Constant alarm on Merc 3.0

[Gary H NC]

This is a 2008 3.0 TKS Mercruiser in a 2009 Bayliner.
Constant alarm when key is on until the engine starts...

This is a boat the people just bought new from a dealer.
The dealer told them it was normal but i was wondering if the alarm should just beep and not stay on constant while cranking.

The TKS is squat...you have to keep pumping the throttle until it fires then it blows a cloud of black exhaust and finally smooths out.
They took it back to the dealer and they said they "rebuilt" the carb on a brand new boat?

 

[Don S]

Re: Constant alarm on Merc 3.0

It's normal. Nothing in the system to keep the oil pressure switch from saying there is no oil pressure.
There is a service manual for the TKS up in the adults only sticky. Might have a look at it, i've never worked on the TKS system, so not much help. I think there is a service bulletin on the TKS in there too. I'll check and see if it has anything to do with that problem.

 

[JustJason]

Re: Constant alarm on Merc 3.0

I have a customer with the same engine. I get a 10 second tone(or beep) with the key on "run" but not actually started.

The TKS works fine... as long as you start it like you would any other carbed engine... 2 full pumps and hold the throttle open a quarter and crank it. As far as "Turn Key"... yeah right!!

Did you hear the whistle yet?

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Constant alarm on Merc 3.0

Thanks guys....This TKS needs about 6 or 7 pumps while cranking to get it to start.
I could tell the dealer had the carb off the boat because of the paint missing off the nuts.

All i done to the boat was an oil change.The owner had bought the oil and filter from the dealer.
After the oil change it had a slight knock to the engine too...strange
I told him while it is still under Merc's warranty he needs to have it checked over by another dealer.
This boat has 20 hours at most on it.

 

[Don S]

Re: Constant alarm on Merc 3.0

He either needs to find another dealer, or get a merc rep involved if his dealer can't figure it out.
I have been looking at the wiring diagrams of the 2007 version with TKS, and the 2 problems may have something in common. Seems the alarm switch has 3 wires and one of them (white wire) goes to the oil pressure switch and the temp switch. What it does, I don't know, and since it's 1 year newer, my original info that it was normal, may not be so.
Engines withOUT the TKS system do not have anything else connected to the alarm switch. But the TKS system does.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Constant alarm on Merc 3.0

Thanks Don,

I noticed the extra wire myself.
It also had the 2 wires running to the carb for the TKS that came out of the harness and what looked like 2 temp senders side by side next to the thermostat housing.

You can tell i'm used to working on older stuff...

 

[Fun Times]

Re: Constant alarm on Merc 3.0

I agree with Don, With it being that new he should have someone eles or have a rep come out and look at it. Normaly mercruiser does not like rebuilds while under warranty, They would rather you install a new one, That is as long as you know for certain there is nothing eles like water, Dirt, ect that would make it not be covered under warranty inside the car, ect.

If you would like to see what the dealer told mercruiser about the work they did to it, I might be able to look it up for you. I would need the engine serial number is all.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Constant alarm on Merc 3.0

Thanks Boat Tech,

The engine serial is 1A313602 2008 Engine.
Drive number,1A248131

I would be interested as to what they did to it.
That dealer is now going out of business and is closed as far as i know.

There is a Mercruiser dealer near me i could send him to.
If not he needs a Merc rep to take a look as Don said.

I tested that exact model boat for Bayliner and that engine was much smoother and it started very easy.Same TKS 3.0.

These are good customers of mine and their first new boat so i want to steer them in the right direction.
A very nice couple with small children so they need to be safe on the water...

Thanks for the help!

 

[Don S]

Re: Constant alarm on Merc 3.0

One thing to note Gary, just because they boat a boat from a certain dealer, doesn't mean they have to take it there for repairs.
While I am not really impressed with Merc's newer products, I never found them lacking in working with a dealer and customer to get a problem cured. Most of the problems are due to dealers that probably shouldn't be, and just hate warranty work.
Those dealers that feel that way, usually end up closing their doors early. The ones that work with the customer and Merc almost always have happy endings. If it doesn't come out to the customers way of thinking, there is usually a good reason. But Merc also gives that reason to the dealer, and will also talk to the customer if necessary. Seen it happen too many times.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Constant alarm on Merc 3.0

Good advice as usual there Don,Thanks.

I think it's only fair they bought a new boat it should not be having any problems.

