Dash board is dead

[rq69]

I have a 99 outback ls with < 100 hours on it and the 350 carbureted motor. I went to start it none of the electronic gauges (tach,oil,temp,volt..etc) are working. The motor does run and the radio and rocker switches operate.
I believe I have traced the problem to a black box mounted on the drivers side kick wall that has the markings "Medallion MDC-1600" on it. Can anyone tell me what that is?
Thanks,

Bill

[Catdog1]

Again, found this in the archives, searching "black box" and selecting the feature that forces the search to match all terms, not just "black" or "box"


pjtatro


Member
Posts: 25
Joined: July 12, 2002 Posted on: 01-06-03 16:28:04

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I have a 2000 Kamberra and have recently started having problems with my speedo and Tach. They have become intermittent, actually more off than on. I was told the Black Box might be the problem. I understand that the Black Box manufacturer is covering these because there were lots of issues with them. Who can I contact to get a new box, it looks pretty easy to install so I would prefer to not have to go to the dealer for a 10 minute intall.

Thanks





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Brian Raymond


Boat Boy
Posts: 211
Joined: August 31 2002, 02:27 Posted on: 01-06-03 23:34:54

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There were some issues with some of the M.D.C. units that year. Yes, the install is easy, yet ,you still have to go through your dealer. I suggest you notify your dealer of your issues, give them the barcoded number off of the box, and have them order one for you. Work out with the dealer to ship you the box when they receive it, and send them back yours. The dealer will need that number to verify it is under warranty, and remember, the work you do is not warrantable.Brian Raymond





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gaugeman


Junior Member
Posts: 3
Joined: May 22 2003, 19:56 Posted on: 05-22-03 14:59:55

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It is very important befor replacing the box a new ground and battery are required to power the MDC. Cutting the wires under the dash that supply the MDC box and splice wire directly to the batter post. That will solve most of the problems and you may not need the box.

[rq69]

Thanks much!

[fredv]

I have the same problem with my 2000 moomba mobius, mechanically, everything works but the gauges. checked to make sure voltage was running to the wire harness marked for gauges..checked ok. someone mentioned something about a black box. i couldn't find it, removed the kicked panel and didn't see it either. any ideas? thanks all for the advice thus far...

[NH Moomba]

I think I am having the same problem with my 2000 LS. It only has 87 hours on it and sometimes the whole dash goes dead. It seems to come and go. It wasn't enough of a problem to fix it during the summer but I would like to get it taken care of now that the season is over. A previous thread mentions the black box is on the drivers side kick wall but I don't see it. I believe there is a box that fits the description located in the back near the blower. Would this be covered as well? I bought the boat second hand.

Andy

[NH Moomba]

Here is an update on my dead dashboard. I contacted the local dealer and the MDC controller is not covered and would cost 300 bucks for a new one. I decided I might as well pry the box open and take a look around. The 2 connectors were extremely corroded where they are soldered to the PCB. I used some flux remover to no avail and ended up wire brushing the corrosion off and then resoldering the leads. I sealed it up again with a bead of silicone caulking around the perimeter. I don't know yet if this solved the problem since it was so intermittant but I am hopeful.

[plumcrazy]

Andy,
Who is your dealer? Gillan Marine? If so what has your experience with him?
BTW, resoldering can make a big difference with a coroded joint. It's a pretty common trick on old Volvo relays and can save big bucks. I have not had a problem yet with my 2000 Outback (knocking on wood). Where is this black box located?

Dave

"The sun will come out, tomorrow......"

[NH Moomba]

Hey Plum, you are right, the dealer is Ernie Gillan. I haven't really had much Moomba dealing with them since I bought my boat in NC. He was way overpriced on a used 99 Outback I test drove there. I have dealt with them over the years with our various I/O's as they are closest marina to our place. They seem honest and friendly. The black box is located behind a carpeted wall in the rear ski locker next to the (piece of crap)Attwood blower on my LS. I am really betting that cleaning the corrosion off did the trick . The pins were covered in a white fuzz that was probably shorting things out. I re-flowed the solder for extra measure. A friend who is a into marine electronics says that the box communicates to the Teleflex dashboard through a serial bus originally designed for GPS systems to talk to helm controllers.

Andy

Hey NH Moomba or anyone else,

Did the re-soldered connection fix the dead dash problem? I have a 2000 Mobius that had the dash go dead several times last season. It only happened a few times and only lasted less than a minute, but I would like to not have it happen again. Can anybody offer anything?

Thanks,
Jman

[Jman]

Did the solder job fix the intermittent dead dash? I've got the same problem and would like to fix it.

Thanks,
Jman