Mercury Verado Smartcraft - Fuel Level Fault

Sarge

I recently had some work done to my boat. The gas tank was removed, drained and reinstalled. The batteries were also removed and reinstalled.

When I got the boat back, I turned the ignition key and after the system ran through it's start up cycle, I got the message "Fault - Fuel Level."

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The tank is completely full. I topped it off to make sure.

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After some discussion, I believe the wiring on the gas tank sender is correct. The boat has a Mercury Verado motor with 2 Smartcraft gauges. The wiring is:

Solid black wire - (ground) attached to screw on outer rim of gas tank pickup.

Solid pink wire (in same bundle as solid black wire) - disconnected.

Solitary pink wire, with 2" black wire connection at the end of it - attached to gas tank pickup center screw.

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I did several master resets on the gauges, including after each change in wiring. I reset both of them each time.

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I checked the manual and online and there is no mention of a Fault for the Fuel Level or Fuel gauge in anything I've found for the Smartcraft gauges..

Any suggestions what could be happening and/or how this could be remedied?

Thanks,

Dora~Jean · Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 10:24 pm Post subject:

Your Mercury Verado is fuel injected, perhaps after a timed pump event to pressurize the system, it is still dry at the engine sensor -- thus the fuel fault. Just a guess. Do you have a primer bulb to ensure you're getting gas all the way to the engine (i.e., no air bubbles)?

dchurch3 · Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 11:47 pm Post subject:

Sarge,

I also have a 2007 C Dory with a Merc 150. What were the problems?

Sarge · Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 12:42 am Post subject:

Steve,

The boat runs like a champ. The Verado is getting gas and I haven't had any hesitation from it 'burping.'

Could what you describe still be happening even if the engine is getting gas? Sorry, but I'm not the most mechanically inclined.

Thanks for your suggestion.

-Sarge

Sarge · Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 12:49 am Post subject:

Dave,

I haven't had a minute's worth of problems from my Verado (knock on wood).

I did have problems with some tabbing that the factory repaired.

-Sarge

Dora~Jean · Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 2:13 am Post subject:

I guess I'm a little confused. Does this fault occur with the engine running or just after you turn on the ignition but before you start the engine?

Sarge · Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 11:23 am Post subject:

Steve,

The fault shows up when I turn the ignition on before I start the engine.

-Sarge

dchurch3 · Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 12:45 pm Post subject:

Sarge,

I also am not that mechanically inclined. What tabbing?

Dora~Jean · Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 10:38 pm Post subject:

So does it run OK if you just start it with the fault indicator lit? Does it stay lit? Maybe, another wild guess, it's a fault indicator light check that you didn't notice before (if it goes out while running).

If all else fails, I'd call Merc's tech support line, they 'may' give you a hint on what the problem is...

Sarge · Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 11:52 am Post subject:

Steve,

These are gauges with 2 line LCD message boxes. They run through some kind of initiation sequence and then check all the systems. When they get to the fuel level it just faults. You can cycle past it on the display, but the message still shows up when you cycle to it even after using the boat for a while.

The factory is aware of the issue, but they're not the experts on motors and gauges. I have a call in to my dealer.

Thanks. I appreciate the effort.

-Sarge