2015 A28 limp mode

[Amilecz]

Hello guys,

I’m hoping someone smarter than me can help me out. Recently the boat developed a big problem and unfortunately, I can not find anyone in a 2 hour drive that could fix the boat before the summer.

After about 5-15 minutes of ride (engine runs perfect, all data on screen looks great) the boat just goes into limp mode without any warning. I did end up buying a Rinda Techmate Pro to diagnose the problem myself. I have the codes and I called Cobalt, however they aren’t telling me what the error codes mean. This is what I have:
3 Active faults:
First: SPN:698 Count:126 Failure mode 5 - current below normal or open circuit
Second: SPN:699 Count:126 Failure mode 5
Third: SPN:926 Count:126 Failure mode 5

All three has a description of aux output issues or aux power driver issues.

Anyone knows what sensors could cause this? Thanks

[Titaniumboy]

These are Volvo Penta fault codes.

SPN-698 FMi 5 (Oil pressure gauge driver voltage low)

SPN 699-FMi-5 (Trim gauge driver voltage low)

I’m not sure what SPN 926 code is for.

Do you have analog or digital gauges? If you have analog gauges then the SPN 698 and 699 alarm codes might be normal and have nothing to do with your problem.

[Amilecz]

Really appreciate your response. We have a partially digital/analog gauges, same as this picture

[AsLan7]

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So glad you found us amilecz.

Not sure about your codes and limp mode without being there.

Cobalt won’t help with that. A Volvo tech is the key. Any Volvo technicians near you or are they two hours away too? A phone call to them may be the best way to proceed.

And welcome aboard mate.

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[bruceb58]

Ae your gauges working properly...measuring oil pressure..?

Look at the back of your gauges and make sure no plugs have come out/loose.

[jhnmdahl]

If voltages on multiple gauges are low, I'd be looking at wiring as well, and at the battery age/condition and alternator/rectifier. You should see the voltage spike up well above 12v (13.7v is fairly typical if I recall) when the boat is running.

John

[Krob1114]

I was getting a low voltage message on our radar detector when used in my 2013 Mercedes. No message in my wife's vehicle. I put a new battery in and now there's no codes.

[stifflkd]

These are Volvo Penta fault codes.

SPN-698 FMi 5 (Oil pressure gauge driver voltage low)

SPN 699-FMi-5 (Trim gauge driver voltage low)

I’m not sure what SPN 926 code is for.

Do you have analog or digital gauges? If you have analog gauges then the SPN 698 and 699 alarm codes might be normal and have nothing to do with your problem.

Titaniumboy, do you have a list of VP codes. Looking to purchase a Rinda TechMate but if it only provides the code without some more detail it may not be worth it.

[Titaniumboy]

Sorry, I do not. I don’t even have a Volvo Penta. I had gleaned that information off of the web with my google-fu. There is an amazing lack of information regarding VP codes on the internet.

[nickmaute]

I’d like to chime in as we’re having a similar issue.

2015 Cobalt 220S / Volvo Penta V8 270hp / 120 hours

End of last season, we started getting an intermittent alarm, “check engine” flashing across the small digital portion of our speedometer (only at about 30mph or more). No engine performance issues, no limp mode, starts and restarts just fine. We have all analog meters, speedometer has small LCD screen where you can toggle through a few readings. Determined the batteries were going (had never been replaced in almost 8 years). Replaced both. No change in performance, still drives great, starts fine, etc.

After battery replacement, Alarms still fire when north of 3300rpms, 29+mph.

Hooked to computer and codes firing are SPN 697/698/699, FMI 5 on all. All related to low voltage on trim, temp, oil. gauges. All readings in normal range. Battery voltage about 14.2 on the lcd screen.

Took it to boat dealer. They seemed to think it’s the ECM. Spoke to several other Volvo dealers around the country and all say they’ve not seen ECMs go bad like this. Also hear if ECM is bad, it won’t start and problems are worse than this. Dealer attempted to manually clear the codes with computer but they came back.

Having another mechanic check the ground connections, alternator belt tension (a Volvo mechanic in WI recommended this), change spark plugs.

Will advise if these fix anything. Hopeful additional context to a similar problem helps everyone with a solution.

[AsLan7]

I’d like to chime in as we’re having a similar issue.

2015 Cobalt 220S / Volvo Penta V8 270hp / 120 hours

End of last season, we started getting an intermittent alarm, “check engine” flashing across the small digital portion of our speedometer (only at about 30mph or more). No engine performance issues, no limp mode, starts and restarts just fine. We have all analog meters, speedometer has small LCD screen where you can toggle through a few readings. Determined the batteries were going (had never been replaced in almost 8 years). Replaced both. No change in performance, still drives great, starts fine, etc.

After battery replacement, Alarms still fire when north of 3300rpms, 29+mph.

Hooked to computer and codes firing are SPN 697/698/699, FMI 5 on all. All related to low voltage on trim, temp, oil. gauges. All readings in normal range. Battery voltage about 14.2 on the lcd screen.

Took it to boat dealer. They seemed to think it’s the ECM. Spoke to several other Volvo dealers around the country and all say they’ve not seen ECMs go bad like this. Also hear if ECM is bad, it won’t start and problems are worse than this. Dealer attempted to manually clear the codes with computer but they came back.

Having another mechanic check the ground connections, alternator belt tension (a Volvo mechanic in WI recommended this), change spark plugs.

Will advise if these fix anything. Hopeful additional context to a similar problem helps everyone with a solution.

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So glad you found us nm.

Thanks for posting and keep us advised. Hopefully your tech can narrow it down.

And welcome aboard mate.


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[CobaltDeadHead]

It's situations like this that caused Massachusetts to pass the right to repair law recently. The law is designed to prevent dealers and manufacturers from holding repair codes hostage and forcing people to use their service departments vs any mechanic you want or yourself. IMO this should be the law nationwide.

[creggree]

I’d like to chime in as we’re having a similar issue.

2015 Cobalt 220S / Volvo Penta V8 270hp / 120 hours

End of last season, we started getting an intermittent alarm, “check engine” flashing across the small digital portion of our speedometer (only at about 30mph or more). No engine performance issues, no limp mode, starts and restarts just fine. We have all analog meters, speedometer has small LCD screen where you can toggle through a few readings. Determined the batteries were going (had never been replaced in almost 8 years). Replaced both. No change in performance, still drives great, starts fine, etc.

After battery replacement, Alarms still fire when north of 3300rpms, 29+mph.

Hooked to computer and codes firing are SPN 697/698/699, FMI 5 on all. All related to low voltage on trim, temp, oil. gauges. All readings in normal range. Battery voltage about 14.2 on the lcd screen.

Took it to boat dealer. They seemed to think it’s the ECM. Spoke to several other Volvo dealers around the country and all say they’ve not seen ECMs go bad like this. Also hear if ECM is bad, it won’t start and problems are worse than this. Dealer attempted to manually clear the codes with computer but they came back.

Having another mechanic check the ground connections, alternator belt tension (a Volvo mechanic in WI recommended this), change spark plugs.

Will advise if these fix anything. Hopeful additional context to a similar problem helps everyone with a solution.

Hello - I have a 2013 Cobalt 262 / Volvo Penta V* 380hp / 320 hours
I just started getting the same codes. My boat was running great, the local marina reset the codes and they came back. Did you have any luck resolving the issue?

Thanks

[jhnmdahl]

It's situations like this that caused Massachusetts to pass the right to repair law recently. The law is designed to prevent dealers and manufacturers from holding repair codes hostage and forcing people to use their service departments vs any mechanic you want or yourself. IMO this should be the law nationwide.

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