Perfect Pass or Speedo problem on 06 Air Nautique 226

[shepherd1000]

Hi everyone. This is my first post here. I've recently been having problems with my Perfect Pass, which had previously functioned perfectly. With Perfect Pass engaged in wakeboard mode, the speed began to fluctuate occasionally, varying as much as plus or minus 2 mph. This resulted in Perfect Pass causing the engine to throttle up and down. This fluctuation is now occurring more rapidly. I checked the paddle wheel speedo, and it spins freely with all four paddles intact. (For whatever it's worth, the paddle wheel speedo is mounted on the port side of the transom, but it previously worked fine there, and I don't see any changes on the underside of the hull or in the propeller that should be causing any turbulence/aeration around the speedo.) I next began to change the Perfect Pass KDW and NN settings away from the factory settings (KDW = 85, NN = 60). No matter what values I tried, this didn't have any effect whatsoever on the problem. I noticed today that with Perfect Pass disengaged, the mph reading on both my regular speedo gauge and the Perfect Pass speedo are fluctuating up and down, even though there is no change in the actual speed of the boat. All of this suggests to me that either my paddle wheel speedo sensor is malfunctioning, or there is a problem related to the wiring from the paddle wheel speedo. Does this make sense? On Monday, I'm going to call the people at Perfect Pass to see what they suggest. But for now, does anyone have any suggestions or advice?

[j2nh]

Is your tac or any of the other gauges showing any variation?

What does the volt meter on the Perfect Pass display show (you get to it through one of the menu screens)?

Guys at PP are very good to work with. If you email you will generally get a response that day.

[shepherd1000]

None of the other gauges, including the tachometer, is showing any variation. I'll have to check out the voltage on the Perfect Pass display tomorrow when I'm on my boat. What should it be reading--12V?

[j2nh]

Step.1. With the key off, unplug all plugs from the Master Module, except the Display.
Step.2. Turn key on and go to the Battery Voltage reading on the PerfectPass Display. (Press Menu & Up Keys together, then press the Menu key. Make a note of the battery voltage displayed).
Step.3 Now plug in the paddle wheel plug. The displayed voltage should not change.

Try this also.
Drive boat in RPM mode at a value of 2800 RPM. When RPM is locked on, watch PerfectPass digital speed reading. It should only be varying by one or 2 tenth’s. If it is varying more than this, then the paddle signal to PerfectPass is not consistent.

[shepherd1000]

Thanks, j2nh. I'll try this tomorrow and report here what I find.

[shepherd1000]

Hmmm...I recall this morning looking at where the Perfect Pass display harness goes. It leads to a black box that is much bigger than and does not look like the DBW Master Module pictured in the Perfect Pass 2006 Correct Craft Troubleshooting Manual. So, please excuse me for being a newb, but where might I find the Master Module?

[j2nh]

Master module is what everything plugs into.
Not sure which model you have but on my 196 the module is located on the wall under the passengers seat.

[NautiqueJeff]

If your boat is DBW, there is no master module. PP just connects to the Faria Gateway Box.

[shepherd1000]

I'm definitely confused. I've tried googling Faria Gateway to see a picture of it and to see if this is what I've got, but I can't seem to find such a picture. Does anyone know what one of these looks like? Like I said, on my boat, the Perfect Pass display has a harness that leads under the dash and connects to a black box. The other dash instruments also connect to this box. Sounds like this box might be the Faria Gateway, but I'd still like a description or picture to confirm this. At any rate, if I do have a Faria Gateway, then how do I go about testing my paddle wheel?

[NautiqueJeff]

You have a Faria Gateway box for sure, but only DBW boats do not have the PP Master Module. It sounds like you found the gateway box. The other connections from the dash would go there too.

[shepherd1000]

Sorry for my continuing confusion over this, but the following is from the "Perfect Pass for 2006 CorrectCraft - Electronic Throttle Troubleshooting" manual:

"The PerfectPass “Drive by Wire” (DBW) system for new electronic throttle
engines results in a simplified and enhanced version of PerfectPass. From the drivers seat, PerfectPass operation is virtually identical to the present mechanical systems. PerfectPass is now comprised of just three main parts on S.E. Boats only:
1. DBW Master Control Module
2. DBW Plug & Play Engine Wiring Harness
3. In-Dash Display
Servo motors, throttle cables, etc. are not required on these engines.
On Limited models, PerfectPass software resides on the Faria “Gateway”. PerfectPass only supplies a dash display."

Isn't this saying that DBW boats *do* have Master Modules? And what are "S.E. Boats"?

[NautiqueJeff]

SE is Signature Edition. If you have a Limited or Team Edition, your software resides on the Faria Gateway, and you do not have a Master Module.

[shepherd1000]

Okay, thanks for clarifying that. I have a Team Edition, and that would explain why I'm not finding a Master Module. At any rate, as suggested by j2nh, today I set PerfectPass to RPM mode and set it for 2800 RPM. When PerfectPass engaged at 2800RPM, the digital speed reading on PerfectPass was all over the place. This seems to confirm then that something's wrong with the paddle wheel speedo sensor or the wiring from it to PerfectPass. As it's still under warranty, I'll let my dealer sort the problem out.

[NautiqueJeff]

Sounds like a plan. Good luck with it, and let us know what the issue was.

[shepherd1000]

Thanks. Will do.