Usually those 3.0 engines i have seen should run like a sewing machine.

The owner said they cleaned out the carb at the other dealer but it still has idle problems.
Anything lower than about 900 rpm and it just does not sound very smooth.

 

[Don S]

Re: Constant alarm on Merc 3.0

It's fixable, with a competent dealer.

 

[Fun Times]

Re: Constant alarm on Merc 3.0

Sorry that place must like working for free, They did not file a warranty claim.
Here is some info on their boat for you. Had they done it We would have been able to see what they said they did and what parts they used. Names with held for safty.

ENG: 1A313602 Model# 4111021UU MERCRUISER 3.0L ALPHA
DRV: 1A248131 Model# 5121600TS MERCRUISER ALPHA 2.00:1
TRN: 1A163343 Model# 6111001LS MERCRUISER ALPHA TRANSOM
Purchased: 09/03/2009
Warranty Period: 09/03/2009 - 09/03/2011
OEM Certified Warranty Period: 09/03/2010 - 09/03/2011
Product Protection Period: NONE
Manufacture Date: 03/11/2008
Date Type Dealer Information Misc. Information
09/03/2009 REGISTERED EXP : 09/03/2011
04/08/2008 [Engine was INVOICED]
Water Type: OTHER
Primary Use: PLEASURE
Warranty Period: 09/03/2009 - 09/03/2011
PDI Completed:NO
OEM Certified Warranty Period: 09/03/2010 - 09/03/2011
Boat Information
Hull Id: BBBE-----809 Length: 017
Manufacturer: Width: 007
Nbr of Motors: SINGLE Hull Material: OTHER
Model: 175

 

[Don S]

Re: Constant alarm on Merc 3.0

I find this all the time, not only Merc, but Volvo and Yamaha. The dealers sell the boats and that is the end of it. They don't even want to talk to the customer again.
It's usually a case of the dealer is to lazy or incompetent to do the paper work to get paid. They mess with something to make it look like they did something (Shoot, they probably have no clue how to fix it,) then they tell the customer sorry Merc (or whom ever) said it's all ok and normal.
Those kind of places need to be shut down. They give honest marine companies a bad name.

 

[Fun Times]

Re: Constant alarm on Merc 3.0

Good advice as usual there Don,Thanks.

I think it's only fair they bought a new boat it should not be having any problems.

Usually those 3.0 engines i have seen should run like a sewing machine.

The owner said they cleaned out the carb at the other dealer but it still has idle problems.
Anything lower than about 900 rpm and it just does not sound very smooth.

I have had three of them with a really high idle while cold, Then once it got warm [154 degrees] it would get real rough and low idle and then just die, One of them had 0 hours on it and the others where very low hours. One odd thing the three engines did was when I pulled out the PCV, VALVE the engine would go to a very high idle with the bad carbs on, And when I put a new good carb on the engine would go real low on a idle and die when pulled the PCV.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Constant alarm on Merc 3.0

Thanks for all the great info.
I am not surprised they did not file anything with Mercruiser.

At the very least they should have put a new carb on it under warranty.

It is having the same issues as Boat Tech described so i think it needs to go to a different dealer.

The owner is watching this thread and said he would take it to another dealer.
The dealer down the road in Monroe has been in business for over 20 years and family owned so i think that would be the type of shop to look at it.
I'm pretty sure they do Mercruiser warranty work.

 

[Don S]

Re: Constant alarm on Merc 3.0

Give this a try first.

http://direct.where2getit.com/cwc/apps/w2gi.php?&client=mercurymarine&template=search

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Constant alarm on Merc 3.0

Thanks Don,

That dealer near me was the first one on the list but did not list them as premier service.

http://direct.where2getit.com/cwc/a...ty=&state=&postalcode=28104&radius=25&product[]=BoatPackageSales_MerCruiserSterndrives&product[]=Service_MercruiserSterndrives&x=43&y=8

 

[Mercperk]

Super old post but I wasn't sure if I saw a definite resolution here... Was it simply that with the TKS if the key is on but not running it is NORMAL the alarm on one constant beep until engine is running?
Just wanted clarification

 

[Scott06]

Super old post but I wasn't sure if I saw a definite resolution here... Was it simply that with the TKS if the key is on but not running it is NORMAL the alarm on one constant beep until engine is running?
Just wanted clarification

Best to start your own thread specific t your issue as they frown upon people posting on old threads. I'm sure a mod will be along shortly to close the thread