“Fault Throttle” and engines will not start

[Curly Yates]

HI all, I hope that someone can help with a problem I have with starting my Cummins QSB 5.9 turbo engines. I dry docked my boat to perform annual maintenance and avoid cyclones and when I went to put her back in the water came up with this problem. The port engine started fine but the starboard engine clicked as though the battery was a little below power. I replaced the batteries and then neither would start. Nothing! Not even a click. I had a mechanic look at a lot of things and he determined that the end fault is in the ETS. If I bypass the ETS the engines start fine. I sent the ETS away and they responded that all seemed to be ok but would replace all of the internal relays as a precaution. I have also replaced both of the CAN-bus leads. Now when I turn on the ignition the “active” and “Neutral” lights on the controls come on for a second or so and then go off. After about 15 seconds “Fault Throttle” appears on the smart-craft gauge of the starboard motor – but not the port.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers
Curly

Topic

[Corey Schmidt]

What is the EXACT fault information? Need a fault code to be able to help… It does appear that you have a Mercury DTS throttle and shift control system which is MERCURY even though the processor is an EEC Glendinning.

[Tony Athens]

Your pic so so out of focus, I have no clue what I am looking at..

I want to “see” the control head..

Clear & in-focus

[Curly Yates]

Hi Tony and thanks for the quick response. I have had the unit in and out a number of times, cleaned terminal connections (I actually used CRC CO Contact Cleaner so will try these others you mention) and given the throttle control levers a fair old workout (this all started back in October, so my frustration level is moderate). Just FYI I’m pretty confident that it is a Cummins unit (picture attached).
Cheers
Curly

[Tony Athens]

Mercury SmartCrap Glitch ??

If you really have “ETS”, that is a Mercury system, NOT Cummins.. Real Support directly related to your symptoms will not be easy, very slim or non-existent..

Sounds like it is related to the neutral starter lock-out system…Have you tied wiggling the control lever while trying to start? Pulling all plugs connection apart and sprays all with a petroleum based di-electric like WD-40, LPS 1 or Corrosion -X and then re-plugging all firmly can do wonders..

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