wiring issues / surf system issues - 2023 R4 Surf

[brandboat23]

I am looking for some advice / feedback for my custom order 2023 R4 Surf which I took delivery in July 2023. Since delivery the surf system never worked correctly. Either the tanks would not fill, or we received error messages “ballast error fault”. ECU: WSIO DTC: P1001 FTB: 16 OCC:- Status Active. This troubling as the whole reason we purchased a "surf" boat to use it to surf and can not.

Today the service tech discovered the following “found battery switch wired incorrectly and doesn’t work on combined. Fixed wiring and replaced battery switch. Found software updates for EVC system. Installed and Reloaded all software. Tested and lake tested and ballast system is working correctly with no fault codes”

I reached out to Cobalt manufacture to find out how this happened. Regional rep stated “The wiring issue was an ACR wire that was in the incorrect position. They moved it where it needed to be. It has been corrected. They also re-loaded software for the surf setting per Volvo Penta. They lake tested the boat between 30 minutes to an hour and received no further codes.”

Given the surf system has not worked correctly since delivery can I ask for warranty extension on the electrical / surf system? Do we have any recourse for not being able to use surf system for 1 year. Any feedback or assistance would be helpful.

[jhnmdahl]

I'm a but fuzzy on the timeline - does it still not work, or did they fix it?

You can ask for whatever you want, but the most likely outcome is that they just fix your boat.

[brandboat23]

Unfortunately the wiring is still not fixed. Today at pick up the service dealer left 2 wires not connected and now my logo lights don’t work.

And my boat was sitting in hydraulic fluid when I went to pick it up from another boat that came into service and now my entire hull is covered in hydraulic fluid. Does anyone know how to clean this? See photos

[NautiWeasel]

Can't see anything in the photos, unless that's really old and dirty hydraulic fluid. Then that's all I can see. LOL.

Dawn should take off the hydraulic fluid, if you pull the boat from the water and do a wash down. It will also remove any wax you had on the boat as well. Not sure about ceramic coatings though...
Sounds like your shop/marina is incompetent, to say the least. I'd switch or use a different shop if you could.

[Krob1114]

Sounds like the dealer needs new employees or you need a new dealer. They never should allow that to happen.

[AsLan7]

Unfortunately the wiring is still not fixed. Today at pick up the service dealer left 2 wires not connected and now my logo lights don’t work.

And my boat was sitting in hydraulic fluid when I went to pick it up from another boat that came into service and now my entire hull is covered in hydraulic fluid. Does anyone know how to clean this? See photos

.
repost your photos. for some reason they are in a php format when I tried to find them. You can always screen shot them and upload.

.,

[ab2121]

We have had the exact same issue on our 2023 r4 surf. Had this error from the very first time we picked up the boat and turned the key on. Occassionally it would not come up with the fault and the surf system would work, othertimes the opposite. For awhile cycling power would clear it then next time, starboard ballast fault check wiring etc. We also had an issue of the boat surging 6-8mph when trying to wakeboard. Would set speed at 20.5 and it would speed up to 23-44 then down to 17-18, then back up to 23-24... you obviously cant wakeboard like that. Super frustrating. I told this to the dealer at the beginning of last year and they basically didnt believe me and told me my settings were wrong.... got them on the boat and they just looked confused. Boat went in for winter service (which they had for 3 months) and they claimed to put in a stronger gps antenna and update surf software... even though it would hold surf speed all day long (when it worked.) Fast forward to this year. All was perfect, no faults and or surging first 3-4x we took the boat out...now constant surf system faults AND now a random emissions fault. So frustrating when you pay top dollar for these boats. Better yet they are booked for months out to get it in. Last time I spoke with them, I said at this point we'd rather sell the da** thing and get somthing else that worked. Seems like cobalt rushes out this surf/garmin integrated software without thuroughly testing it.

[naters]

@ brandboat23 and @ab2121 Was wondering if you had gotten the "ballast pump error" situations figured out. I have a 2023 r6 surf. Never had an issue my first 2 seasons but this summer had the same ballast pump error message come up. Only mine was on the starboard side. Reset power fixed for a while. Took it to the dealer and they looked. didn't see any recurring error codes and sent it back.

I think I had the impellers replaced by the dealer over the winter and wonder if they messed something up or didn't connect something correctly.

This week had a repeat error code come up and would reset via power on/off. Ballast pump wouldn't run. Did some trouble shooting by taking off the cover to the starboard ballast pump, impeller spun freely, intact. Then switched the port and starboard ballast pump connections, starboard ballast pump would turn on when the computer thought it was port. Port ballast pump wouldn't work with the Starboard sensor attached. So the actual pump and impeller are fine.

Undid the ballast pump connections and looked for any corrosion or damage and didn't see anything. Powered up the boat and surf system was working for that evening.

Does anybody know if there's a sensor on the actual hard ballast tank? I looked briefly from the engine bay but didn't see anything jumping out albeit a very limited look.

Thanks for any help.