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I have two - 225 Optimax's with the full array of Smartcraft gauges. These things do everything but wipe your butt, except for one thing, at least as far as I can tell. It will give me fuel burn rate, mpg, fuel remaining, but unless I am missing something, I cannot figure out how to get total fuel burned. I want to be able to set it to zero, run all day, and have the gauge tell me how many gallons I burned. Even from the manual it does not appear that the gauges do this simple function.
The fuel remaining would seemeingly work, except the calibration procedure leaves alot of room for error. I don't like that, I want to know exactly what I have used so that I know exactly what is left.
Help me Mercury people.
(This is very simple on my Yamaha fuel management gauge, go figure)
I feel your pain--been there--done that. On your SmartCraft System Monitor as you cycle through the options using the mode button you will see on one of the early screens the display of gallons used. To reset simply hold both buttons down for 2 seconds. Let go and you should see it reset to 0 gal used--do every trip and its very accurate, I know just how much fuel to put back in after every trip.
Since we are on the subject of Smart Craft gauges, the LCD on my Speedometer went blank this weekend. Yeterday morning it was working fine, then in the afternoon, I noticed the display went blank.
Right now, my tach gauges are working fine and the speedometer needle is working. Just not the LCD.
Anyone know what the problem might be? I hope it's just a busted gauge because I'd hate to take the boat back to the dealer and be without a boat for next weekend.
John your gauges should have a fuel burned and your suppose to just hold the mode and eithier the + or - at the same time to reset but Mercury just replaced my gauges and last week when I picked it back up it no longer showed the fuel burned. I have been thinking and will let you know tommorow that you go to setup mode and probable have to turn it on if not the new model smart craft doesn't have it. My manual for the orginal gauges has the fuel burned and how to reset. They didn't give me a new manual so I figured they were the same I'll let you know tomorow for sure . Also calibration of the gauge for fuel in setup you should just have to set the number of gallons tank you have and then just hit default for each of the fuel tank settings not manual enter each one.
Ivan maybe a fuse? or check for loose wire or ground wire. When they replaced my gauges they found a lot of loose ground wires solved all my issues with gauges and high idle on the motor
I will look for fuses. Do you have any idea how these gauges are fused? I have a 23' Whaler Conquest.
I'm going to take apart the gauge panel tonight to inspect the wiring. If I don't find anything, I plan to head over to the dealer to buy a service manual which I hope will document how the things are wired up.
Probably the gauge itself. Already had dealer replace a gauge with less than ten hours on it. Working fine, then couldn't scroll to next function. Went to get lunch came back and gauge was replaced, took all of 15 minutes. This wasn't the first, according to dealer.
fwiw
Good news. I tested the gauge again tonight and the LCD still wouldn't turn all. I then took the panel off and disconnected the plug to the gauge. The connectors looked clean so I plugged it back in. I immediately turned on the starboard ignition, heard some noise that sounded like an air pump, and then the LCD lite up!!
So for now the problem has been fixed. I'm still leary that it might happen again but I'll monitor it this summer to see if problem persist. If it does, I'll mention it to the dealer come winter when it's time for service.
Picked up my '02 225 Edgewater CC last month with a 200 Merc Opti. 20 hours, so far so good. That is except for the gauges. I get alot of condensation buildup in 'em. Any of you all have this problem? I'm gonna take it in next week.
I've had my boat for 3 months now but only got 10 hours on it. Never noticed any condenstation in the gauges but then again, I have a hardtop so there is almost never direct sunlight on them.
What's the verdict on the total fuel burned gauge? Is it just a matter of turning it on or has it been eliminated on the newer gauges? I can't find it on my smartcraft gauges either.
I have twin 225 opti's and the guages are fine and do show full burned.When I first turn key it tells me what system Ihave and I think the next thing it shows is thye hours on motor then fuel used,then fuel being burned at the time and so on and so on.
Well, I got the scoop. The 2000 and 2001 Merc gauges do not, will not, can not show total fuel burned. Mercury realized the idiocy of that setup and changed the 2002 gauges so that total fuel burned will show.
