96 SLT 780 Limp-mode

[dank]

What sensors will cause this to go into a limp mode?

[dank]

The MFD flashes Fuel but the gauge show's 1/4 tank and 3/4 for oil. It does it as soon as you start it.

[polaridoo]

The float on the sending unit is probably the culprit. There were a few years where Polaris had problems with that. My '96 SL 900 had that problem too.

http://www.polarisindustries.com/pro...xtSearch=float

Polaris Watercraft Service Parts for all 1992 - 1998 fuel level senders
Recently, the Polaris Technical and Consumer Service Departments have received calls from dealers and consumers regarding a problem with their personal watercraft's MFD gauge not reading the correct fuel level in the gas tank. The easiest way to identify this problem is by filling your watercraft's fuel tank, and verifying that the MFD gauge reads full. If the MFD gauge reads that the tank is empty, you may want to have your dealer replace the float inside the fuel sender. Polaris Industries Inc., has found that most inaccurate readings are caused by a float that has absorbed water from the fuel and sunk to the bottom of the fuel sender. The retail cost for the float is $19.99 (U.S. Funds), and can easily be replaced by any authorized Polaris watercraft dealer.

[polaridoo]

One other thing you could try since it's free is to disconnect the leads going to the battery and let it sit for a bit. Connect the leads again and see if resetting the display fixes the problem. Place the leads on battery as firmly as possible and try to avoiding spark from arcing.

[SeaLion]

99% of the time if your tank is more than 1/4 and it shows 1/4 on the gauge with the fuel warning, you are looking at a float problem. This in turn activates the limp mode (4200 rpm max).

[dank]

Can you disconect the gauge or short thw wires to indicate a full tank?

[SeaLion]

Yes. What I did though was put an on/off toggle switch inline to be able to turn off the fuel gauge to fool the cdi into not going to limp mode when I get to 1/4 tank (my float is fine but I don't like limp mode).
Before you ask, it's the pink wire from the MFD [img]smile.gif[/img] You can also put a resistor that would have it read 33 ohms. 33 ohms gives a full reading and 240 ohms is empty. You can go anywhere between too. As long as you fool the cdi into thinking it's more than a 1/4 tank.
For some background. The reason Polaris went with the rpm limiter when low on fuel was to minimize the risk of a seizure when running out of gas. A 1/4 tank gives you plenty of fuel to make it back to refuel. Running a pwc dry could lead to a seizure. Notice how you don't have a reserve? The limp mode is actually a good idea but I know my SLX very well and won't run it dry. That's why I put the switch to be able to turn off the fuel reading when low.

[dank]

Just wanted to make sure I understand. Disconect the pink wire going to the fuel tank sending unit and connect it to ground threw a 33ohm resistor. Is that it?

What it the part number for the float. I didn;t see it on the parts diagrams.

[SeaLion]

Just put it inline. You can cut the pink wire and it will disable it too you won't have any readout for fuel. If you want to see the readout stay at full, you need to make the cdi think it's seeing 33 ohms.
I don't know the part number for just the float. I never had to get one yet. Some dealers are not aware of just the float and want to sell you a whole sending unit at $200. If they don't have the part number, tell them to call Polaris to get it? If you want a working fuel gauge, you will have to replace the float? My suggestion was to get around limp mode if that's the route you want to take but you will not have a funcioning fuel gauge?

[dank]

Ok, Thanks. I was going to bypass/trick it until I can get a new float. But I guess I can just unplug it.