Cobalt R3 2020 beep and check engine light

[Aho]

New to the forum, so thanks in advance for the help.

2020 Cobalt R3 with Volvo Penta V8-300CE DP w/CL Cool.

When I was taking the boat over to lay it up for the winter, I got a warning beep. Nothing showed on the Garmin screens, but I noticed that on the throttle, there was a check engine light. I did not look at the smaller Volvo Penta screen at the time so I do not know what that was saying. Note that the boat had been sitting for about a month in brackish water, so there may have been some marine growth on the outdrive (the outdrive is painted with anti-fouling paint, but it does not 100 percent prevent buildup especially if it is sitting).

After leaving the boat and doing a little research, I found that I might be able to get the error code from the small Volvo Penta screen. However, all I could gather was the information PTA SLY (see attached picture). PTA seems to be Power Trim Assist? Anyone know what SLY is? I could not get any additional details. What does that error mean (or is it even an error)? And is there a way to dig in to get more details?

I also thought that I might be able to get the code from the Volvo Penta Easy Connect App. However, I again was unable to figure out what the code is from the app. Is there a way to do that? Or perhaps I do not have the hardware to get the codes? I was able to connect with the app.

Any help is appreciated. I am about to come off warranty and am wondering if I should get this over to the Volvo dealer before it does.

[Whitney220s]

Relaying results from a google search so don’t hold me to this… From a Regal forum…

Safety LanYard?

[Aho]

I saw that one also. I checked the safety lanyard and it is in place, so I am not sure if this is just saying that it is good, or it is bad.

[tbully]

I had the same issue earlier this summer. It just stopped after a tank or two of fuel. (I was running last year's fuel still) I'm not sure if that was the issue or not but it's the only thing I changed. I too couldn't read any codes or get it to act up on a regular basis.

[Aho]

Interesting. The fuel has been in there for a good couple of months. I also had an issue with the fuel earlier in the summer because the place I take it to forgot to change the fuel filter last spring. Hopefully, that is the issue.

[tbully]

When mine was acting up, it was **usually** under load or acceleration (again, it was not consistent in what kind really) and I could hear a hard-to-explain change in engine noise (perhaps a cylinder dropping for a few seconds?), a very slight power change, then the beep, and then everything back to normal. The engine light would stay on until a key off/on cycle. Codes were not readable from the display.

The above was so slight that passengers, even a few that are mechanically inclined, didn't notice it - but I did.

[stifflkd]

The error is removed once power is turned off. When the error occurs keep engine on and look at the EVC display. Follow the procedure in the link below to recall the fault.

[tbully]

The error was checked for prior to key off. There’s another thread talking about similar failure modes where there was no (user)readable code. My dealer couldn’t find one either but this was a few months after the last event so I wasn’t completely surprised- assuming it’s similar to the automotive world.

[stifflkd]

IDK, its worked for me in the past. Picked up a O2 sensor failure and hi exhaust temp (raw water pump)

[Aho]

Lesson learned about checking the error codes more closely while the engine is on, but it seems crazy that if there was an error code, it would just go away after the engine is shut off? I have had similar issues with my car, and you can put the reader on it, and it tells you all the codes that have come up in the history of the engine. Why would Volvo Penta clear them out when the engine is turned off?

[Aho]

@stifflkd. When you say " its worked for me in the past. Picked up a O2 sensor failure and hi exhaust temp (raw water pump)" what exactly does that mean? Did it pick up those errors and you replaced them? Or did it pick up those errors and then you turned it off and they went away? And how did you get the error codes?

[stifflkd]

When I received an alarm and go thru the procedure provided above it provides the MID, FMI and SID. If you have the manual for the faults its straightforward otherwise do what I do and google. Don't ask me why the faults disappear with the engine off. Maybe with a diagnostic tool you can recall the faults but they are lost and can not be retrieved either thru the EVC display or Easyconnect. From the manual:
"Acknowledged faults are automatically deleted from the fault list when the ignition is turned off. Stop the engine and check that the ignition is turned off at all helm stations. The faults are still stored in the system and can be accessed via diagnostic readout by a Volvo Penta workshop."

[Aho]

The place I take my boat to is not a Volvo Penta dealer anymore. They do not have a Volvo Penta scan tool. Does anyone know an inexpensive tool that can do the diagnostic readout without having to take it to a Volvo Penta dealer?

[jhnmdahl]

Rinda is the one that seems to be readily available, but it's not exactly inexpensive - see https://www.rinda.com/rindashop/product ... lvo-penta3 for their standalone tool and the PC software (more sophisticated) tool. Not a bad investment if you're a shop, but only a few people on here have bought one for personal use.

John

[Aho]

Thank you for the info. At this point, I think I am going to lay it up for the winter and then bring it to the Volvo dealer early in the spring before my warranty expires. Probably cheaper for me to pay them an hour or two to diagnose than to purchase one of these units.

Appreciate all of the great and timely information from everyone.

I will post what the codes are when they figure them out in the spring.