Merc Smart Craft // 150 Four Stroke - Question

[James211]

Looking for someone who knows the in’s and out’s of setting up a smart craft system. I have two Mercury 150 Four Stroke outboards and when they were rigged, they were both setup as starboard engines. Apparently this was common practice at one point.

Anyway, I’m looking for some advice so I can get my Vessel View Mobile setup, and I want to be sure I’m doing it correctly.

From what I understand I need to rename the port engine to Port using a specific tool which I have access to. I then have to put a dual harness cable to connect the two engines junction boxes together. After I do that, I need to do a master reset on the Port SC1000 gauge and the port engine should establish connection.

Can anyone verify if this is correct?

@muc I’ve been told you have some knowledge of this sort of thing.

 

[alldodge]

Yep, @muc is the guy

 

[muc]

Looking for someone who knows the in’s and out’s of setting up a smart craft system. I have two Mercury 150 Four Stroke outboards and when they were rigged, they were both setup as starboard engines. Apparently this was common practice at one point.

Anyway, I’m looking for some advice so I can get my Vessel View Mobile setup, and I want to be sure I’m doing it correctly.

From what I understand I need to rename the port engine to Port using a specific tool which I have access to. I then have to put a dual harness cable to connect the two engines junction boxes together. After I do that, I need to do a master reset on the Port SC1000 gauge and the port engine should establish connection.

Can anyone verify if this is correct?

@muc I’ve been told you have some knowledge of this sort of thing.

Sorry but I'm not 100% on this stuff. Your comment about "common practice at one point" leads me to think these are older engines? If you post serial numbers I can try to help when I have time, but this is something that the dealer who sold you the Vessel View Mobile should be able to answer.

 

[James211]

Sorry but I'm not 100% on this stuff. Your comment about "common practice at one point" leads me to think these are older engines? If you post serial numbers I can try to help when I have time, but this is something that the dealer who sold you the Vessel View Mobile should be able to answer.

Well I appreciate your honesty. The motors/boat are 2016, 150 Mercury Four Stroke engines. So far I have spoken with three mercury repair shops, and one electronics installer, and all of them have given me the same answer, "we're unsure."

I purchased the Vessel View from an online retailer and they didn't have much info either. The only information I have been able to find is from scouring forums, and reading Mercury documents I've found online. I just can't get anyone to confirm what I believe is the correct way. I will send you a private message with the serial numbers.

Again, I appreciate your honesty and have zero expectations. I'm just grateful for anyone willing to help.

Thank you!

 

[dubs283]

My WAG is the vessel needs to be properly re/configured using G3 which is only available through a mercury dealer.

VV mobile is a fairly limited system but if the vessel is configured port/stbd correctly with G3 along with proper hardware installation your device ought to display the information you're seeking

The only advice I can give for correct information is to contact mercury directly. They are very helpful with vessel owners directly and will respond with straightforward honesty regarding your situation. Most likely they will inform you of the necessary hardware required and provide a competent dealer in your area for install/configuration

 

[muc]

OK, here is my best guess on what's going on.
This was NOT common practice on your engines.
You should have 14 pin helm harnesses and your port tach shouldn't work. The only way I can see that it could work now, is someone never installed the 2 pin Can P link harness and instead installed two 2 pin termination resistors instead --- I think these are blue resistors --- but not sure.
The dual harness cable that goes between the J boxes is an optional cable that basically allows the speedo to be powered by either key switch.
If I'm correct. You need a,
Description Length Part Number
2‑pin CAN link harness 3 ft 893452A01
installed between the 2 14 pin helm harnesses (make sure CAN P not CAN V)
configure port engine to "port" engine
master reset on port tach
plug your VV mobile into either J box

 

[James211]

That is 100% the way it was setup, I had to remove the resistor cap to plug in the VV Mobile. Now the question is, can the CAN P harness cable be plugged into the JBoxes or do I need find that 14 pin port on each cable harness that was meant to be used with the CAN P cable?

 

[muc]

That is 100% the way it was setup, I had to remove the resistor cap to plug in the VV Mobile. Now the question is, can the CAN P harness cable be plugged into the JBoxes or do I need find that 14 pin port on each cable harness that was meant to be used with the CAN P cable?

What resistor cap did you remove to plug in the VV Mobil? And where was it? What color was this cap? Where did you put this cap while you plugged in the VV?

We are having a communication problem. I'm typing in the SmartCraft language and you're reading and responding in the English language. This is why no dealer is willing to help you.

The good thing about SmartCraft is also the bad thing. You can do just about anything ---- if you know what you're doing. There are many different cables -- oh soo many -- Yes there is a cable that that will go between J boxes, but that probably not the correct way for you.

To help you, we need to "get on the same page". Based on your engine serial numbers this system shouldn't have worked at all.

I've run out of time for now. Please answer the 4 questions above and if you want to do some homework you can go to this website and look at the pictures so you can identify how your boat is cabled.

https://www.mercruiserparts.com/smartcraft-junction-boxes-2

Because we will need to know whether this boat was rigged wrong from the factory or had problems and was "jerry rigged" when it had issues. Try to tell me what boxes, weather caps/ terminator resisters and cables you now have on this boat.

