Mercruiser Gateway frustrations

davidbrooks · May 2021

So when I took my boat out on the Shakedown Cruise both engines were showing up fine. Then about halfway through the cruise one engine drops off. I don't have any signals coming up to the dash at all. The only signals that I can reliably get or for the port engine. I got a new Gateway and when I put it all together it worked as I would have expected. When I put all of the wiring back and put in zip ties it stopped working again. These intermittent issues are frustrating. Feels like i have a bad wire. Just not easy to diagnose. I swapped the wires going to the engines and got the same results. Now it looks like i need to order another crossover cable. Mercruiser gave me about 15 min on the phone then told me it was taking to long and i needed to go to a dealer. Grrrr.

LaRea · May 2021

Strange. Was it only cables being bundled with zip ties, or cables and connectors? I figured those cables should tolerate a pretty tight bend radius.

davidbrooks · May 2021

I dont bend the wires at the connectors too much but it is a likely spot to look. Its always been my starboard engine that i lose so logic is its the starboard wire. Swap it with port and i still only have port.

Ian · May 2021

I’d be looking close at the connectors.

davidbrooks · May 2021

Yep. Thats the plan. Disconnect one at a time. Push wires. Wait and see if it changes.

Ian · May 2021

With them connected push in a thin blade screwdriver and wiggle around and watch the display, you may pin point the culprit that way.

davidbrooks · May 2021

The problem is that the screen has a 30 sec delay due to using NMEA. It is fixed. I wish i could say i knew exactly what did it. I tried to straighten out the fittings but in the end i had to disconnect the port engine and just get it working with the starboard engine. Then add back in port.

YYZRC · May 2021

Disappointing that Merc tech support brushed you off. They did the same to me; I had to have the marina tech call on my behalf.

davidbrooks · May 2021

So the other wierd thing is that the engines keep switching from port to starboard on my garmin. It all depends on the order i start them up. Start up port first it is seen as engine 1. Start up starboard first it is engine 1. I am gonna have to just be consistent with always starting port first. I didnt notice this last year...but it may of been happening and i just didnt realize it. I normally do start port first most of the time.