Idle audible alarm

Craigypoo

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I have a 2012 Tahoe Q5i with Mercruiser 4.3 TKS. After some time on the water I get an audible alarm only in neutral. As soon as I go into forward or reverse it goes away. All gauges look good throughout. Any feedback is appreciated.
 

tpenfield

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:welcome:

Outdrive oil reservoir full to the proper level?
 

achris

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Describe the alarm. Constant, beeping, beeping twice every minute... etc...

Chris...........
 

harringtondav

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I think the low oil pressure sender is the only alarm input that changes with higher rpm, since oil pressure increases with throttle. Check your engine dipstick and oil pressure gage at idle. If the oil level is good, check the sender and gage connections. If good, (gulp), you may have an oil pressure problem. Hopefully and old, dirty or collapsed filter that is working in bypass.

Else put a 0- 100 psi gage into the sender port and check your oil pressure. My 4.3LX manual says 4 psi min. @ idle, 30-55 psi @ 2000 rpm. I can't imagine a 2012 engine not meeting these requirements. If the engine tests good, time to test the sender's ohm/voltage output, and hopefully just need to change this.

ps.: After another cup of coffee I thought of a possible shorter diagnosis. If your dash gage shows good oil pressure at idle while the alarm is sounding, I'd move the low oil cut out switch up the list of suspects. This is a normally open switch that closes once the min. oil pressure is sensed. You can test this by pulling the two spade connections off, and jumping them. If the alarm stops at idle, I'd feel safe spending the $$ on a replacement.
 
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Craigypoo

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Constant beep. Oil pressure at idle is straight up at 40. When running 2000+ rpm it’s 50-60psi
 

achris

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Oil pressure switch for the alarm and oil sender for the gauge are 2 separate units. The gauge might be reading 40psi, but the switch for the alarm may be faulty. Or the switch is telling the true story and the gauge or gauge sender is faulty. .. get a mechanical gauge on and see what the true pressure is. ..

Constant alarm that goes off when the engine revs go up is 99% likelihood an oil pressure issue.

Chris. ..
 

harringtondav

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Constant beep. Oil pressure at idle is straight up at 40. When running 2000+ rpm it’s 50-60psi

OK. It sounds like your audible alarm switch 87-805605A 1 is bad. Look it up on this site so you know what you're looking for. I don't know where it is on the engine. Per my 4.3 manual, remove the wire and test for continuity between the threaded terminal and a good close engine ground. With the engine off you should have continuity, when running there should be zero continuity.

A cheap test is to remove the wire terminal and see if the alarm shuts up, then touch the wire's terminal on the sensor's housing or another clean ground and see if the alarm starts yapping again.

This switch grounds and sets off the alarm circuit below 6 psi. If it tests bad, you can replace it for +-$30. Or tape the wire terminal and leave it off and keep your eyes on the oil pressure gage. I'd spend the money for peace of mind. When you kill the engine in shallow mud or sand, the alarm helps to really freak you out.
 

achris

More fish than mountain goat
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.... I don't know where the audible alarm switch 87-805605A 1 is on the engine.....
200812475650_oilpressureSender.jpg

Port side, on the block, towards the rear, under the exhaust manifold. Will have a Tan/Light-Blue wire connected to it.
 
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