No Functioning Fuel Guage

[Stizzla]

my 185 has the Suzuki smart digital guage. The fuel has always showed full even after a full derby weeekend, and I don’t get a reading for burn. I would find it really hard to believe somebody would buy a fully loaded boat and not have the necessary parts for fuel reading, so is this likely a blown fuse? Anyone know where the fuse block is for a 2021 DF140?
As of now I just fill up very frequently.

 

[chille51]

I don't get fuel flow data from my 2024 Honda BF100. When I looked into it it seems I would need to add a fuel data manager. Haven't gotten around to it yet - I just visually look at the level in my tank! Maybe Suzuki is the same deal. https://www.harbourchandler.ca/prod...oOtt19pIDrdIWxmmL2oNOw_h0EZ5qg-xpq2vwKfEat53x

 

[sudsy]

What gauge do you have? Is it the square smg4 digital one or older round style?

Fuel systems are pretty basic, could be your sender not working, could be corrosion on the terminals where it connects to the sender.

 

[seahorse]

I have the 2012 DF250 on my Seafarer with analog gauges but I have the Suzuki interface and SMIS, SDS to NMEA to see my engine data on my Lowrance HDS. Not as cool as the digital Suzuki gauge but I’m able to get fuel burn, temp, hours on my HDS, the fuel level is still on the analog gauge. As mentioned, it could be a faulty sending unit in the tank or a faulty ground wire. This is the first outboard I’ve owned with an ECU so it’s nice to see engine data on the Lowrance.

 

[Stizzla]

What gauge do you have? Is it the square smg4 digital one or older round style?

Fuel systems are pretty basic, could be your sender not working, could be corrosion on the terminals where it connects to the sender.

SMG4. It’s 2021 and the motor has 24 hours

 

[sudsy]

When i rigged my boat with the suzuki wiring it needed to be configured by the dealer. A quick Google search will let you download a smg4 installation manul. When the gauge is installed it needs to be configured and you need to input the tank size and configure it empty. Mine has been working good since install but I left that piece to the dealer to do. The manual has step by step instructions on how to configure the smg4 but it either needs to be empty or you will have to pull out your fuel sender....it appears it sets the baseline when empty, knows the maximum gallonage of the tank(if input when confugring) and then displays the bars accordingly when full. You also need a gps input on your nmea for it to show gallonage /liters per distance burned.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://haugalandbatsenter.no/files/public/d2861a1b-1696-491a-8a23-8c6cb68cadbd/f268a6fe3878262ddb214adba631723af5660b0f/Installation_Manual_for_Multi-Function_Gauge_(updated_one).pdf&ved=2ahUKEwiL-M3g6L6NAxUUxuYEHaDLAesQFnoECAwQAQ&sqi=2&usg=AOvVaw3UiCpfFVD1R3uSnvzMbj7e

 

[23Hourston]

Grok 3 says
If your 2021 Suzuki DF175 outboard with an SMG4 gauge isn’t displaying fuel burn, here are some troubleshooting steps based on common issues and solutions:

1. Check NMEA 2000 Connection: The SMG4 relies on a proper connection to the engine’s ECU via the NMEA 2000 network or the engine harness to display fuel burn data. Ensure the gauge is correctly connected to the engine’s SDS plug, not the analog output plug. Verify all wiring harnesses are secure and undamaged, especially if using the original harness from an older engine. A new harness is recommended for a 2021 DF175 to avoid compatibility issues.
2. Fuel Flow Sensor Setting: Navigate to the SMG4’s menu under “Fuel Setup” and ensure the “Fuel Remaining Source” is set to “Engine Fuel Flow.” This setting allows the gauge to calculate fuel burn based on engine data. If this is not configured correctly, the gauge may not display fuel consumption.
3. Software and Calibration: Ensure the SMG4 firmware is up to date, as earlier versions had issues with under-reporting fuel use. Check Suzuki’s official website or contact a dealer for the latest software updates. Also, verify that the tank size is correctly entered in the SMG4 settings, as incorrect tank capacity can affect fuel burn calculations.
4. Tank Sender Connection: If the gauge is showing fuel level but not fuel burn, confirm that the fuel sender (if installed) is not interfering with the engine’s fuel flow data. The SMG4 can display fuel burn without a tank sender, as it calculates based on engine fuel flow, but a misconfigured sender might cause confusion. Test the sender with a multimeter (33-240 ohms for US settings) to ensure it’s functioning.
5. Reset Fuel Used: After filling the tank, reset the “Fuel Used” data on the SMG4 to zero. This is done via the gauge’s menu (check the manual, pages 36-39, for detailed steps). Failure to reset can lead to inaccurate fuel burn readings.
6. Integration with Other Devices: If you’re using a chartplotter (e.g., Garmin or Lowrance) via NMEA 2000, ensure the SMG4 is correctly outputting fuel flow data to the network. Some chartplotters require specific settings to display fuel burn, and the SMG4 may need its “Water Speed” setting toggled off to use GPS data for accurate calculations.
7. Inspect for Errors: Look for error codes like “Check Gauge C,” which indicates a configuration issue. Revisit the initial settings in the SMG4 menu to ensure they match your engine (2021 DF175, mechanical or fly-by-wire). If the gauge isn’t powering on, test the harness and connections with a multimeter for voltage issues or a faulty diode.

If these steps don’t resolve the issue, consult the SMG4 installation manual (available online, e.g., via Suzuki dealers or forums like The Hull Truth) for detailed wiring diagrams and setup instructions. You may also need to contact a Suzuki dealer to verify the gauge and engine compatibility or test the gauge on another engine to rule out a defective unit.


For further assistance, check with your dealer or refer to the manual at: Suzuki SMG4 Manual.

 

[23Hourston]

Grok is here resistance is futile

 

[brutus]

SMG4. It’s 2021 and the motor has 24 hours

The dealer needs to sinc it, mine was the same, Sherwood did not sinc it on install, extra $ to do it I was told, maple marine did it a month ago before I put it in for the season , all data are working now, they told me only dealer can do it, might be BS

 

[turbomack]

My boat has no fuel gauge either, just go on the flow the ECUs send to my MFD. pretty much spot on if the say i burn 200 litres on a trip i buy 200 and slug it into the tank.

 

[sudsy]

If its showing hours then its synced to the motor. The issue he has is that it shows full fuel. The only way to fix it is to confirm the sender is working and reconfiguring it through the menu. The gauge itself is dumb...it only knows what empty is and calculated full based on the information put in during configuration. It's all done through the menu on the display itself.

If you aren't seeing fuel burn data, make sure you go in the menu and set it from speed over water (paddle wheel data) to speed over ground (gps data)from your nmea network assuming you have one. I don't have a paddle wheel data on my nmea network so if I switch to speed over water I get limited info on my gauge, once I switch to speed over ground it gets the GPS data from my nmea network and shows my speed, fuel burn etc.

Not knowing how your system is setup makes it difficult to diagnose exactly.

Your best bet would be reading the smg4 installation manual, understanding if you have a paddle wheel connected to your nmea or if its using GPS data for speed on you gauge, does your tilt /trim read correctly? It's obviously showing engine hours so it should be synced with the motor i would assume. Worst case is bring it into sherwood for them to diagnose and set for you.