2009 Cruise Control questions...

[IDBoating]

We have cruise control on our 2009 24Ve. It works pretty well most of the time, but we've noticed a couple of things.

1) When the engine is restarted after switching boarders, the cruise control still has the previous speed setting - but it doesn't take effect unless we press the big center button. That's very deceiving because the cruise control display is on the screen, and it has the desired speed setting, and it says "more throttle" as if it's working. Drivers forget this ALL the time and end up pulling boarders much too fast, causing crashes and falls.

2) Sometimes the cruise control just "cancels" for no obvious reason. The display reverts back to non-cruise mode even though the cruise control switch is still in the on position. This happens while the engine is idling - so far it's never happened when we've actually been driving at cruise speed. It can take some fiddling around to get cruise mode back... just flipping the switch off and back on doesn't always do it.

3) When setting the speed, occasionally a single press of the up or down button will generate a HUGE change in the setting. It's normally the expected 0.2 MPH change, but sometimes it will leap 5-6 MPH in one shot (!!!). Obviously, if someone is riding behind the boat, this is a big problem and a safety issue too. This feels like the switches aren't being properly debounced, which can be handled in firmware (I used to design keyboards so I'm familiar with this) but it's intermittent so I don't know if that's the case here.

Anyone else experience these things? Any recommended solutions? Thanks!

[scr120]

I don't have any advice, but we have experienced the same issues with our 2009 22 Ve. We haven't had the third problem you describe, but definitely the first 2. Looking forward to some help!

[ptige]

We have a 2007 RZ2, and don't know if the cruise control is the exact same system. Overall I think it is excellent and it has always held the speed where I want it under all conditions, but there are a few things I've noticed.

I don't have your exact issues, but it seems that sometimes after turning the boat off then back on the preset is lost. For sure if I turn the cruise control off then back on then the preset goes to zero.

Changing the setpoint is a little bit of a pain. Single pushes change the speed by 0.2MPH, while a sustained push changes it by 5MPH. To get to 14MPH where some of my kids need to be I have to hold a sustained push until the number goes to 15, then do five pushes down to get to 14.

My biggest issue is what happens when someone drops and I pull the throttle to neutral to let the wake pass by. Let's say another boat is approaching so I decide to hustle around and protect the person in the water. Well, the control loop is still active and even if I go full throttle the control will not jump up to speed. It is probably still evaluating the low speed condition as a problem and will barely come off idle. The only solution I've found is to quickly turn off the cruise, then motor back, then turn the cruise on and reset the setpoint later.

Does anyone else have this experience? I wonder if there is any software upgrade available?

[IDBoating]

I don't have your exact issues, but it seems that sometimes after turning the boat off then back on the preset is lost. For sure if I turn the cruise control off then back on then the preset goes to zero.

Ours holds its preset value through an engine off/on cycle, but even though the display shows the preset and says "MORE THROTTLE" you must press that center button or it simply ignores the preset value (and will drive waaaaaay faster than the preset value).

Turning off the Cruise Control switch definitely resets the setpoint, but I don't consider that a bug.

[majestic]

Mine will reset once an hour. I always look at the screen before I throttle up to make sure it shows the set speed. On mine when it drops out it will show the speed set at 0.0.

I have had all the issues you mentioned above but the once an hour reset is all that has remained.

[mls6722]

mine does the same thing - If you see a set speed, but do not see "more throttle" at idle, it is not going to control speed. Root cause - loose nut in the cockpit.

[IDBoating]

I have had all the issues you mentioned above but the once an hour reset is all that has remained.

How did they get fixed?

[IDBoating]

mine does the same thing - If you see a set speed, but do not see "more throttle" at idle, it is not going to control speed.

As described, mine will show "MORE THROTTLE" at idle yet is happy to accelerate right past the set point. Basically, it fools you into believing that it is engaged. There is zero difference on the display between engaged and disengaged, as least as far as I and my wife have been able to notice.

