Check engine and audible alarm 300 v8 C-A

[BimmerAgent]

HI- I have a 2013 220 WSS with the Volvo Penta 300 V8 C-A engine. It has about 165 hours, runs and starts great, idles fine, has plenty of power, no stumbling, is not running hot, and has good oil pressure at any RPM according to the gauge. We just put about 40 hours on it at Flaming Gorge in Utah/WY.

But, I sometimes get the scrolling Check Engine warning and single audible beep. It sometimes clears itself with the engine running, and sometimes it clears after re-starting the engine. I can't really nail down a pattern, except that it seems to occur most often when coming off a high speed/high RPM run (cruising) or off of a pull, such as when you cut the throttle quickly when a boarder goes down.

I'm hoping for some direction as to where to look for the problem. I don't have a Rinda. I have read here and elsewhere that the exhaust temp sensors could be suspect. I think there are four on my engine, two on each riser elbow, and two on the lower part of each riser. Could they be the problem? Would all four fail at once? The alarm concerns me even though the engine runs great and the gauge readings are normal.

Does anyone know if you can rent a Rinda or Techmate tool for diagnosis? I'm fairly mechanically inclined, so I am hoping for some help in this diagnosis so I can attempt a repair myself.

Thanks.

[BimmerAgent]

Does anybody have input?

[cnyboater]

With 100's of possible codes, it's a guessing game.

[Titaniumboy]

Is there no way to tap into the Volvo Penta engine data system?

The Mercury engines have something called Vessel View Mobile that is able to read the engine codes. Only costs about $200. Is there something similar for VP engines?

[BimmerAgent]

I think there may be, but it may also be for newer engines. I think it's called Easy Connect.

[Big Block Power]

Double check with fox Marine I think they make something to interface with volvo also.

[BimmerAgent]

Closest dealer to me wants $500 for the kit plus $195 to install. Seems pretty pricey to me.

[bcromwell]

Had the same issue, Replaced the spark plugs and plug wires and the issue went away

You can get the Easy Connect for about 400$ online and it's plug and play, Took maybe 2 minutes after I found the connector. Unfortunately (or fortunately) I did the plugs/wires at the same time as the Easy connect so I can't tell you if a code was popped when the problem occurred but has been running perfect the whole season

[herbk@comcast.net]

I have a similar issue with the check engine warning light and the single audible beep. Also a VP 300 HP V-8 engine but 2020 vintage. The manual says
about the indicators on the side mount throttle/control:

"This window has three icons that will light, based
on driveline input;
Neutral position. The symbol shows that the drive
is not in gear.
The triangle icon lights up if the EVC system has
registered a fault; refer to Fault Code Register for
information.
The MIL (malfunction indicator lamp) lights up if the
engine’s emission control system has registered a
fault.
At engine start, with the ignition on and the engine
not running, the MIL will light on the control. This is
a test of the MIL and does not indicate faults with
the engine. The MIL will disappear when the engine
is running. If the MIL stays on when the engine is
running, engine faults are present. See an
authorized Volvo Penta dealer for fault diagnosis."

From this, I see that if the MIL (engine icon, amber light) remains
lit (as in my case), the fault is with the engine's emission control system, which
won't be identified thru the EVC or the Warning Manager.
I doubt the Easy Connect would be of any help here. It would have to go in for diagnostics.
My two cents.

[BimmerAgent]

Well I can now report that the issue has been resolved. I took the boat to the nearest dealer who scanned and found "ghost" codes and some "real" codes. The "real" codes pointed toward a throttle position sensor problem. Dealer suggested replacing the throttle position sensor, which is located at the throttle body and is not replaceable by itself. You have to buy the complete throttle body assembly to get a new throttle position sensor. So I bit and they installed it. The lake test failed, so that particular part ($700) was not the problem. But wait, there's more. Unbeknownst to me, and not disclosed by the dealer, there are TWO throttle position sensors on this engine. They had one in stock and offered it to me at cost ($280) with no charge for installation. Took them 10 minutes to install it. I have now put about 40 hours on the engine since the second TPS install, and I have not had a single beep or CEL since. The boat is a pleasure again. I just wish that I had known about the two sensors as I might have replaced the lower cost one first. Oh well, I'm glad it's fixed.

[Kenboat]

Glad the problem was resolved. Does any dealer offer parts diagrams to Volvo Penta engines?
Would like to see the twp TB position sensors.

[jhnmdahl]

Glad the problem was resolved. Does any dealer offer parts diagrams to Volvo Penta engines?
Would like to see the twp TB position sensors.

Marinepartseurope has a pretty good parts database online. Looks like his throttle body (and integral sensor) are:

https://marinepartseurope.com/en/dealer ... tle%20Body

Not sure about the second sensor...

[herbk@comcast.net]

Glad the problem was resolved for you.
My issue with the MIL (Multifunction Indicator Lamp) was diagnosed via an engine code and led to replacement of two (2) of the O2 sensors, one each side. It was able to be handled under warranty (so far) and I have not seen any additional faults reported to the display via the VEC. The Easy Connect app via the mobile blue tooth connection displays only non-active alarms. Good to go.