 

[dubs283]

You can do just about anything ---- if you know what you're doing.

Yeppers

But what about the G3?

Not having the boat being present, aside of course

 

[muc]

Yeppers

But what about the G3?

Not having the boat being present, aside of course

Diacom would allow you to set engine placement on I/Os back with the MEFI ECMs. Don't think it will on this ECM, but don't know for sure. Never tried to hook up anything other then G3 to a Mercury Marine product since G3 came out.
I'm just going by the O.P. saying "using a specific tool which I have access to" maybe they have a friend at a dealer? Maybe they watched a YouTube video on older product back before the 14 pin harness came out?
Soo many versions of SmartCraft out there. Soo much difference between 10 pin and 14 pin boats.
But if the O.P. is willing to put in the time, I'll help as much as I can.

I do know that if this job showed up on my clipboard. I would see how it was rigged and what harness p/n's were used and call tech support in a heartbeat. Ain't nobody wants to pay $195 an hr for me to relearn this stuff.

And oh ya, not being able to see the boat! Even the folks at tech support gonna want to run from this one.

 

[muc]

update to this thread.
Had to talk to Rinda today so I asked if TechMate or Diacom will change engine location assignment on the 70 pin ECM that O.P. has on their motors. Tech support assures me they will. After hanging up, I realized I forgot to ask about if they will also do the newest ones. But I'm guessing they will because last year when I called about a Diacom problem they told me they can do most everything except Axius.

 

[James211]

Unfortunately I’m out of the country at the moment, so I cannot answer all the questions. But here is what I remember.

When I went to install the VV Mobile, I had to remove a resistor cap from the Starboard J-Box - I cannot remember the color, I’d have to look when I get back. When it didn’t work I removed everything and put it back the way it was. All gauges are working as they were so things are fine for the moment.

The tool I have access to is the Rinda Tech Mate. I have confirmed with them their tool will do what I need it to do. The tool will be arriving to me next week. So I’m hoping to work this out soon.

Here is the link harness I purchased.

https://www.mercruiserparts.com/891957k01-harness-asy-link

 

[James211]

Okay, so I found the cap, it’s just a weather cap, it’s not a resistor cap. I wasn’t 100% sure so I took it to a local parts shop and they confirmed. So the junction boxes have no resistor caps. The only resistor caps I can find as of right now are on the engines themselves, they both have yellow resistor caps.

Also, I found two open connectors, both three pin and they say “System Link” on them. The link cable I purchased is a 10pin connector. On the documentation, attached, it states the link harness is a 2pin cable.

Now I’m confused…

 

[muc]

Okay, so I found the cap, it’s just a weather cap, it’s not a resistor cap. I wasn’t 100% sure so I took it to a local parts shop and they confirmed. So the junction boxes have no resistor caps. The only resistor caps I can find as of right now are on the engines themselves, they both have yellow resistor caps.

Also, I found two open connectors, both three pin and they say “System Link” on them. The link cable I purchased is a 10pin connector. On the documentation, attached, it states the link harness is a 2pin cable.

Now I’m confused…

The diagram you posted is how this boat should have been cabled.
Here is a link to the part number I posted earlier.

https://www.mercruiserparts.com/893452a01-cable-asy-link

The cable you purchased was for earlier SmartCraft systems. Other than costing 5X what the correct cable costs, it might work.

On the engines, is the blue terminator resister plugged into the engine all by itself or is there. “y” harness?

Suggest you look under the dash to find where the 2 pin cable (“G” in the diagram) should be connected (should be very close to the warning horn) and see if someone installed a blue 2 pin terminator. I’m guessing you have 2 terminator resisters under the dash that will need to be removed.

What worries me now, when you removed the weather cap and plugged in the VV mobil. It should have worked for one engine. What exactly did it do?

Any open connections should be capped.

Don’t be confused, I think we’re getting closer.

 

[muc]

On the engines, is the blue terminator resister plugged into the engine all by itself or is there. “y” harness? ——- should read yellow, not blue.

The empty 3 pin system link connectors are normal and will always be there. They are for more gauges if you want to spend more $$$ with Mercury. They really need to be capped.

 

[James211]

Got it, I don't want more gauges, those connectors are capped.

The termination resistors are yellow, plugged directly into engine, no "Y" harness.

 

[muc]

Got it, I don't want more gauges, those connectors are capped.

The termination resistors are yellow, plugged directly into engine, no "Y" harness.

What did the VV Mobil do when you connected it?

Time to look under the dash (might have to cut a bunch of Ty-straps, it’s usually a mess of wires) and see what’s going on. Looking for any terminator resisters and to see how close it matches the diagram you posted.

 

[James211]

I was thinking the same thing, I'm going to go down there tomorrow and start pulling things apart.

With the VVMobile connected, it will read everything with one engine selected but not both.

 

[muc]

With the VVMobile connected, it will read everything with one engine selected but not both.

ok
thats what it should have done

 

[James211]

Pretty sure I found it…two blue resistor caps. Plugged wire in…now to make some changes.

Will I need to a system reset on both tachs? Or just Port side?