Warning alarm

[starcraftlegasea]

Hey hows it going everyone,
The other day went to go look at a 1995 johnson 90hp that is for sale in my town for a good price (1200). The engine started up and ran however there was a problem with it that has me worried. After a a minute or two of running the engine alarm went off for about 10 seconds. As I understand, the system will give you different alarms for different problems so I am trying to decifer what is the problem at hand. The guy who is selling the engine is a boat mechanic and he said that since the VRO wasnt hooked up (we only had it running off of a spare tank that was premixed) that that is what the alarm was for, but I dont think i should take his word for it. Also, wouldnt such an alarm go off constantly if the tank wasnt attached. Does anyone know what could be the problem? I am an amatuer at best so any help would be much appreciated.

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: Warning alarm

(VRO Horn Warnings)
(J. Reeves)

NOTE: I retired around 1991/92. Possibly some of the later V4 engines and others may also incorporate a fuel vacuum switch that would enable a fuel restriction warning to sound as mentioned below, an unknown factor to myself.

1 - A steady constant beep = Overheating - The V/6 engines, possibly some others, have a fuel restriction warning which is also a steady constant beep.

2 - A beep every 20 or 40 seconds = oil level has dropped to 1/4 tank. (Late model engine = Every 40 seconds)

3 - A beep every other second = VRO failure, air leak in oil line, oil restriction, (anything that would result in a lack of oil being supplied to the engine).

NOTE - If the warning horn is the black plastic (overpriced) three wire type horn, the warning horn should beep once when the ignition key is turned to the ON position. If it does not, it is either faulty or someone has disconnected it (a stupid move!). At any rate, if it does not beep which indicates that the horn is non functional, find out why and do not run the engine until the problem is corrected.

(VRO Pump Conversion To Straight Fuel Pump)
(J. Reeves)

You can convert the VRO pump into a straight fuel pump, eliminating the oil tank and VRO pump warning system, but retain the overheat warning setup (and fuel restriction warning if so equipped) by doing the following:

1 - Cut and plug the oil line at the engine so that the oil side of the VRO pump will not draw air into its system. Trace the wires from the back of the VRO to its rubber plug (electrical plug) and disconnect it.

2 - Trace the two wires from the oil tank to the engine, disconnect those two wires, then remove them and the oil tank.

3 - Mix the 50/1 oil in the proper amount with whatever quantity fuel you have. Disconnect the fuel line at the engine. Pump the fuel primer bulb until fuel exits that hose with the tint of whatever oil you used. Reconnect the fuel hose.

That's it. If you want to test the heat warning system to ease your mind, have the key in the on position, then ground out the tan heat sensor wire that you'll find protruding from the cylinder head. The warning horn should sound off.

 

[starcraftlegasea]

Re: Warning alarm

Hey thanks for the reply. So, according to what you have said, a constant alarm for 10 secs would mean that the engine was overheating. If this is the case why would the alarm go off and not come back on? Also, since the engine wasnt making any noises up to that point I guess you can assume that the VRO system was disconnected already?

 

[Bennettc]

Re: Warning alarm

Post moved...

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: Warning alarm

Bennett..... Go back to the top left area of the previous page so that you can click on the hyperlink "Create New Post" and insert your own post with your own title that will be presented at the top of the topics. Here, you're buried under someone elses topic.

Also, that blue gook silicone that I see behind your intake manifold is a no no. That junk will just clog up fuel passageways.

 

[Bennettc]

Re: Warning alarm

Thanks, I'll post a new thread. I just got the motor, what should I do about the Blue stuff? It must have been on there before.