VP 350 V8 Warning Light (Regal 28 Express)

[showar01]

Hi all - was out today and got the engine alarm (3 beeps) and yellow warning indicator. I didn't realize I had trimmed up the drive significantly in a rough channel, as such believe it may triggered the alarm. Temp, Pressure, etc all ok. Docked to assess and all looked ok. Upon departing noticed the drive trimmed way too high and think that may have caused the alarm/warning. I trimmed down and no alarm, but engine warning indicator still illuminated. Also, rev limiter triggered so can't go above 3K rpm. Got boat back to my marina and wondering if a way to reset the warning indicator or do I need a tech to address? Pretty sure I know the cause and it must have triggered some kind of emission fault or something. Engine is 2019 with 120 hours. Overall runs great, and had no issues getting back to marina, although only dong about 10 knots. I heard the MIL may reset after 3 successful trips/outings? Would a battery disconnect also prompt a reset? Appreciate any advice! Thanks.

 

[alldodge]

I don't know but @muc probably does

 

[muc]

I would need to know what engine you have. Engine serial number is best. What software package is in the computer determines warning horn, light and RPM reduction. Volvo built more than a few V8-350 models.

Probably not due to trim. But will need serial number to be sure. Software and severity of the problem determines when the light goes out. Disconnecting the battery won’t clear anything. The engine needs to be scanned, this might be covered under the emissions warranty.

 

[showar01]

Thanks. Engine Serial Number...A1054973 - VPGAS074391

 

[muc]

Sorry to take so long to reply.
It is possible the excessive trim could cause this problem. If the ECM interpreted the knocking U-joints as massive misfire then that could set a code and trigger RPM reduction. If that was the case, RPMs would come back to normal with a key off and restart. The MIL light would stay on for 3 trips. One trip is usually considered starting the engine when cold and running it under load until up to temperature then shutting off and allowing engine to cool all the way down.

Your engine has 2 RPM reduction modes.
derate 1 and derate 2
these don’t limit based on RPMs but instead limit throttle percentage.
This usually works out to about 3500 RPMs for derate 1 and 2500 RPMs for derate 2. You seem to fall 1/2 way between these.

If you use the boat again and still have RPM reduction, it will need to be scanned to determine the problem. If there isn’t any RPM reduction and the light goes out after 3 trips you are probably OK.

 

[showar01]

Thanks so much for this! I have a request in at my marina svs team to have it scanned, but if I get up there in next few days will start up and see how it goes. My tach is not fully accurate either so hard to tell the limit level, but it wasn't able to get up on plane so assume I was being held at or under 3500 rpm. When it initially happened I got the MIL and Alert tone/warning light. I immediately slowed down and found a dock to check things out. Shut off for about 5 mins then restarted to head back to my marina. That's when we noticed the excessive trim. Made the adjustment and alarm stopped, but MIL light on, and limited on throttle/rpm on way back. Haven't started up or taken out since, but will try this week and see how goes.

Appreciate your response!

 

[muc]

I think you have made a good decision to have the engine scanned, It should provide you with some peace of mind.

I recommend that you ask your service provider to give you a print out of the scan that includes any codes found and the freeze frame data associated with them. Also ask for a print out that lists the misfire counters and fuel trim numbers. Ask them to then clear the misfire counter. I have found that when helping old customers that have moved to other locations that asking for this information will help to get a technician assigned to the job with better training.

And please keep us updated with what is found. I care about boaters and it will help all of us learn about these newer engines.

 

[showar01]

Great suggestion...will ask for this info!

Thanks again.

 

[gerryvz]

Hi all - was out today and got the engine alarm (3 beeps) and yellow warning indicator. I didn't realize I had trimmed up the drive significantly in a rough channel, as such believe it may triggered the alarm. Temp, Pressure, etc all ok. Docked to assess and all looked ok. Upon departing noticed the drive trimmed way too high and think that may have caused the alarm/warning. I trimmed down and no alarm, but engine warning indicator still illuminated. Also, rev limiter triggered so can't go above 3K rpm. Got boat back to my marina and wondering if a way to reset the warning indicator or do I need a tech to address? Pretty sure I know the cause and it must have triggered some kind of emission fault or something. Engine is 2019 with 120 hours. Overall runs great, and had no issues getting back to marina, although only dong about 10 knots. I heard the MIL may reset after 3 successful trips/outings? Would a battery disconnect also prompt a reset? Appreciate any advice! Thanks.

You can reset the trim yourself - it's an easy process on a Regal 28 Express with the Volvo V8-300 or 350 engines. You do it via the small LCD Volvo Penta engine monitoring screen to the left of the steering wheel and ahead of the throttle control.

