Microtuners Overcurrent Circuit Fault

[Rednucleus]

Good day and thanks for allowing me to join the forum. Kind of long 1st post but I think needed to see my thinking!
This post is about our 2019 Nautique club boat, private lake use only. Last fall we got a microtuner overcurrent fault that would repeat each time reset. We found the tuner points had been slightly bent causing excess drag in the plate; straightened them and all was well. The fault has recurred; pulled cover off stern and found nice straight tuners. Unhooked from the actuators (each tuner has one) and they slid freely. Reset and went back out w/o tuners hooked to actuators (to isolate motors from hardware) and they deployed correctly several cycles. Then hooked up left side and fault came back - great, that must be a bad actuator! Tried other side by itself, faulted again. Tried both unhooked once again and still got the fault. They are currently staying in the deployed/down position; screen says "microtuners unknown"; also at times says "microtuner error" during our tests. Here's my thinking based on our troubleshooting & my questions:
1. Seems unlikely that both actuators are failing, though possible. Wondering if dealer could read a code showing which is bad since they are on the same circuit, but suspect it doesn't work that way. Maybe by cycling several times in testing we made a weak one cranky?? I could unhook lead to each one to isolate test, but looks like lots of waterproofing on the connection.
2. I assume sensor is a software read vs an actual part that can be tested/changed.
3. For each test we have to put boat on trailer, re-launch and run down lake. I know there's a dealer/demo mode; can we access that so we can run the actuators on the trailer to make trouble shooting easier?
Thanks in advance. I have only found one other brief mention of a microtuner problem in my internet searches, so I assume it's a pretty reliable system.
Red

[NautiqueJeff]

It must be a somewhat rare issue, since this is the first microtuner issue I have heard about. Granted, we don't have very many people on this site with the newer Ski Nautiques.

I have a contact at Nautique who may be able to help. Let me check in with him tomorrow and get back to you.

[NautiqueJeff]

Heard from my contact. He's actually the one who came up with the idea of the microtuners and the one who designed them.

Here's what he said.

There are test codes that the dealer can enter to be able to test each one individually or if they get the connector inside by removing the rear lean back they could unplug one at a time without disturbing the “waterproofing” on the outside.

Could be a failed actuator(s). The side that got bent may have damaged the actuator or may have some residual drag from galling that could continue to cause faults.

[Rednucleus]

Thanks for the quick response & great info - I will pass it on to the boss! I promise an update when the problem is corrected.

[Rednucleus]

So, finally back with an update. New actuators are ordered. The info our club owner was given is that microtuner actuator failures have been quite common even in boats with just 200 hours on them. Apparently water intrusion and corrosion are the culprits. Their understanding is a different design or upgrade is being used. Since not many newer Ski Nautique owners here, It would be interesting for you folks to ask your dealers their experience the next time you see them.

[tandcc]

I have had a similar experience and am taking my 2019 to the shop this week to have the overcurrent fixed. I did think it was surprising that the service manager showed me they have microtuners in stock. Made me think it is a common problem.

[Rednucleus]

How many hours on your 2019 tandcc? Warranty repair??

[FMSKI]

I haven't seen the micro tuners in action but I wanted to talk about design of and some why nots....

For years I ran L-R wake tuners and now have planned a manual pair of wake gates, which I call Stereo Gates (left / right). These are going to have two thumb screws that you back-off, drop the gate plate and re-tighten.

Now the L-R gates provide a triple rooster effect by lowering the main rooster, and providing a fill-in rooster either side. The gates also lift the stern and increase wetted surface for a better overall wake. In addition to that they stabilize the hull, in a triangular effect, so when I am coming off the ball/turn the line feels "right there".

This was the abominable skier shock I had with hydro-gate. Obviously hydro-gate does a great job of stern lift and it's a cool solution (vertical plate) but man the spray gusher coming out the back and the RPM costs/fuel load is significant! Plus it does nothing for hull stabilization. However the 200 is a wide hull so that is a pretty stable platform anyway.

So my design question is why not have a triple tuner, more distributed function. I would bend the hydro gate so it's more flow friendly as well. That might contradict some patents (eg tige) so not sure it's doable.

[tandcc]

My boat has about 300hrs. Microtuners started having to be reset every ski set at around 200 hours. About 20 hours later they would only work correctly after reset and boat out of the water overnight. I quit resetting them at about 250 hours because I did not want to be without the boat during the peak of ski season. Now I have had the hinge screws pull through the door on one of the ski lockers. On further inspection it is obvious the hinges on that door were installed crooked from the factory and this caused them to bind. One other thing… a friend asked me what the button on my throttle control was. I said it is the neutral lock and tried it. Does not work. I never noticed because I had never needed it. All covered by warranty.

[Rednucleus]

Our neutral lock button only works on occasion, and never when we really want it to.

[jpwhit]

The current Ski Nautique is overly complicated IMO and not enough benefit to justify the complexity. My club's 2012 200 has been a great boat and completely trouble free for over 2000 hours. My personal 2019 ProStar has also been completely trouble free and skis great!

You guys need to get your throttle base assemblies replaced before your warranty runs out. Micro tuner actuators seem to last a couple of season's at most.

[Rednucleus]

Yeah, our every day club boat is a 2014 200 with over 4000 hrs now and just getting warmed up. Great boat to ski behind.