Perfect pass on Malibu VLX

Does anybody have a Malibu VLX with a working perfect pass? I have two friends with 2002 VLX's and neither one will hold a steady speed in speed mode. The local Malibu dealer has completely given up trying to get perfect pass to work on these boats.

I've checked for interference in the throttle cable and seems fine. I don't see any reason why these boats wouldn't act just like any other with perfect pass, but I'd like to know that somebody has a working perfect pass on a VLX.

On my 02 the perfect pass was holding a speed great, the only problem that I had was having to readjust the nob sometimes

Okay, now I'm convinced that this is a PP problem across the board. I have a friend with an '03 SANTE that we have painstakingly tried to get the PP to work in speed mode and just can't get it. We threw up our hands and just use RPM mode, which is inconvenience for pulling out of the hole.

I've read about the problem with X2s as well and now VLXs. What a shame.

I had PP added to my 00 VLX last year.
Its holds speed to +/- 0.2 mph all the time.

I have had trouble with the display unit, but never speed control. At times, the display drops out, but the boat continues to hold speed.

Andre, RPM is unacceptable. Get that thing fixed.

Its not my boat, Dane. Dane, would you mind checking what your KDW and NN settings are and posting them here?

I agree RPM is unacceptable, and that's what my Malibu friends are using. It's a pain in the ass. Speed mode works great on my '02 Launch, and I don't see why it wouldn't work on their boats.

Dane (or anybody else with a working VLX pp), can you check where exactly your paddle wheel is located?

Also, they use the wedge and MLS plus another 500lb sac in the bow.

Paul, I should have said, "tell Aki to get that thing fixed"!

I will check the unit for KDW and NN this weekend.
They should be defaults because I have never changed them.

I run with 350 left-rear, 350 right-rear, 400 mls, 500 in bow plus 400 lbs of lead spread out and no wedge.

Here are pictures of the paddle wheel install.

Mine works great. I use the wedge, stock ballast in the back and front plus weight in back and front.

a couple recent threads covering similar issues:
http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/3183/68118.html?1054135167

i have similar problems and really haven't gotten a chance to mess with mine that much in the last month, so i don't have much in the way of results to share.

I have a 2002 VLX KDW 90 NN 160. About 1700lbs of ballast.

Mine worked pefectly for 88 hrs. on my 2002 V210 until this last weekend. The servo motor seized. It took a pair of channel locks to move the knob.

Mine works fine, 02 VLX. Have only used it in mph mode though.

No problems here with stock settings and 2K plus wedge.

Of the other 2 2002 VLX's one has had the brain replaced due to a catastrophic failure (warranty) and neither one has had problems using speed mode.

Call Perfect pass, there is a simple servo test you can access from the display unit, also there are a couple of different adjustments you can make. I have had 2 VLX's (01 and 02) and both perfect passes worked perfectly. I have seen 1 02 LSV that had some problems holding speed (surging 1-2 mph). It turned out that the cable that went through the engine compartment was binding on the carbon fiber plate under the spark arrester on the engine in the Gen II Monsoons. If you see an 03 Monsoon 335 you will notice they rerouted the cable and it does not have the 90 degree bend that the Generation II or Monsoon 325hp engines had. Hope this helps.
Perfect Pass 902-468-2150 or email techsupport@perfectpass.com

Mine doesn't work well at all, I think I am going to remove it. I wish it worked and felt with enough problems Malibu would be forced to find a solution to what seems to be a somewhat common problem on a OEM system. I don't have a good feeling about them getting it sorted out though. You would not even consider Perfect Pass if you went for a ride in my boat right now. (2001 Malibu 25LSV) Slight turn one way it speeds up, the other way it slows down. It is better since I angled the paddle wheel more towards the center of the boat, but far from usable.

I had an '02 VLX and had problems with my factory installed PerfectPass setup the first time I tried to use it. I worked directly with PerfectPass (techsupport@perfectpass.com) and they were able to diagnose the problem and resolve it by replacing the Master Module which is the little black box under the driver-side dash. Here were the symptoms I had:

1. Using RPM mode it works flawlessly. The preset RPM setting is held almost perfectly - probably a small 25-50 RPM variance pulling under full load (ballast full and rider)

2. The SPEED mode seems to get better as I go faster. Set at 20 MPH, it runs in the range of 14-24.5 MPH with very great surges and drop-offs. At 25 MPH the range is 23-27.5 MPH, but does not surge or fall off like it does at 20. At 30 Mph the range is 29-31.5. At 35 MPH it runs 34-36 MPH.