Takes all of a couple of mins. This will erase the alarm, 3K RPM limiter, and yellow warning light.

No need to pay anyone to mess with it - you can do it very simply yourself. Follow the gauge - self explanatory.

 

[showar01]

Thanks. I only have the MIL indicator which shows the yellow engine light or red warning light, its not a panel or screen that can be manipulated. It is to the left of wheel, but no buttons or anything, just visual. If you are familiar with the process to reset let me know. I am going to try and do the 3 start ups to see if it resets, and have it in queue to have codes scanned/reset, but would love any advice on how to do myself. Tx!

 

[gerryvz]

Your boat doesn't have this little LCD screen on the lower dashboard?
I thought all Regal Express models post-2016 had these.



This thread should help you:

2017 Volvo Penta inboard check engine light, alarm, reduced RPMWe

We have a Volvo Penta 300hp v8 inboard that has low hours (40) on it and are getting a yellow check engine light, alarm, and reduced RPMs. It runs ok when restarted but then alarms again. New to inboard motors. Appreciate any ideas on what’s causing it. Have been waiting 3 weeks for a mechanic...

forums.iboats.com

You need to re-calibrate your Power Trim Assistant (PTA) as indicated in that thread on the LCD screen. It's menu driven and you use the arrow keys and the OK button to navigate to the PTA screen and then use the self-guided process to re-calibrate it.

 

[showar01]

Nope, I have an MIL only no screen. Its a 2019 bud didn't have the engine data screen option added. Would be worth getting one though! On the list to see if it can added next year. Tx

 

[muc]

You can reset the trim yourself - it's an easy process on a Regal 28 Express with the Volvo V8-300 or 350 engines. You do it via the small LCD Volvo Penta engine monitoring screen to the left of the steering wheel and ahead of the throttle control.

Takes all of a couple of mins. This will erase the alarm, 3K RPM limiter, and yellow warning light.

No need to pay anyone to mess with it - you can do it very simply yourself. Follow the gauge - self explanatory.

@gerryvz has an engine package with EVC, that includes the engine monitor screen.
@showar01 doesn't have an EVC equipped engine so they won't have the engine monitor.

Sorry but no way to clear codes without a scan tool.
Remember that if this engine goes into RPM reduction mode the next time you run it, I highly recommend that you quit using the boat until it can be scanned and fixed. RPM reduction can point to a very serious problem that might cause further damage. The 3 trip thing only clears a MIL light, it won't do anything for RPM reduction.

 

[showar01]

Thanks for clarification! Will be checking this weekend, but in queue for scan. Appreciate the input.

 

[gerryvz]

If you recalibrate the trim (PTA), it removes the warning light and PTA indicator and also will no longer artificially limit the RPM to 3,000. But if you don't have the monitoring screen, then probably best left to a professional as said. I wasn't aware that having that screen was an option - I thought it standard for all 28 Express Regals with the Gen V engines (2016 or later).

 

[showar01]

Update - boat out yesterday and MIL cleared as believe 3 starts since it was triggered, but no warning lights or sounds with the short cruise. However, still rev limited so going to have techs check out.

 

[muc]

Something is wrong here, If the engine computer triggers RPM reduction it will also turn on the MIL light. If the problem goes away, RPM reduction ends immediately or at the next key cycle but the MIL will stay on for three trips.
So if you have reduced RPM and no MIL light it's not the computer that's reducing the RPM.

I'm very interested to learn the resolution to this problem.

 

[gerryvz]

The 3 trip thing only clears a MIL light, it won't do anything for RPM reduction.

I think this is exactly what @showar01 experienced. No amber PTA-related MIL and no audible alarms, but the RPMs still reduced. I guess there is no way to initiate a reset/default calibration without the EVC system installed?

From what I have read, it is not cheap to have the VP EVC system installed after the fact.

 

[showar01]

Hoping to have engine checked this week to confirm faults and see what's up. Will report back. I thought that if the engine is EVC compatible it can be configured and/or linked into the garmin system which currently allows for chart, sonar, radar, etc. Wouldn't think it would be too complicated or expense, but who knows. Going to explore it for next season.

 

[gerryvz]

I have a Garmin GPSMap 742, which is fully integrated with the Volvo EVC system and works nicely. You can custom configure the Garmin's screens to display gauges and information from the Volvo system. It's pretty slick. The 742 is also integrated with the Garmin VHF-110 marine radio in terms of supplying GPS coordinates.

The fuel consumption information for the EVC display is valuable. If you can get your boat retrofitted, I'd recommend it. If you can, go one jump up from the basic LCD EVC screen that I have (which I put a picture of above) and go with the slightly larger model, which gives more info.