I've got 2000 Champ and the gauges are dropping like flies. First the tach started acting up (still works) then the water pressure gauge quit working and now the trim gauge isn't working. Is this typical of this era of boats? Could I just replace the gauges or is it deeper? Any insight would be great.
Thanks in advance
Modified by SPLC0668 at 11:35 AM 8/3/2009
Modified by SPLC0668 at 11:35 AM 8/3/2009
2000 Champion 193
2000 Merc 200 EFI
That don't sound to typical. I had that same boat till recently & never had the 1st problem out of any of my gauges. Wish I could tell ya where to start, someone will be along to give you a hand. I sure do miss my 193.
First, welcome to the ChampioN forum. You'll find a lot of friendly helpful folks here. With that you will also notice there's no anonymity here, so please go into your profile and let us know who you are and where you are. We are up front and on a first name basis here.
I've got some info typed up to post as soon as you get your profile updeted ...
Welcome aboard! I have a 2000 187 and I've lost my tach, but all my other guages are working. I haven't fixed my tach yet...
25th Anniversary Champion 187 SCX Elite
Mercury 175 EFI
Perception Pescador Pro 120 Kayak
Aquos 10ft Pontoon Boat
Those three should not be related. I'd make sure everything is OK on the engine before changing the tach. Water pressure gages go bad, normally freeze sometime during the winter or get clogged in the summer. DId you check for a clog in your pickup?
The sending unit in the engine is a likely culprit on the trim gage. A mechanic can check that with an ohm meter and let you know if it's the gage or the sending unit.
Boat= Break Out Another Thousand.
Like Johnthan said in his post, it's not typical for gauges fail, although they can. A lot of the problems can be traced back to the unit sending the information. A few questions will help us get started.
What is your tach doing? Jumping around and sometime just not working at all? Could be that one of the voltage regulators is on its way out. I also have a 200 EFI and just went through this problem about a year ago. They way to check is to move the gray wire from one voltage regulator to the other. The gray wire runs to the tach and will only be connected to one of the VRs. If this cures the problem, replace the defective VR with a Mercury replacement. I had to build me aabout a 4" jumper with a bullet connector on one end and socket on the other to get it to reach. They've had issues with aftermarket regulators. Both Sherm's Marine and EuropeanAM on the Merc board offer discounts to BBC members.
When did the water pressure gauge quit ... over winter? You'll see a lot of pressure gauges fail due to water in the gauge freezing. If it doesn't return to zero, it is pretty well toast. If it is on zero, but never moves, could be the pressure hose or a T-stat or poppet issue with your motor or could be time for a new impeller if you're getting hot. The water pressure and speedometer are the only two non-electrical gauges and depend solely on pressure to operate.
Tilt gauge could be the sending unit on the motor. Pinned near the top of the Champion forum is a post named Champion Information and OEM Links for more Champ info. In there I have links to Teleflex's troubleshooting guides for the different gauges. There is a procedure there for testing the Trim & Tilt gauge.
Good Luck and holler if you need further help!
Modified by Tx Champ at 12:25 PM 8/3/2009
Yeah, the tach is jumping around. At idle sometimes the needle will just go up to 5 or 6k but then go right back down. Also sometimes while running down the lake it will just be off by 2 or 3k rpm.
The water pressure gauge was working at the beginning of the season but it slowly started to get higher and higher and would stay there while the motor was running it would move but now the needle has gone all the way around the gauge and is now pointing down and not moving at all. But I know my water pump is fine.
For the trim gauge I'll check the teleflex guides and I'll post again if I have questions.
Thanks for all of your help so far!
2000 Champion 193
2000 Merc 200 EFI
Try the other voltage regulator like I mentioned in my first post on your tach issue. If it straightens out, you have a bad VR.
On the water pressure, there should be a T fitting near the top of the motor between the top cylinders. This is the line to the pressure gauge. Might pull it apart there and see if the gauge returns. Also pull the hose off the back of the gauge and see if it returns. You could have a plugged hose, but I doubt it. With both ends disconnected, blow through it and make sure there are no restrictions. Just trying to eliminate all the possibilities before sending you after an new gauge.
I'm looking at my motor now. Is the "top" of the engine really the bottom? That's the only place I find a t-fitting and where the tubes run I think it is the t fiiting you talk about. Also which VR do I disconnect the grey wire from, top or bottom? And then where do I connect it back to the other?
Thanks again,
2000 Champion 193
2000 Merc 200 EFI
Your 200 is a lot newer than mine so the T fitting may be on the bottom.
On the VR there should also be a gray wire coming out of each of them. On one it is plugged into the gray wire going to the Tach and on the other VR it is unused and my be doubled back and zip tied so you cant really see it well. or at least it was on mine.
The bottom VR has the grey wire going to the tach but on the top it is looped around the bolt that holds the VR on. Also on both of the grey wires there is a connection about 2 inches away from where the wire goes into the VR, can I disconnect that and plug the bottom one in?
2000 Champion 193
2000 Merc 200 EFI
Yes, just switch the gray wire going to the tach from one VR to the other one.
I'm about to shut down and head home, but will get back on as soon as I can.
Hang on, Ben...
TxChamp knows his stuff!
Sorry ... I've been back on about 10 min.
I've got the tach figured out I just need some wiring stuff. But for the water pressure gauge, there is a tube that comes from the lower unit (pick-up I assume) to the t-fitting then the tube goes to the top of the engine, splits and goes into the engine. Then out of the t-fitting the third tube goes out of the back of the whole unit. Am I looking at the right place? This doesn't appear to go anywhere towards the front of the motor.
2000 Champion 193
2000 Merc 200 EFI
If all else fails, there are two small rubber hoses (1/8" or 3/16") coming from the motor and heading up to the console with the bundle coming out of the cowling. The speedometer pitot hose comes from the lower unit and on my motor, comes out at the bottom of the steering pivot pin. The other will be the water pressure. May be easier just to trace it back and eliminate the speedo.
In the mean time, I'm trying to get some info off Teleflex's site
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