Returning Cobalt Member - Digital Dashboard Question

[WickedRx]

Hello Cobalt Forum,

It has been a while, but I have now returned to being a Cobalt owner after my wife and I moved to Tellico Lake and acquired a house with a dock. We recently purchased a 2020 R5 (not surf) with the Garmin digital dashboard. A fuse had come loose and the entire set of screens went dark, thankfully under warranty, the local dealer fixed it. They alerted me that the fender storage cabinet in the bow is directly over a fuse box and it could have been banging around in that storage bag and bumped it loose. I will keep my eye on that for sure. However despite restoring screen function, the fuel usage and fuel tank quantity do not work. The fuel gauge is stuck at 62% and the flow meter shows a weird number like -845 gpm or something crazy like that. I spoke with the dealer and they suggested rearranging my digital dash and putting fuel in a different gauge location and comparing it to the Volvo Penta EVC screen, which admittedly as a new owner of this boat I had no idea showed fuel flow. I've only briefly scanned that EVC screen, but apparently in the scroll is fuel info. Just wondering if anyone else has experienced fuel quantity/flow issues related to the Garmin Digital Dashboard and whether it is more likely a digital feed issue or a fuel sending unit type issue. I will try the relocation of the gauge, that's pretty easy, but I would appreciate any info. Thanks all.

[AsLan7]

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Hey WRx. So glad you found us!

I’m curious if you have done a battery disconnect and then reconnect to “reset” the screens. I’m not sure how they’re wired but just turning your battery switch off may not accomplish this.

Others will chime in shortly.

Any pics?

[Big Block Power]

I know when you're boat was brand new the dealer had to calibrate your fuel Guage so it was accurate. I bet it went out of calibration? Good luck and welcome back. I missed you while you were gone

[WickedRx]

Thanks Aslan and BBP. Yes, I have tried the battery disconnect with no success. I bought the boat 1 year old, so I did not have it calibrated when new. The dealer came out to identify the loose fuse as the issue. I discussed the inaccuracy of the fuel system readouts and they gave me some ideas I am going to try, but just wondered if there was experience out there. I am terrible at pictures but do value them on others posts, so I need to figure it out and post some. She's a pretty vessel, smoke gray custom order was the color, so we love it. Cheers y'all!

[Big Block Power]

I think Bobrae had a good post on calibrating the fuel Guage. I'm putting money on it that is your issue.

[BobRae99]

My fuel gauge was not calibrated from new despite me asking the dealer to do so. This summer I took the boat out with 8 people on board and about 35% fuel indicated. After 30 minutes of skiing it dropped to 30% and then a few minutes later the gauge went red and showed no fuel.

I mentioned it to the dealer and when the boat went in for another problem (prop hit) they didn't mention anything about repairing it, but last week I noticed it was indicating 16% so they must have done something to correct it. So, it was either a calibration issue, or more likely a float problem.

I'll see if I can find out for you.

[dtarbox]

I’ve got a 2018 R3, same issue. Any update on the procedure?

[ForeverCobalt]

I had the same issue on my R6 OB. I might have fixed it, will let you know tomorrow when i get to take it out. I changed the setting on the # of tanks from "auto detect" to just hard coded "1". I didnt have time in the water last week to check both screens but the main screen is now showing a decrease in fuel level as we were running the boat.