Alarm is going off, what is wrong

[jwharan]

I have an audible alarm going off, and I am trying to determine what it is going on. The alarm goes off when i turn the key into the on position. The alarm remains on when i am at an idle, and shuts off, when I move into gear, and begin to accelerate, however as soon as I slow down, the alarm comes on again. Does anyone have any idea where I should begin? The boat is a 1997 Sea Ray 4.3L Merc. The only thing I have noticed is that the drive oil is low. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[Don S]

Re: Alarm is going off, what is wrong

The alarm works for 3 things.<br />High coolant temp.<br />Low Oil pressure.<br />Low Gear lube.<br /><br />Each has a sperarte "Switch" which operates the alarm, so you could have a high temp alarm with the gauge showing normal.<br />When the alarm is going off, disconnect each switch to see which one is causing the problem.<br /><br />Fill the gear lube reservoir, the alarm is probably from that. Then you need to find the leak.

 

[jwharan]

Re: Alarm is going off, what is wrong

How do i trace the switches to the alarm? I believe that the alarm has a brown and a purple wire going into it. The alarm goes off immediately on a cold engine, so i don't think it is an overheating issue, and I know the engine is water cooled, and it is not backed up. It must be the low drive oil. What brand type should I fill it with? and where do i buy it?

 

[milkyway]

Re: Alarm is going off, what is wrong

Use Mercruiser brand Gear Lube oil. Where do you buy it? You have to help yourself and find a marine parts dealer in your area. If the oil reservoir level drops again after you fill it up to the max line, Captain Don S said you need to find the leak.

 

[BigFootTwo]

Re: Alarm is going off, what is wrong

I have a very similiar problem:<br /><br />2005 Caravelle 23' walkaround with 5.0L Mercruiser with alpha 1 outdrive. About 125 hours on it. Fresh water cooling.<br /> <br /> The alarm went off while the engine was idling.. temp gauge and oil pressure gauge were normal, but the gear lube reservoir was very low. I filled the gear lube reservoir, and also cleaned the outdrive - it was covered with a slimy seaweed that we have in our area now. The alarm silenced, and I drove another 30 minutes to the dock. I checked the gear lube reservoir, and it didn't change - still perfect <br /> Then the next time I went to use it - I start the engine, and the alarm wouldn't go off. The fluid levels were good. (actually - the oil level on the dipstick was about a quart high - I had the oil changed a few weeks ago and it was high since - they probably put in too much oil - could that cause a problem?)<br /> I shut down the engine..<br /> Any ideas?<br /><br /> I will be hauling it for the season in 3 weeks, but this is the best fishing time of the year and I hate to lose these next few weeks.