat. It's getting very frustrating. Thank you for the encouragement. BTW Wally has been great.....
2002 342 Fiesta Vee PC Point Of Pines YC Revere MA. popyc.org raybo3@live.com
@raybo3 - What engine you running? On my 350 mag mpi the plug was location towards the stern of the engine just behind or close to the distributor cap. Mine had a greenish weather cap on it.
whoops...just realized you have a totally different boat.
@skennelly I saw on just like that and it was a tank level plug. I think I am having a hard time because my boat is a little older. Its a 2002 342FV with 5.7 mags.
2002 342 Fiesta Vee PC Point Of Pines YC Revere MA. popyc.org raybo3@live.com
raybo3 - I'm yet to get mine working too...I'm a 2002 as well, but the engines might actually be 2003 model????. Wally said my serial number would work. Guess I'll see after I get the yellow terminator plug this week. After that I dunno how far I'll go to try and make this work.
I sent you an email with all the parts you need. You have the weather cap in place of the termination resistor (as stated in an earlier post, the early engines came with weather caps, not termination resistors)
A single engine boat can install the VesselView Module in the engine compartment/under the cowl but with a multi-engine boat, it is best to install the VesselView Module at the helm, especially if pre-existing SmartCraft architecture is not already installed.
Wally, your efforts on this issue are why I have been a lifelong Mercury client! Beautifully done! I am sure the guys appreciate the depth of your efforts!
Wally, as MT stated, your efforts are much appreciated! I know you've spoken with a very close friend of mine here in the Annapolis area (Glen). Hopefully he's able to help you out as well. Between him and I, I think we've been in half the engine rooms in our marina LOL!
Raybo, I was able to connect on my old 2002 310. It is definitely in there around the aft side of the engine as others have said. I know on my old boat it was really down in there under stuff and I believe it was just all black, so very difficult to see.
Please don't expect VVM to replicate all of the functionality that you've seen in the full VesselView installation. As Wally hinted, the target audience for VVM seems to be single-engine boats. The focus is on basic functionality that can be implemented on a small screen. It works with multiple engines, but if you want tons of detail for a complex multi-engine setup, you should probably invest in VesselView.
One thing I do really like is the maintenance log. For example, if I tell the app that I just changed the serpentine belt, it will remind me to check the belt after 100 engine hours.
Got the app yesterday as well. Headed to the boat Thursday so get the module up and running. I agree with MT, DI and LaRea that Wally has been great through the whole thing and very responsive as well!
I just received all my harnesses to rig my dual engine setup. As long as i can get my mechanic to change my City ID on the port engine i should be rigged and testing by Thursday. Looking forward to getting the power out of this app. I came back from a long weekend this morning, and my port fuel gauge just stopped working. I'll replace it eventually but good timing none the less as i'll have much more accurate info from VV.
I got the app last night and fired up the boat this morning. App found the VVM unit and started giving me information right away. Saw that my engine hours via the app and the tach are off by 2 hours. The ECM is throwing 3 faults on me, #75, #94 and #130. I believe that these are for items that are not connected to the smartcraft system. Seems to be a cool app, although it crashed a few times. Work in progress...
2008 280 Express Cruiser, 6.2MPI, B3, Pittsburgh, PA "Blue Ayes" Go Steelers!!!
Even the full jam Vessel View can be a bit ornery at times....ghost codes that need to be erased so that they do not trigger engine guardian etc....but as you say some growing pains....but IMO an amazing system. I had the 2013 and 2014 versions on my EC 310 and EC 360 and up-dated the one on the 360 to 2015 standards via the Mercury up-grade app. Patience, patience, patience!
@LaRea, I had to chuckle about the 125 hours! I bet that is the side that the radio works off of? how would I know! LOL! I do like see the hours on my VV since they are so far off on the Faria gauges.
Comments
2007 280 Rinker Express 6.2L B3
Go Steelers!!!
2007 280 Rinker Express 6.2L B3
Go Steelers!!!
whoops...just realized you have a totally different boat.
Go Steelers!!!
I sent you an email with all the parts you need. You have the weather cap in place of the termination resistor (as stated in an earlier post, the early engines came with weather caps, not termination resistors)
A single engine boat can install the VesselView Module in the engine compartment/under the cowl but with a multi-engine boat, it is best to install the VesselView Module at the helm, especially if pre-existing SmartCraft architecture is not already installed.
Wally
Wally, as MT stated, your efforts are much appreciated! I know you've spoken with a very close friend of mine here in the Annapolis area (Glen). Hopefully he's able to help you out as well. Between him and I, I think we've been in half the engine rooms in our marina LOL!
Raybo, I was able to connect on my old 2002 310. It is definitely in there around the aft side of the engine as others have said. I know on my old boat it was really down in there under stuff and I believe it was just all black, so very difficult to see.
Dream 'Inn III -- 2008 400 Express
Please don't expect VVM to replicate all of the functionality that you've seen in the full VesselView installation. As Wally hinted, the target audience for VVM seems to be single-engine boats. The focus is on basic functionality that can be implemented on a small screen. It works with multiple engines, but if you want tons of detail for a complex multi-engine setup, you should probably invest in VesselView.
One thing I do really like is the maintenance log. For example, if I tell the app that I just changed the serpentine belt, it will remind me to check the belt after 100 engine hours.
2007 280 Rinker Express 6.2L B3
Have had some folks ask how they should provide feedback on the app. Here is the preferred order of the various methods available:
1. Via the email surveys (about every week or so, first one just went out yesterday)
2. email support_vvm@mercmarine.com
3. email walter.ross@mercmarine.com
Thanks!
Wally
Go Steelers!!!
@Cableguy Greg - Right, those faults are all sensors that are not connected to SmartCraft on your boat:
75 = fuel tank level sensor
94 = pitot speed sensor
130 = outdrive trim position sensor
The hour meters on my Faria tachs are wrong by 2 hours and 125 hours.
Dream 'Inn III -- 2008 400 Express
2007 280 Rinker Express 6.2L B3