2001 Ski Nautique

[CHassmann]

Try AutoZone for the alternator. The guy that replaced the alternator in our neighbors's '98 found one that looks exactly the same as the original.

[Rednucleus]

It might look the same,but if not marine rated you increase the risk of explosion

[NautiqueJeff]

Ok, I pulled the dash today and replaced the PerfectPass display.

Before:


After:

[CHassmann]

AutoZone does sell marine alternators and other marine parts.

[NautiqueJeff]

Pulled the alternator today and will take it to the rebuild place tomorrow. I talked to them this morning and they think they can have it complete this week.

[NautiqueJeff]

Took the alternator to the rebuilder today. I had him test it while I was there, and wouldn't you know it tested out just fine!

He thinks it was wired incorrectly. I showed him a picture of how it was wired in the boat, and he gave me some suggestions. I'll remount it using his wiring suggestions and see if that fixes it.

Glad I thought to have him test it while I was there instead of paying for an unnecessary rebuild!

[NautiqueJeff]

Well, I reinstalled the alternator and wired it as the rebuilder suggested, and it still didn't work.

I searched around online and found a wiring issue that the rebuilder didn't catch. The big battery wire was run to the (P) terminal, and that isn't correct. On these alternators, the big battery wire goes to the (B) terminal.

I rewired it that way, and now I'm getting a nice 13+ volts. Went for a test ride this morning and it seemed to work great.

I installed the new PerfectPass gauge too, and it looks nice. I am having an issue where PP doesn't seem to be seeing the engine RPM's. I checked and rechecked the wiring, and it is correct. The tach works, so I know the signal is there and good. PerfectPass thinks it might be a bad RPM harness, which they said is very unusual. I'll keep messing with it and get it figured out.

The speedometer isn't registering any speed now. I'm pretty sure I hooked it up right, but I'll have to double-check.

The engine is still running cold, according to the temp gauge. Now that I can safely run it on the water without the battery dying, I'll hook up DIACOM to it and see what the engine temp really is and go from there.

For this morning, I am just glad to have the alternator working again (and I didn't have to buy a new one for $300, which is great!).

[NautiqueJeff]

Ok, good news and bad news on this one tonight.

First, the good. PerfectPass was correct, it WAS a bad RPM harness! I can't believe it, but I should know by now to listen to them. Their support is very good. I had an extra around here, so I put it on, and the problem was solved.

Also, the speedometer WAS wired correctly, but I had wired it to the posts on the outside of the mounting bracket. I pulled the gauge out of the dash (a pain because most of the SEVEN wires on this gauge don't have quick-disconnects, and they are SHORT wires). I then wired it up the same way, but directly to the back of the gauge instead of just to the posts outside of the bracket. Sure enough, that fixed it. Now I just need to reinstall it in the dash with the bracket, and we'll be good to go.

Now, the bad. The alternator still isn't perfect. Once it runs for a while and gets hot, it starts dropping voltage. By this evening, it was struggling to stay above 12 volts. I am just going to break down and buy a new one. I don't want to sell this boat with a possible alternator issue.

Here's the completely-working PerfectPass gauge, and the perfectly-calibrated (and working) speedometer.



This boat doesn't look bad in my boathouse. I kind of like it!

[jtryon]

NautiqueJeff i've been told by PP that you can't replace an older gauge without doing the whole upgrade to Stargazer, but it appears it worked fine for you. was that a direct replacement for a Wakeboard Pro gauge?

[NautiqueJeff]

No. This was already a Stargazer system, so the gauge was all that needed to be replaced.

[NautiqueJeff]

Replaced the alternator yesterday. I have just under 13 volts at idle.

Haven't taken it out yet because I am still waiting for the new thermostat from NautiqueParts. Not sure why it is taking so long to arrive. I ordered it on Monday, and according to the tracking number, it is still sitting at NP. I normally receive my parts within a day, so this is kind of odd.

Anyway, here's the voltmeter now at idle.

[NOTTEAK]

I'd check voltage at the battery and at the alt posts to verify your gauge is accurate. If you rev it will the needle move?


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[NautiqueJeff]

Ok, the thermostat finally arrived, and I installed it this morning.

Temperature is back to normal. I like it much better at 163 than I do at 125.

Further testing of the alternator revealed that it is putting out the proper 14+ volts. The dash gauge is reading a little low, and so is the voltage display on the PerfectPass. I'll install new ground wires from the gauges to the battery, and that will take care of the inaccuracy there. I'm just glad the new alternator is working!

[NautiqueJeff]

Ok, the mechanical work on this boat is officially wrapped up.

Alternator / Voltage issue fixed.
Thermostat replaced, so engine is running at 163 as designed.
Steering adjusted so that the wheel is straight.
PerfectPass servo motor and cables replaced, and PerfectPass works great now.
PerfectPass calibration is complete.
Speedometer is adjusted to match the GPS reading from PerfectPass Stargazer (as best it can using the paddlewheel input).
Gauges are properly-mounted in the dash.

Here's the PerfectPass engaged in Slalom mode. Notice that it is almost perfectly-matched against the speedometer and the tachometer.



Tomorrow I will pull the boat out of the water, give the outside a good wash, and pull it over to the world-famous BBC here in Mooresville, NC, where we'll detail the interior, refinish the platform, and address any last items (like mounting the PerfectPass Master Module and Zbox).

Then it is ready to be sold!

[NautiqueJeff]

This one is off to the world-famous BBC here in Mooresville, NC tomorrow for the final detail.