display on info center went blank

[rusty nail]

History on this machine

2001 GTX

Currently I install the lanyard and i get two beeps and the machine will start and run
No display at all
The display had been working except for the fuel level indicator
I tried the F1 "fix" and i must have done something wrong because as soon as i started the machine everything was working great and then the info center went completely blank
I unplugged the fuel sending unit and bypassed the sensor and the info center came back on and displayed a full fuel level.
I then cleaned the carb, changed all the fuel lines, reassembled the machine and i now currently have this info center that displays nothing.
Machine runs smooth and great, just no info center
Are there other sensors that i could have accidently unplugged which the mpem requires all to be plugged in and functioning for the display to work?
This morning i will be checking to see if there is power to the lcd display, if there is not, what is my next step?

help would be appreciated.

 

[rusty nail]

Also, i have checked, and i have power on both sides of all the fuses

 

[rusty nail]

I just checked and i have power on the purple and black wire going to the display. I am just not convinced that the display just stopped working. Is there a way to test the info center without taking it into the dealership?

 

[rusty nail]

so....my info center, after a few months has begun to come back intermittently. Do i only check the power and ground connections from the battery to the info center or are there other electrical situations that could cause the info center to come on and off?

Any advice is appreciated.

 

[JJinSC]

This definitely sounds like a loose connection some where. Trace all wires, clean all connections and apply dielectric grease to them.

 

[rusty nail]

do i need to do all the wires? Or just the power and ground to the info center? Ie does the compass electrical connection impact the display coming on and off? And what is the best way to clean connections?

Thanks.

 

[JJinSC]

If it's like mine some of the gauges get there power through a daisy chained circuit. You will need to check the whole circuit.

 

[Mekanix]

Or one of the sensor wires May have shorted out on something and the info center is freaking out.

Take the info center out . Or disconnect everything.

To light it up you need power, ground and sense
So power to purple
Ground to black
And power to red/purple.
That should light it up.

I'm guessing your problem is the red/purple.

Keep in mind you might measure 12 v when you check the plug with two wires coming from the speedometer but when plugged in you might not get any. So probe the wires when its connected.
Reason for that is that it has voltage but a break somewhere is causing it to not be able to put out the current required to run the gauge.

The black and purple going to the speedometer gauge might also be the problem.

Also have a look at pin's 24, 25, and 7 on the # 1 connector ( left of the 3)
Might be corrosion there or arcing.

 

[rusty nail]

This is exactly the help i was looking for. do you have any advice on how to actually clean the connections? I was looking at the service manual and it shows how to take apart the connectors but i am not excited about doing that. are there cleaners, abrasives, tools,etc that can do an effective job?

I will look at the connectors and pins that you recommend Mekanix and get back to you. It may be a few days. Pretty busy here.

 

[Mekanix]

Electro contact cleaner and a small brush.
There are tools to remove the pins and sockets. Its just a straw like device that pushes in on the locking tabs on the pins.
But the main places I've seen problems is at the big connectors on the mpem.

Before you unplug anything disconnect the batt negative.

 

[rusty nail]

i am about to begin looking today at this.

When you say "the main places I've seen problems" are they obvious? I have removed the main connectors and i see no signs of corrosion. Or are they so subtle that they cannot been easily spotted?

 

[Mekanix]

Usually pretty obvious corrosion and white powder around the pins or sockets.

 

[rusty nail]

I am right in the middle of diagnosing this. I put power to the display like you said and the display came on. hurray. I looked at all the connections you talked about, and they look great. i cleaned them anyways to be sure, put everything back together, hooked up the battery, plugged in the tether, i get two beeps, but no display. Any ideas what to do next? I suppose i can check to see if power is coming as far as the speedometer. If this is the next step, is this done while everything is hooked up? or disconnect the power from the speedo and put the meter in there?

 

[rusty nail]

so i stuck pins through the sheath of the wires and got readings. I have 12v on both the purple and red/purple when the lanyard is plugged in. i checked just before the info center where the power enters the device and checked at the other end of each cable. I am confused. if there is power coming in is there another reason why information is not going to the info center?

 

[rusty nail]

Ha....so i was getting so frustrated i just started randomly unplugging sensors and plugging them back in to see if i could isolate something. and ta da. with the compass unplugged the display lights up!!!!!. I do not care about the compass, so i am now just wondering if i can "cap" it off and run without it.

 

[Mekanix]

Yup. Can run without it.

Compas could be shorted internally and causing the display to fail its startup test which means it won't fully turn on.

Another possibility is that there is still a problem but your not drawing enough current without the compas connected to make it act up. So keep an cca eye on it.

Then again how much power could a compas require lol. Its probably faulty.

 

[rusty nail]

damn, so i hooked everything back up and the info display is back off again. The minor amount of current to run the compass was enough to make it run without it hooked up. i give up for now unless someone else has a good way to diagnose this.

 

[Mekanix]

What about the ground wires. You mentioned that you tested the power going to the gauge but what about from ground to the gauge.

Another option is to bypass the speedo and run power to the gauge with jumpers. And see if that helps

 

[rusty nail]

i used the ground(black wire) going to the gauge as my source when i tested for 12v. Is there another way i should test the ground? Or should i be testing a different ground?(ie, the main ground to the engine)

good idea to run direct power to the info center. No time right now, but i will reply once i have had a chance to look at this again. I will keep you on the edge of your seat till then.

thanks for your help.

 

[Mekanix]

Power everything up. Use a test light from battery ground to each positive at the info center. See if it lights up the light.
(Use an old style test light or make one with an incandescent bulb)

Just use the light as a way to test if the wires can handle the current all the way up to the gauge.

Then test from the positive to the gauge ground. It should light up.

If not at least you know if yoir chassing a ground problem or power problem.

Also if you make the test light measure the voltage of the light while testing.

The reason for that is: Say you had a weak ground wire and it was still lighting up the test light but you only had 6 volts across it. That would tell you you have a problem there between the ground and gauge.

If you get 12v across the light chances are your good there.

 

[Mekanix]

Reading back through i wonder if its just a loose connection in a plug somewhere near the compass.

 

[rusty nail]

I have not had a chance yet to use the test light. I have one and that is my next step.

Fyi, i decided to go the the garage and hit the start/stop button to see if the info gauge would come on, and it is flickering (not completely coming on) without the compass plugged in. There has to be a loose connection somewhere.

Just as a question, with a loose connection, does that affect a change/fluctuation/drop in the voltage or amps? Will there for sure be a voltage drop/change with an intermittent connection.

And finally, which wires at the info center should have 12v? For sure the purple and red/purple, but are there others?

Are you having fun with this?

 

[rusty nail]

Here are some results.

Everything plugged in.
-no display function at all
-11.04v from battery ground and ground at info center too purple at info center
-11.75v from battery ground and ground at info center too red/purple at infor center

Compass and fuel gauge unplugged
-digital display flashes and led flashes(probably because it is not reading resistance in the fuel baffle)
-same voltage as above

compass and fuel gauge unplugged measuring voltage across light probe
-digtal display flashes and led flashes
-voltage on purple with light 10.94v
-voltage on red/purple with light 11.75v

Are there any other power wires to the info center?

 

[rusty nail]

I just ran power directly to the info center again, this time directly from the seadoo battery instead of my car charger and the info display lights up without anything else plugged in.

 

[rusty nail]

If all the power and grounds are good coming to the info center can there be another reason why the info center does not completely turn on?