Constant 'Two Beeps' from my Four Winns 4.3

J

Jimwhall

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Aug 6, 2013
Messages
166
Took my '16 Four Winns with a 4.3 MPI and alpha one out to watch fireworks. I did alot of idling and slow moving and when I went to land it I started getting two warning beeps every minute or so. Time between beeps can be variable.

I pulled it and checked:
A) oil
B) drive lube level
C) confirmed oil pressure
D) confirmed normal temperature.
E) confirmed voltage.

Everything works normally. I ran it again and it idles and planes just fine. It ran rough at the beginning of the season but seems to have evened out with a tank of fresh gas. I'm confused, and as it's a 'new to me' boat I don't have any manuals. My boat mechanic has a four week (!!!) back log. The online manuals seem a generation older than what I have. Can anyone provide guidance?
 
Bondo

Bondo

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Apr 17, 2002
Messages
70,957
Ayuh,..... Bein' an electronic motor, you need a 'puter to know what it's tryin' to tell you,....
 
B

BillWilliams

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
May 23, 2021
Messages
76
You actually have 3 serial numbers. One for the outdrive, one for the transom assembly and one for the engine. Depends on the year but some boats (like my 1999) has all 3 on the cover over the engine. My 1989 boat had the engine serial number on a sticker on the valve cover. You'll have to take a look and see what you can find.
 
J

Jimwhall

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Aug 6, 2013
Messages
166
alldodge said:
What's your serial number?
Click to expand...
I don't know. Is it just on the block?
Jimwhall said:
Took my '16 Four Winns with a 4.3 MPI and alpha one out to watch fireworks. I did alot of idling and slow moving and when I went to land it I started getting two warning beeps every minute or so. Time between beeps can be variable.

I pulled it and checked:
A) oil
B) drive lube level
C) confirmed oil pressure
D) confirmed normal temperature.
E) confirmed voltage.

Everything works normally. I ran it again and it idles and planes just fine. It ran rough at the beginning of the season but seems to have evened out with a tank of fresh gas. I'm confused, and as it's a 'new to me' boat I don't have any manuals. My boat mechanic has a four week (!!!) back log. The online manuals seem a generation older than what I have. Can anyone provide guidance?
Click to expand...
well…. I drove it around and it seems fine. After that my mechanic called and said not to run it though. I guess I was going on the theory that if I have oil, oil pressure, temp is good, volts are good, and it’s running fine I would t damage anything. I wanted to test it though. Hopefully I didn’t make anything worse.

I did find a sheet explaining the horns. It could be one of like 14 things. 🤣🤣🤣
 
Stinnett21

Stinnett21

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jun 24, 2012
Messages
499
FWIW My 2002 5.0 MPI used to do this on occasion. I upgraded my battery to 1000 MCA instead those rated below 800. I learned to keep the IAC muffler clean, the flame arrestor clean and the hose leading to it and problem went away and hasn't reoccurred for several years now.
 
J

Jimwhall

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Aug 6, 2013
Messages
166
Jimwhall said:
Took my '16 Four Winns with a 4.3 MPI and alpha one out to watch fireworks. I did alot of idling and slow moving and when I went to land it I started getting two warning beeps every minute or so. Time between beeps can be variable.

I pulled it and checked:
A) oil
B) drive lube level
C) confirmed oil pressure
D) confirmed normal temperature.
E) confirmed voltage.

Everything works normally. I ran it again and it idles and planes just fine. It ran rough at the beginning of the season but seems to have evened out with a tank of fresh gas. I'm confused, and as it's a 'new to me' boat I don't have any manuals. My boat mechanic has a four week (!!!) back log. The online manuals seem a generation older than what I have. Can anyone provide guidance?
Click to expand...
I think this is the power steering pump. Can anyone confirm? Or tell me if it’s low?
1688832957014.jpeg
1688833017377.jpeg
 
alldodge

alldodge

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Staff member
Joined
Mar 8, 2009
Messages
42,063
Serial shows 555 ECM
The highest failure rate item on your motor is the sea water pressure switch. I'm not saying that's the problem it's just they fail often

Fault Codes 555.jpg

The pump above is the Trim pump, it raises and lowers the drive.

The power steering pump is belt drive and on the front of the motor. The link below shows your PS components
https://www.mercruiserparts.com/bam/subassembly/31503/13808/260
 
J

Jimwhall

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Aug 6, 2013
Messages
166
J

Jimwhall

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Aug 6, 2013
Messages
166
alldodge said:
Serial shows 555 ECM
The highest failure rate item on your motor is the sea water pressure switch. I'm not saying that's the problem it's just they fail often

View attachment 383714

The pump above is the Trim pump, it raises and lowers the drive.

The power steering pump is belt drive and on the front of the motor. The link below shows your PS components
https://www.mercruiserparts.com/bam/subassembly/31503/13808/260
Click to expand...
So… what does that switch do? And did the reservoir for the trim look low? I can’t see any marks on the jug.
 
alldodge

alldodge

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Messages
42,063
I called it a switch but its actually a sensor, and it tells the ECM if water pressure after the raw water pump is low. Located above and at the rear of the motor on the power steering cooler, item 14 in link post previous

Yes it does look a little low. It should not be full but right at or below the bottom of the ridge of the tank top
 
J

Jimwhall

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Aug 6, 2013
Messages
166
Thank you again.

Can I use just regular power steering fluid for it? Looks like Mercury Marine fluid does both
 
J

Jimwhall

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Aug 6, 2013
Messages
166
Just an update for all who helped, turned out that both the impeller and the water pressure sensor had gone bad. According to the mechanic engine is still fine, which kind of makes sense to me because it never got hot, or even a bit warm. Nice to have behind me though.
 
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