Johnson 150 VRO warning alarm

[Chrismonroe31]

Hi guys this is my first ever cry for help in one of these forums so please forgive me if posted in the wrong place.. I just bought a bass boat with a 1987 Johnson 150 hp VRO outboard. Owned it for about a week, I’ve fired it up on numerous occasions and haven’t had any issues whatsoever it runs like a champ. I did a compression check on the motor, then the very next time I fired it up after about a minute or so of running in neutral at idle speed I started getting a warning alarm from the control box. This is not a steady constant beep, it is a beep-beep-beep every second or so with a second or so break in between. This I believe is the VRO failure / no oil alarm. The motor is pumping great water and all cylinders stay at approximately 140° F. I know it isn’t overheating. Also, the previous owner had disabled the VRO injection, the oil line is plugged and sealed and it’s only running pure 50:1 premix. I know there is no water in my fuel because it’s a brand new tank with brand new gas and yes it is mixed properly. While the motor is running I have visually inspected all fuel lines and carburetors and see absolutely no leakage anywhere. Fuel filter is clean as a whistle. Does anyone think this could be a false alarm? I know for a fact I’m getting oil because it’s premixed and the motor is being properly cooled so I’m honestly stumped. Yes this same tank of premix was what I was using all week when the motor has been fine. It only started doing this after I compression checked all 6 cylinders. Does anyone have any ideas? Thank you so much for any help that can be provided.

 

[jakedaawg]

After your compression check did you happen to hook up any wire connectors that were previously disconnected? I would guess that you saw wire connectors at vro and hooked them back up. If vro is disabled and pre mix is used the four wires from vro should be left open.

 

[Chrismonroe31]

After your compression check did you happen to hook up any wire connectors that were previously disconnected? I would guess that you saw wire connectors at vro and hooked them back up. If vro is disabled and pre mix is used the four wires from vro should be left open.

No I did not touch anything when running the check. I just went outside and found a group of 3 wires that connected somewhere else on the motor not sure where. I disconnected those and fired it up. The alarm returned but this time it was a constant beep, not the intermittent like before... the engine seemed to be running rougher and its late and neighbors are trying to sleep so I just shut it off.