737 Problems - Fuel Light (Low Pressure) & A/T Not Functioning

[tpeard 0]

I have a couple minor issues with the TinMouse 737 in FSX, and I'm hoping there is someone out there who has experienced the same problem and has since overcome it.1) The fuel pumps are on, however the low pressure lights remain on, which I assume why the master caution light / fuel light remains on. I'm following the checklists ("FUEL PUMP SWITCHES - ON, All pumps on for tanks with fuel, LOW PRESS lights off), however I can't seem to get the darn lights to extinguish. Engine on, off... on the ground, flying... lights still on.2) I cannot get the auto throttle to engage. Auto pilot is already on, altitude and heading set... Set my speed, arm the A/T, click speed and nothing happens - I can't get it to engage.I am running V1.32 in Windows Vista 32.Help please!Thank you in advance.

[Bob Scott 7,716]

1-try depowering the jet completely with the engines off (APU, ground power, and battery all off). If the lights are still on, it's a problem with DirectX and/or your video driver/card. If that's it, update DX9 and then your video driver.2-Is the PDCS programmed and set? If that's not it, put the throttles into the null zone at full throttle or idle (at the ends of travel the null zone should produce a stable unchanging value of 0 or 16383)...it could be a noisy pot spiking.

[tpeard 0]

Thanks for your reply Bob.1) When I cut all power, all lights go dark. When I start with a hot Cessna 172, then switch to the 737, everything looks fine initially, however once I throttle up, the low pressure lights come on.2) I didn't initially have the PDCS programmed... however when I tried, I still couldn't do anything with the auto throttle.It's something I'm doing, I'm sure. I'm going to look through the doc's again and keep trying :-)Again, thanks for your help.

[Bob Scott 7,716]

1) When I cut all power, all lights go dark. When I start with a hot Cessna 172, then switch to the 737, everything looks fine initially, however once I throttle up, the low pressure lights come on.

All six of them? Just to confirm, the "on" position of the fuel pump switches is DOWN. How is your power configured? No off flags on the main panel? To get those lights you either need to have no fuel in the associated tank, or no power (the center tank lights also require the switch to be selected on).

2) I didn't initially have the PDCS programmed... however when I tried, I still couldn't do anything with the auto throttle.

Make sure these two lines are in the aircraft.cfgautothrottle_available=1autothrottle_arming_required=1Are you using our model from the V1.30 distributable?

[investdude 0]

On my installation, FS9 v.1.40, the fuel booster pump lights function correctly, that is they come on if a tank has fuel and the associated pump switch is off, and the Master Caution -- Fuel comes on. However, when you cancel the Master Caution it remains illuminated as Fuel, unlike the real aircraft. Seems to be a small glitch there, are you aware of it Bob?

[tpeard 0]

1) All six are initially on (Fuel Pump 1 & 2 above, then fuel Pump FWD and AFT 1 & 2) I can turn the main Fuel Pump 1 & 2 off and the associated lights go off, however I cannot get the lower four lights to turn off, regardless of whether or not the switches are on or off (Fuel Pump FWD and AFT 1&2). Here are a couple of links showing the panel configuration.http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w111/tpeard/MainPanel.jpghttp://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w111/tpeard/OverheadPanel.jpg 2) I don't think the panel I was initally using had the A/T incorporated. I switched it for another panel with it enabled and it worked. The aircraft.cfg does have those two items listed.Thanks.

[investdude 0]

According to those 2 photos, you need to put your APU generator on the busses -- the 2 switches immediately below the blue APU GEN OFF BUS light, because right now your engines are not running and only the battery is powering the electrical system. The battery will quickly run down if you don't have a generator on the line. That might be the source of your problem with the booster pump low pressure lights.

[tpeard 0]

Hmm... the engines were running when I took the shot - I didn't catch that the light was on when I took the screenshot. I will run through the startup again next time I'm in the sim. I'm pretty sure the APU GEN OFF BUS light was off other times when I was still getting the low pressure lights for the fuel pumps. I'll try it again though.

[eaglesp 0]

According to those 2 photos, you need to put your APU generator on the busses -- the 2 switches immediately below the blue APU GEN OFF BUS light, because right now your engines are not running and only the battery is powering the electrical system. The battery will quickly run down if you don't have a generator on the line. That might be the source of your problem with the booster pump low pressure lights.

I looked at that initially as well but the engines are running (can't explain the EGT gauges not registering though...) and the engine generators are online...30A on 1, 40A on 2. There has to be something else funky going on.Rob Wilkinson

[Bob Scott 7,716]

1) All six are initially on (Fuel Pump 1 & 2 above, then fuel Pump FWD and AFT 1 & 2) I can turn the main Fuel Pump 1 & 2 off and the associated lights go off, however I cannot get the lower four lights to turn off, regardless of whether or not the switches are on or off (Fuel Pump FWD and AFT 1&2).Here are a couple of links showing the panel configuration.http://i174.photobuc...d/MainPanel.jpghttp://i174.photobuc...erheadPanel.jpg2) I don't think the panel I was initally using had the A/T incorporated. I switched it for another panel with it enabled and it worked. The aircraft.cfg does have those two items listed.Thanks.

OK, the pictures spoke a thousand words. It appears to me that your battery bus is depowered. The EGT gauges run off the standby DC bus, which is tied to the batt bus in normal ops...and the boost pumps are powered off the battery bus directly. I would suspect the age-old FS battery bug is behind this, which is easily cured. In the FSUIPC misc tab, make sure the "Extend Battery Life" checkbox is ticked, and I recommend you place a value of 0 in the adjacent box to extend it indefinitely.

[tpeard 0]

Thanks Bob & everyone else for your help! My self conducted checkride went smooth - I'm really liking this plane! Again, thank you!