vortex / rotax engines wouldn't fire, then did. fault code 0300

[BobJohnson]

so today, went out to lake and ignition worked, but engines would not start. Tried a few times to start and just would not go. Full tank of gas. Use Marine Staybil in every fill up. Just ran Thursday night fine. Just had 25 hour check 2 weeks ago.

Checked fault codes and they read 0300 for both engines.
Turned off key and thought to pull out phone to either call service or google up information on the codes. Decided to double check the code numbers, so turned the key on again and went back to the fault screen and it was clear of any issues. Weird...
So, hit the start buttons and boat fires up. Took out and fired up fine later in day after swimming. Fired up fine even later after dinner.

So, anybody have any idea what fault code 0300 is? (quick google search came up empty) @ScarabMike I could have sworn I saw you post a list of codes and their descriptions a while back, but if you did I can not find it. did you? if not, any idea what 0300 is?

 

[Bruce]

Is it P0300 - multiple misfires detected?

 

[BobJohnson]

Sounds right. Just said 0300 port 0300 starboard. Didn't give description. But multiple misfires is what was happening. Now, just to figure out why it wasn't firing/starting.

 

[ScarabMike]

P300 is misfire from what I can tell.

What exactly did the dealer perform at 25 hours? Maybe you can back track their work. Several reasons that this may happen.

1. Loose coil plug connector
2. Loose coil plug

3. Faulty or loose spark plug
4. Loose or missing crank sensor or wire

5. loose connector or faulty Rectifier.

6. ECU not working properly, or loose connector.

 

[Ronnie]

@BobJohnson , forgive me for possibly over simplifying this but I know nothing about how the new chap boat systems work. Could it be that you just forgot to put the safety lanyard in when you tried to start the boat initially? Would you get the same error code/ any error if you tried to start the engines without the lanyard in?

 

[BobJohnson]

@Ronnie wish that was it. Lanyard was in just as it was when I left the boat the other night and I didn't think to mess with it between when the engines would not fire and when they did.

really the only thing that seemed to help was when I turned off the key and then turned back on the electronics to make sure I had the 0300 code remembered right. After I turned the key off and back on, the boat fired up on the first push of the start buttons.

I've been out on it 5 or 6 times since the 25 hour check, so wouldn't think something was loose, but will definitely check all fittings next time out before starting.

The only procedural thing I did different in the last week was I have always put gas in the boat before going out for the day. This last Thursday night (couple nights ago), we were in a rush to go out, so I had a 5 gal can of gas ready to top up the fuel, but waited and put it in after we docked for the night. Even with out that 5 gal can, I was around 3/4 full, so no chance I was starving for gas. I can't imagine putting the gas in the boat and just leaving it would cause the boat not to fire up 2 days later, but I really don't know.

again, I will check all contacts and connectors next time, which as of now looks like this coming Friday. hopefully this is a 1 time hick up.

 

[ScarabMike]

@BobJohnson You know, for whatever reason these engines do that after a good service. Mine did it as well, then cleared up, and its been running like a champ since. It may be that the ECU has to learn again. When they service the boat, they have to disconnect the battery completely, and it erases its memory. Mine had a misfire code in the memory that I read with the Candoo Pro. You should be good to go.

Make sure when starting the boat, you let the gauges sweep before. It will set the ECU, and prime your fuel pump.

 

[Ronnie]

@Ronnie wish that was it. After I turned the key off and back on, the boat fired up on the first push of the start buttons.

Start buttons?

 

[BobJohnson]

Start buttons?

The chaparrals have 1 key you turn to power the system or bring up the start menu. One the system is "booted up" each engine has a push button to start the engine.

 

[JetTech72]

P0300 : Misfire, engine will start but run rough.
U0300 : Security Exchange, engine will crank but not start.
In your case it's probably U0300 which a Security Exchange (computer handshake) faults between the engine ECMs & the helm cluster (display).
Make sure the display has booted up before trying to fire up the engines.

 

[BobJohnson]

P0300 : Misfire, engine will start but run rough.
U0300 : Security Exchange, engine will crank but not start.
In your case it's probably U0300 which a Security Exchange (computer handshake) faults between the engine ECMs & the helm cluster (display).
Make sure the display has booted up before trying to fire up the engines.

Thank you!! I am sure now it did say U0300. Honestly I looked at the code and was kind of frustrated that it just gave me a code and not a description, so I turned off the ignition to look up the code. That was why I turned the ignition back on, to double check the code. I knew it had a 300 in it, but was not sure of the character before it. But, when I turned the key and powered everything back up, the code was gone. Later at home, when I started searching, all I found was P0300 and just went with that.


How and/or where can I find a complete list of the fault codes? Love to print this out and keep on board.

 

[JetTech72]

I'll say get a copy of the shop manual diagnostic section from your Chaparral dealer which should be a Rotax Powerpack certified dealer.

 

[jose hugo lira]

sir i bought a chaparral vortex 203 vr 2015 is work in last time , it have now 42 hours with the service of 25 hours do it . i bought in usa and take to chile , i try to start but not start, is when i move the key
the board lights up but does not turn on the engine. not appear error in the board , nothing wrong appear.

 

[BobJohnson]

sir i bought a chaparral vortex 203 vr 2015 is work in last time , it have now 42 hours with the service of 25 hours do it . i bought in usa and take to chile , i try to start but not start, is when i move the key
the board lights up but does not turn on the engine. not appear error in the board , nothing wrong appear.

@jose hugo lira first question is... are you 100% sure you have it in neutral ? The shift lever needs to be in exact neutral in order for the engines to turn over. Please check this first. Move the throttle lever back and forth a little bit until it locks into neutral then give it a try.

 

[jose hugo lira]

yes i moved and the shift level forward and back and i putt exact in neutral. the other things that appear in the manual is that when i have problem when the shift is no neutral sound a beep , but these not sound . all the other electrical thing is function, the turbine is function up and down , blower , light all things, the problem is that not start. Even i change the batteries for new.
the mechanic tells me that it would be easier if he could get me the electric map of the chaparral boat vortex.
you know where you could get it

thanks for help

 

[BobJohnson]

I don’t have the electrical map of the boat. Can I suggest you start a new separate post with this issue? You’ll probably get more people seeing your question that way. I don’t have suggestions but am sure others will be able to help.

 

[JetTech72]

Either your Neutral safety switch is not working correctly or the 3Amp fuse in Fuse block is burnt.
Here are some generic electrical schematic of the Rotax Powerpack.

 

[Light twin]

For those that are interested U0300 fault code means that the engine security code has not been entered correctly. With that fault code the engines will turn over but there will be no ignition, therefore the engines will never start.

 

[alvin]

For those that are interested U0300 fault code means that the engine security code has not been entered correctly. With that fault code the engines will turn over but there will be no ignition, therefore the engines will never start.

is there a way solving the u0300 problem. had this happen to my 2021 scarab a week ago. uo300 prt and strbrd. and the code stays, even after clearing the codewith my candoo or removing battry conn for a while. so doesnt start.. can anyone help me. thinking of updating my medallion but dont know where to get it from.

 

[Dean P]

is there a way solving the u0300 problem. had this happen to my 2021 scarab a week ago. uo300 prt and strbrd. and the code stays, even after clearing the codewith my candoo or removing battry conn for a while. so doesnt start.. can anyone help me. thinking of updating my medallion but dont know where to get it from.

Hi Alvin! to the forum. Great place to be.

Here you go. Read, review and follow the instructions in the attached. Had this happen to me; sucks. Updating the software will help as they addressed the issue. I have not had this again.