I am having issues with my Port engine on my 396. The engine (once started) runs rough at idle, oscillating between 700 and 1000 (Approx) RPMs, Sometimes it will level out for a bit, only to start oscillating again. Once on the water, the engine will not reach 3000; which means my SLOW circuit is activated. I decided to buy diagnostic software from Diacom, along with a few nifty plugs to plug into the EEC to read the codes.
The only problem is, I can't seem to find where this diagnostic port is on my Volvo Penta 8.1 Gi Engine. Does anyone happen to know where it is?
Diagnostic Port Location(?)-2003 Carver 396
- Bootlegger137
- Scurvy Dog

- Posts: 7
- Joined: March 7th, 2021, 10:23 am
- Vessel Info: Carver 396 ES
Volvo Penta 8.1 gasoline - Location: Rock Hall, Maryland
- Has thanked: 2 times
- Been thanked: 1 time
- bud37
- Admiral

- Posts: 5184
- Joined: April 23rd, 2015, 10:22 pm
- Has thanked: 604 times
- Been thanked: 1312 times
Re: Diagnostic Port Location(?)-2003 Carver 396
Is the rinda/diacom adaptor round , how many pins ? Usually/may be close to the ecu, it may be tie wrapped away/hidden if it has never been used.
FWIW.....The above is just my opinion.
- Bootlegger137
- Scurvy Dog

- Posts: 7
- Joined: March 7th, 2021, 10:23 am
- Vessel Info: Carver 396 ES
Volvo Penta 8.1 gasoline - Location: Rock Hall, Maryland
- Has thanked: 2 times
- Been thanked: 1 time
Re: Diagnostic Port Location(?)-2003 Carver 396
The plugs are both rectangular IAW the specs from the Diacom website. I have been looking all over the engine-attempting to trace the wires coming out of the EEC to a downstream location. I am not sure why this should be so hard.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
- Bootlegger137
- Scurvy Dog

- Posts: 7
- Joined: March 7th, 2021, 10:23 am
- Vessel Info: Carver 396 ES
Volvo Penta 8.1 gasoline - Location: Rock Hall, Maryland
- Has thanked: 2 times
- Been thanked: 1 time
Re: Diagnostic Port Location(?)-2003 Carver 396
And the EEC:
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
- bud37
- Admiral

- Posts: 5184
- Joined: April 23rd, 2015, 10:22 pm
- Has thanked: 604 times
- Been thanked: 1312 times
Re: Diagnostic Port Location(?)-2003 Carver 396
Yup those look like what I had.....different engine but there was a dead ended plug with a cap to keep it clean.......took me a while to find as they were pushed down under the harness........just get a bright light and go slow you will find the data port......sorry I don't know the exact location for that engine.
FWIW.....The above is just my opinion.
- Bootlegger137
- Scurvy Dog

- Posts: 7
- Joined: March 7th, 2021, 10:23 am
- Vessel Info: Carver 396 ES
Volvo Penta 8.1 gasoline - Location: Rock Hall, Maryland
- Has thanked: 2 times
- Been thanked: 1 time
Re: Diagnostic Port Location(?)-2003 Carver 396
I found it. It was located under the fuse box; after removing a cover, there it was.
- buster53
- Admiral

- Posts: 1170
- Joined: May 12th, 2017, 10:41 am
- Vessel Info: 2001, Carver 356
- Location: Gwynn’s Island, VA
- Has thanked: 10 times
- Been thanked: 285 times
Re: Diagnostic Port Location(?)-2003 Carver 396
A couple of issues come to mind that could cause your problems, all fuel related.
Bad gas, water and/or trash in the tank, fuel filter(s) clogging up (each engine may have 2) anti-siphon valve needs replacing, fuel injectors getting clogged with trash.
Bad gas, water and/or trash in the tank, fuel filter(s) clogging up (each engine may have 2) anti-siphon valve needs replacing, fuel injectors getting clogged with trash.
-
Viper
- CYO Supporter

- Posts: 6266
- Joined: July 10th, 2015, 9:58 pm
- Vessel Info: 1989 Carver 3807 Aft Cabin
- Location: Ontario, Canada
- Has thanked: 475 times
- Been thanked: 1791 times
Re: Diagnostic Port Location(?)-2003 Carver 396
Not necessarily. Usually if that's the case, there will be an engine alarm going off at a regular interval to indicate that. Are you getting a regular beep?Bootlegger137 wrote:QR_BBPOST.....the engine will not reach 3000; which means my SLOW circuit is activated......