3. The servo cable was binding, but not on the plastic engine covers (which is a common problem with the VLX). It was pressed and somewhat bent against the fuel injection rail. I moved the the unit enough to allow the cable free access, but it did not seem to make a difference in RPM or MPH mode.

4. I adjusted the KDM setting to extremes on both ends and some settings in between. In both RPM and MPH mode it seem to make hardly any difference.

5. The PerfectPass system was factory installed. I know some issues have been reported with the PerfectPass speed sensor or water wheel flow being disrupted by a water intake or water temp sensor, but that is not the case on my boat. The speed/water wheel is off to the side and there is nothing in front of it to disrupt the flow of water passing the wheel. I climb under the boat and spun it and it does spin freely.


Anyway, the guys at PerfectPass are great to work with and are experts in diagnosing issues. I would highly recommend contacting them directly if your dealer can’t resolve the issue quickly.

I have a VLX and my perfect pass crapped out too. But i sometimes run my boat in teh ocean so that could have screwed it up

I have a '02 VLX and haven't had any problems with perfect pass. I have only used it in the MPH setting. That's with stock ballast, fat sack in the front and side sacks in the rear.

Question: Any of you Malibu owners have problems with your gas gauge? Mine never reads full when the tank is completely full. Sometimes it will stop at a 1/4 of tank, and other times it will be on empty but still have at least a 1/4 tank of gas left.

Phil, I have no problems with my 02 VLX gas gauge, in fact it is better b/c of the baffles than my 01 VLX gauge. You should probably get it replaced before your 1 year bumper to bumper is up.

Yeah, I better call today and make an appointment. Thanks!

I ran PP on my '03 VLX last night and it seemd on straitpulls it kept speed GREAT withint .2mph of what it was set to, but on turns and such, it slowed down, but speed back up to speed...

This isnt normal, is it?

Yes that is normal as the paddle wheel is not on the center line of the boat, so it will either speed up a bit or slow down a bit depending on which way you turn.

I can deal with a little speed change on corners but we are talking 3-5 mph when turning the steering wheel from say 12 o clock position to either 10 or 2 o clock position. 3-5 mph in either direction = 6-10mph total variation on slight turns of when the rider pulls hard. Not even close to perfect. I'm waiting to make sure they don't come up with a fix before I remove it. It's not worth having as is.

It should not change speed unless you are doing a 180 degree turn, just a course correction should not effect it, something is wrong. Call tech support and get it corrected.

Mine seems to loose speed when I carve outside the wake..... Should I get it looked at?

I have called PP and Malibu many times, and they know about this. PP says its a "Malibu thing" that only affects certain models, well, I guess mine is one of those. Seems odd as PP is a factory option for 03 Malibu. I thought someone would have checked this out before making it available. I still hope they figure out how to make it work, but I am not getting much reassurance from Malibu or PP.

Yea... I mean, its great for pulling but if its not going to keep speed who needs perfect pass the driver could make thoes adjustments.... Who knows.

3D, Perfect Pass has been a factory Malibu item for many years, I am suprized to see how many people are having problems. Out of the 15 Wakesetters I have delt with, I have only seen 1 that had problems, and as I stated earlier in this thread it was the carbon fiber plate under the spark arrester binding the cable. The first thing to check is the servo test, to make sure nothing is binding. This would not be the case for an 03, cause they rerouted the cable and took the 180 degree bend out of it.

WakeNup, it works OK in rpm mode so I think the setup is OK, and PP is aware of the issues with paddle wheel. My boat is a 25LSV and most other complaints I have heard have been the 23LSV, I thought it worked on VLX but maybe not. I guess it doesn't matter if it doesn't work on 1 in a 100 if you have that one. I'm just going to wait and see if they resolve this before I take it out. I call every couple weeks and check on it. RPM mode works OK but not Perfect, and not good enough to leave it in there.

Got my new servo motor this am as promised by PP. Greatest invention since the twin tip and high backs IMO.