Suzuki engine hour meters

A

Alok

New member
I have twin Suzuki 150s on my Tomcat.

The Suzuki engine hour meters keep dying- the third set has bit the dust. The boat is only an year old. They do not die simultaneously- first one goes, and then the other.

I cannot believe that Suzuki would sell something that was this unreliable. I wonder if this is a problem specific to my boat, or have any of you also had a similar experience?

And yes, each set of guages was installed by Suzuki certified technicians.
 
My first two meters died early--but the replacements have held up fine. (I ran the new meters on a 12 volt power supply to give the same hour reading as the origionals)

I doubt if Suzuki actually makes these guages--they are most likely sub contracted out. There may be another solution--I ended up with an extra Lowrance LMF 200 multipurpose guage for the CD 25. These guages will hook up to the Suzuki engines directly and read multiple functions--including fuel used off the engine metering system--and hours run. This might be a better alternative--and you will get digital "paddlewheel speed, GPS speed, tachometer, battery voltage, alternator voltage, engine temperature, water pressure, engine oil pressure, fuel pressure, boost pressure, transmission oil pressure, atmospheric pressure, temperature, depth, engine loads, engine hours, fuel flow, fuel economy, fuel remaining, fuel used, fuel range, trip fuel used, seasonal fuel used, engine synchronizer, fluid level, GPS position, trim tab position, engine trim position, and engine alarms and warnings" (according to Lowrance).
 
Bob I have been unable to have anyone tell me if my DF115 has nmea 2000. When I was at SBS last year the dealers would just say what is that.
Does your DF150 have it or is there another way hook this gauge up to the engine? It would be nice to get some of that info. I seen one of these powered up and was a little disappointed at the display (looks like the screen on my first laptop about 15 years ago) But I could live with that if that info was in my hands.
 
Bob and others:

Thanks for the feedback. The Lowrance is an intriguing possibility. I guess I would need one for each motor. The price is about $120 each, though.

I am still unclear as to why the Suzuki meters keep going belly up. Of course, the the main engine gauges provide the approximate engine hours, and the engine computer download gives the exact hours, so the our meters are not truly essential. However, it is good to be able to enter the engine hours in the log after each trip.

Oh well...

Alok
 
If you have the Suzuki tach with the four LEDS at the bottom, you can get the hours from that as well. When you turn the key on and don't start the motor the tach will read the computers hours and display with the help of the manual to figure out how to read it. I think I would put a voltage meter on the leads to one of your hour meters. If you get a Fluke meter they have a min max function that can record the min and max voltages to see if you are going over voltage for some reason. As said earlier Suzuki probally doesn't make the meter, just has there name put on it. It looks identical to the Teliflex.
 
jkidd":v6mm7wwb said:
If you have the Suzuki tach with the four LEDS at the bottom, you can get the hours from that as well. When you turn the key on and don't start the motor the tach will read the computers hours and display with the help of the manual to figure out how to read it. I think I would put a voltage meter on the leads to one of your hour meters. If you get a Fluke meter they have a min max function that can record the min and max voltages to see if you are going over voltage for some reason. As said earlier Suzuki probally doesn't make the meter, just has there name put on it. It looks identical to the Teliflex.
Click to expand...

To read engine hours from the tach, if it's less than 540, the tach will read it as 1900 RPM = 190 hours. 3500 RPM = 350 hours, etc.

This is after it buzzes for three seconds. When it gets above 540, the overrev light will blink once and then the tach reads the hours OVER 540. So if it reads 1000, the engine hours are 540 plus 100 or 640. A pretty foolproof system, no way to run it back that I know of. If someone wants a printout of the manual that spells this out, let me know.

Charlie
 
We have a box full of Suzuki hour meters and after replacing replacements, we now get them from West Marine.

The coolest thing is the Suzuki 2" SMIS multi function gauge. Not only does it read engine hours, it also will give you fuel flow, trim, rpm etc.

This works with all EFI motors, DF40 - DF 300. Check out "accessories" on the Suzuki Marine web site. You need the gauge and the items listed as part of the 4" gauge kit. The engine interface cable plugs in on the motor where you hook up the diagnostic system (SDS).

Bob
 
The Suzuki SMIS guage is the same one I mentioned from Lowrance--and made by Lowrance--just rebadged. You need a cable to hook up these guages to the port on the suzuki wiring.

The tach hours are very rough, and not close enough for me to keep record of fuel flow etc.

One guage will read two engines--but I would prefer two guages. If not the two guages, then at least the 4" guage, which gives the same information.
 
Alok":1m2n6q5l said:
I have twin Suzuki 150s on my Tomcat.

The Suzuki engine hour meters keep dying- the third set has bit the dust. The boat is only an year old. They do not die simultaneously- first one goes, and then the other.

I cannot believe that Suzuki would sell something that was this unreliable. I wonder if this is a problem specific to my boat, or have any of you also had a similar experience?

And yes, each set of guages was installed by Suzuki certified technicians.
Click to expand...



Go to your local NAPA store, buy 2 $20.00 hour meters. 1 wire goes to - neg terminal of your electrical system the other goes to a ignition on source for each motor. It aint rocket surgery or brain sience. Good luck & have fun :mrgreen: :beer
 
tsturm:

No why didn't I think of that... :idea:

There are plenty of round 2" hour meters available for less than $25 that should fit the cutouts of my current meters.

This seems to be the simplest solution.

Thanks

Alok
 
thataway said:
The Suzuki SMIS guage is the same one I mentioned from Lowrance--and made by Lowrance--just rebadged. You need a cable to hook up these guages to the port on the suzuki wiring.

Bob I want to put a Lowrance LMF 200 on my 90 2007 Suzuki. I've done several searches here and on some of the other forums trying to determine what type cable I need I assume it hooks to the engine diagnostic plug? I haven't seen where you can get the cable. I contacted Lowrance but they haven't returned my message. Do you know where you might be able to find this cable? Local dealer wants $550 to do the install which I guess in the grand scheme of things that isn't two much.
Click to expand...
 
I think those little Sen Dec combination hour meter/ tachometers you can get from Cabelas is a pretty neat addition for a kicker motor. No wiring at all. Self contained, digital, internal battery operated, water tight, simple, with one read wire that you just wrap around a plug wire, for $40. And it reads only run time, not key left on time like most hard wires.

it's nice to get trolling speed fix as well as service time intervals. Wish I'd have known about it before I bought a fancier teleflex premium combination that I still can't figure out how to wire on my Johnson/Suzuki 10. The Sen Dec seems to work great initially, though I have no idea of it's long term stamina.

Sorry, I meant to place this "off target" message separately, but since this thread sparked the thought, I guess that's where it went.

Chris
 
I have twin DF40s. From new, one of the gauges lagged behind, and at about 15 hours, stopped completely. I replaced the gauge, and in the box was a cautionary instruction to not overtighten the two anchor nuts, or it would cause damage to the gauge. I hooked up the "broken" gauge and when the key was turned, it started working again. I loosened the funcutioning gauge, and installed the new one, just tight enough to hold in place, and then used anti-lock on the nuts. I re-synched the gauges, and they are within several tenths of each other, 50 hours later.
 
Marvin,
There is an ongoing discussion of this on "The Hull Truth" electronics forum. There was at least initially an error in the fuel consumption, which required some reprograming and calibration. I have not yet done this on my Suzuki's--I have seen the Suzuki cable--and instructions for installation are on that forum--you may have to do some searching.
 
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