Is alarm system standard on the 1996 Mercruiser I/O?

[martiniman]

I have a 1996 Steiger Craft Chesapeake 21 with a 130 hp, 3.0L 4cyl. Alpha 1, Gen 2 Mercruiser I/O and I get no alarm when turning the key. I'm fairly new to I/Os, Does anyone know if the alarm system came standard on the 1996 model? I also notice the fuel gauge is not working, could this be tied into the alarm system with a sensor? I'm being told by my mechanic that I should put a new SEI outdrive with 3 year warranty, $1400! All this after spending $1000 on all new outdrive seals last year! Why would gear oil get low if the seals were just put in? The boat stopped while underway, when looking at the engine, the gear oil reservoir was empty. Mechanic said fishing line wrapped around prop shaft caused the engine to shut down while under way. Could this cause gear damage? Gear Oil was low and exposed the upper bearing. the quote to fix is $1100. I'm thinking of going with the new SEI outdrive but I want to make sure a warning system is in place after spending the money. Even if I have to add one. Any suggestions?

 

[Don S]

Re: Is alarm system standard on the 1996 Mercruiser I/O?

It was standard on the 3.0LX models, not on the 3.0L models.

Do you have what looks like 2 water temp senders, 2 oil pressure senders, and wires attached to the harness on the gear lube reservoir?
On the oil and temp, it's not really 2 senders actually a sender and a switch.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Is alarm system standard on the 1996 Mercruiser I/O?

I have a 1996 Steiger Craft Chesapeake 21 with a 130 hp, 3.0L 4cyl. Alpha 1, Gen 2 Mercruiser I/O and I get no alarm when turning the key. I'm fairly new to I/Os, Does anyone know if the alarm system came standard on the 1996 model? I also notice the fuel gauge is not working, could this be tied into the alarm system with a sensor? I'm being told by my mechanic that I should put a new SEI outdrive with 3 year warranty, $1400! All this after spending $1000 on all new outdrive seals last year! Why would gear oil get low if the seals were just put in? The boat stopped while underway, when looking at the engine, the gear oil reservoir was empty. Mechanic said fishing line wrapped around prop shaft caused the engine to shut down while under way. Could this cause gear damage? Gear Oil was low and exposed the upper bearing. the quote to fix is $1100. I'm thinking of going with the new SEI outdrive but I want to make sure a warning system is in place after spending the money. Even if I have to add one. Any suggestions?

Let me see if I got this right . . . 'the mechanic' replaced a bunch of seals in the outdrive . . . the outdrive lost oil and depleted the reservoir . . . the alarm did not go off . . .so you probably do not have an alarm system, or it is disconnected . . . The mechanic blamed a fishing line . . . now the mechanic wants to replace the outdrive.

I think you are in the market for a second opinion from the mechanic perspective.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Is alarm system standard on the 1996 Mercruiser I/O?

Let me see if I got this right . . . 'the mechanic' replaced a bunch of seals in the outdrive . . . the outdrive lost oil and depleted the reservoir . . . the alarm did not go off . . .so you probably do not have an alarm system, or it is disconnected . . . The mechanic blamed a fishing line . . . now the mechanic wants to replace the outdrive.

I think you are in the market for a second opinion from the mechanic perspective.

Ayuh,.... Agreed,.... Ya need a New Mechanic, 'n a new drive...

If yer motor don't have the alarms, they're easily added...

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Is alarm system standard on the 1996 Mercruiser I/O?

cant see blaming the mechanic if you got fishing line caught in the prop seals and lost the oil.
depending on the difficulty, a res.bottle with alarm switch or the qt. bottle mounted inside to boat to visually check the oil level.