www.iFourWinns.com

Had the boat out this weekend and noticed that the rpm's were reading fairly consistently about 1000-1500 rpm's higher than normal (at any speed). At nearly full thottle and running around 40mph, the tach was reading around 6000 rpms. In neutral, it read around 1500-2000rpm.

Engine didn't sound like it was running fast. All other readings on all other gauges looked normal. My buddy--who works for Toyota, seemed to think it was either a bad gauge or the ECU wasn't calibrated correctly. He said the tach reading comes directly from the ECU. I did have to replace the ECU about 18 months ago--but have never noticed an issue until Saturday.

Anybody else have experiences like this?

Thoughts? Thanks.

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Norris Lake, Stardust Marina, Andersonville, TN
2005 Four Winns 230 Horizon 5.7L Volvo Gi/DP
2001 Maxum 1900SR 5.0L V8 (Sold)
2011 Nissan Armada Platnum

That's an odd one. I would think the gauge is the most likely culprit, if you're sure it's reading wrong. It might be worth checking the connections to it on the back just to be sure they're tight and not corroding.

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

My 2005 tach is also acting up a bit. Same symptoms as yours. Reads high once in a while. When it first happened, I also noticed that the engine did not appear to be over-revving. I tapped on the gauge and it dropped back down. I have Faria gauges with the Four Winns logo on them. I also believe it sounds like you have a gauge problem. I plan on sending mine back to Faria in the off season if I can hold off that long.

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Seth




2005 210 Horizon
5.0L GXi
"Don't Think Twice"

Mine always reads that way, give her a tap and then she comes back down to where it is supposed to read.

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1990 Four Winns Horizon 200
2005 GMC Sierra

Thanks for the replies. I am feeling better (I think). You have all confirmed my friend's suspicion that it is a guage issue. I will definitely try the "tapping" method next time and see if that does anything. Never a dull moment on a boat. Thanks.

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Norris Lake, Stardust Marina, Andersonville, TN
2005 Four Winns 230 Horizon 5.7L Volvo Gi/DP
2001 Maxum 1900SR 5.0L V8 (Sold)
2011 Nissan Armada Platnum

Just to add to the "data" - there's a circuit board in there. If some dust, shavings, manufacturing debris, etc., builds up or lands in the wrong place, it can cause the circuitry to tell the needle to move to the wrong position. If you send it to Faria, it's likely all they'll have to do is open it up, blow it out, and put it back together. Which I would have them do - but it's probably no more serious than that.

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

Check the 4/6/8 cylinder selector on the back of the tacho. If it was not originally set positively on the "8 "and has slipped back onto the "6", then with the 8 cylinder ignition pulses it'll read 33% higher than actual.

Thanks Graham and Mike. Sounds like it might be worth pulling the gauge out and see what is going on. We go down for a week long trip in July--so that might be a good time to do some fiddling. Thanks for the suggestions--I appreciate it.

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Norris Lake, Stardust Marina, Andersonville, TN
2005 Four Winns 230 Horizon 5.7L Volvo Gi/DP
2001 Maxum 1900SR 5.0L V8 (Sold)
2011 Nissan Armada Platnum

Hey French, I don't mean to hijack your thread, but are you going down to fire on the water this year on Norris?

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1990 Four Winns Horizon 200
2005 GMC Sierra

We are renting a Condo at Stardust July 3-7. I think Fire on the Water might be the weekend before. We probably won't go. It is fun--but the drive back in the dark with all the crazy boats around you is a bit of a bummer. Have fun if you go!

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Norris Lake, Stardust Marina, Andersonville, TN
2005 Four Winns 230 Horizon 5.7L Volvo Gi/DP
2001 Maxum 1900SR 5.0L V8 (Sold)
2011 Nissan Armada Platnum

Yep! Did the old tap on the gauge on Saturday and it dropped back down to normal. Glad that is all it was. At some point, I might get ambitious and check the back of the gauge and make sure everything is clean--but I am fine tapping away in the mean time. Thanks guys!

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Norris Lake, Stardust Marina, Andersonville, TN
2005 Four Winns 230 Horizon 5.7L Volvo Gi/DP
2001 Maxum 1900SR 5.0L V8 (Sold)
2011 Nissan Armada Platnum

My '02 268 Vista did that a couple times last year. A smart, firm smack on the top of the dash corrected it at least for the time being. Just think of NCIS when Gibbs gives DiNozzo a "course correction" swat to the back of his head. The "percussion adjustment" may not be a permanent fix, but it seems to work for a while.........and there is a certain amount of personal satisfaction.

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Surface Interval: A scuba diving term for that time between dives to relax and prepare for life's next great adventure.

Current boat: '02 FW 268 Vista
Previous boat: '95 FW 190 Horizon

I have a 2007 V288 with the same exact issue. Tach gauges will be fine one day or even one startup, and then at the next startup either one or both of the techs read 500-1000 rpms too high. Engines are definitely not revving that high. Both gauges were fine today when we left the dock. Dropped anchor for awhile and when I started the engines back up they were both reading high. I'll give the tap a try! Just like Arthur Fonzarelli!

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2007 Four Winns Vista 288
Volvo 5.0 Gxi's
https://photos.google.com/u/0/photo/AF1QipO4HR1hTCr0lflfuFymloo0NnbrBPbpQ_TzUyi3