Yesterday we were wakesurfing and had it set to 10.8 MPH. She started the engine, the display looked fine (10.8 MPH, "MORE THROTTLE"), she ramped it up and the boat quickly passed 16 MPH and was still gaining when the surfer dropped away in terror. Circle around, get the rope to the surfer, press the center rubber button (yielding no change in the display whatsoever, both of us were watching after what happened to the surfer), and this time ramping up the display switched to "CRUISE" at 10.8 and held nicely.

Again: There is no visible indication whether the cruise control is engaged or not. If there is a set speed and the throttle is down, it always says "MORE THROTTLE" but there's a good chance it won't limit your speed to the set value.

[thtrog]

I know it does not help you, but it would bother me if I did not know if the speed control was off or on. I can glance at the Bu display and tell if it is on or off. It also does not turn off if you shut down between riders. Hope you get it figured out. {sigh}

[Carter13]

I know it does not help you, but it would bother me if I did not know if the speed control was off or on. I can glance at the Bu display and tell if it is on or off. It also does not turn off if you shut down between riders. Hope you get it figured out. {sigh}

X2. My Perfect Pass Stargazer has been nearly spot on for two + seasons. I have only lost a signal twice and that was for just a few seconds.

[EMGE]

I had the same problems with my 09 22VE, along with the screen just dieing. There was a tread about this that I think you commented in. Tige and medallion are aware of this. The last software update they gave me fixed the issues you described here but not the screen shutdown. I was told to live with it, so I bought a Malibu, but perhaps if your screen isn't shutting down you could get the update and your problem will be fixed. In regard to the massive jump in increments, I found if you push the up or down button 5 times in a row quickly it would jump in 5 mph increments the same as if you keep your finger on the button. Also if you have your screen in the preset screen for the cruise, if you don't press set first and make your set speed go red it would jump between presets, a bit dangerous if your slalom setting was right next to the surf setting from 10mph to 33mph usually leaves the surfer behind. I would agree with thtrog, the bu beats the 09 on this one hands down. I wonder if the Tige touch system is any better? Hope you get it sorted, by the posts you have made you seem like the kind of guy that likes his stuff to work properly. I am pretty much the same.

[IDBoating]

I had the same problems with my 09 22VE, along with the screen just dieing. There was a tread about this that I think you commented in.

Yep, I remember that thread. But I also recalled that your problems were more serious that mine - I don't have the dying screen thing, thank goodness.

perhaps if your screen isn't shutting down you could get the update and your problem will be fixed.

Is that something you were able to download yourself, or did you have to take it to the dealer? Our boat lives in the lake all summer long with the trailer in storage, so pulling the boat just to do a firmware update is a huge hassle.

Also if you have your screen in the preset screen for the cruise, if you don't press set first and make your set speed go red it would jump between presets

Ah... this brings up something else I've wondered about. Someone suggested there were memories, or stored presets, in this cruise control system but I haven't been able to find that feature. I've scrolled through all the screens I can find, and read the manual (which isn't exactly verbose on the cruise system), and never found anything so I presumed it was an incorrect rumor. How do you access and use this feature? I'd LOVE to have programmable presets. Any help in this area would be really appreciated!

[EMGE]

Hi WA.
The update was done from a flashdrive. My dealers mechanic did it. Being a flash drive I assume it is something they could email to you and you could do it yourself with instruction. I also had to pull by boat for 3.5hours to get it to a dealer and that wore thin after a while.

To get to your memory (preset) mode.
Go to Setup/Cruize Screen Prefer and select memory. Your choices are Memory or Manual. Once in memory mode, depending which software you have you will be able to set the speed and name it (eg.surf, wakeboard, go home etc)

To name them I am pretty sure you press the "select"button in for 5 seconds and it will allow you to toggle the alphabet up and down and name your preset. Taps is still manual though, these presets only do speed. I used to use my screen in memory mode, so when the cruize crashed I could easily go back and find my speed.

Hope this helps.

[EMGE]

Hi Again WA.

I found in some old emails the instruction for naming your presets. I was wrong. you press up and down together. Please see attachment.
These things arent in the owners manual unfortunately, I got them from the dealer when I was trying to work it out.
Cheers,

[EMGE]

Here is the cruize menu attachment.