I own a 2003 Bavaria 44. Previous owner replaced engine in 2015 for a new Volvo Penta D2-55F.
I dont know if the control panel where the start botton and tachometer are was replaced.
I cant read the engine hours anymore (the lcd display on the tach is roasted). I hear this is a common problem and in some cases the LCD hour display on the tach can be replaced; but I have donne some research online and with chatgpt and apparently that is done on older model tachs but not in mine.
The tach I have is an VP EVC Tacho 4000 Rpm / VP 21 628 168 / A2C31081300. This tach has a connector with 6 wires going into it while all replacement tachs I find have only 4 wires.
Has anyone had this fixed or replaced?
What about the wiring?
Thank You
Abo
The EVC system indeed has a 6 wire system. The tachosignal is digitally transmitted to the tacho via de canbus from the MDI on the engine. If all is EVC, you will need a 6 wire tacho. If there are any suppliers besides VP who can supply this perhaps others can tell. I would buy VP to keep original as tachos are still available with them..
I'm not aware of a replacement LCD for this tachometer, sadly. And a whole VP EVC tachometer is extremely expensive.
The six wire interface which Volvo calls "Multi-Link" is however just CAN with SAE J1939 packets on it. So you can use any other J1939 tachometer and just need to put a matching connector on it. Or even a J1939 to NMEA 2000 converter and then get your engine data on your chartplotter.
A J1939 tachometer costs around €200 (VDO) or €100 from AliExpress or you can fit one of these multifunction engine gauges for €50: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005009815724665.html
The cheapest option is to just add a 12V electromechanical hours counter somewhere in the boat: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006683399886.html
Now you've got choices! ChatGPT doesn't know shit btw :))
I have the same boat and same year but still the original Volvo penta D2-55A.
I had the same problem which I solved with this: He encontrado esto en AliExpress:
10,19€ | Pantalla LCD para VDO tacómetro VDO internacional VDO Cockpit Vision Kenworth camión Jcb Tractor Volvo Penta Yanmar
https://a.aliexpress.com/_EJdhztE
Search in YouTube I think there are videos where they explained the process step by step
Quote from: Ailatan on Yesterday at 17:57I have the same boat and same year but still the original Volvo penta D2-55A.
I had the same problem which I solved with this: He encontrado esto en AliExpress:
10,19€ | Pantalla LCD para VDO tacómetro VDO internacional VDO Cockpit Vision Kenworth camión Jcb Tractor Volvo Penta Yanmar
https://a.aliexpress.com/_EJdhztE
Search in YouTube I think there are videos where they explained the process step by step
That's for the old analogue VDO meter fed by alternator signal. He does not have that one.
Have you tried adjusting the brightness of the LCD display using the button in the bottom left corner of the panel? In my case, the text became easier to read!
I had a burnt screen on my EVC tacho and repaired it for AUD$25. Easy handyman job.
I documented it on this forum.
https://www.bavariayacht.org/forum/index.php/topic,4302.msg27303.html#msg27303
Sean