Steady alarm going off

[dylaustava]

Just bought a 1998 Mercury outboard 2 stroke. Went to put it in the water for the 1st time and when I turned the key a solid beeeeep alarm went off. I had not even started the boat at all. Old owner said it did not do this last year. Any ideas?

 

[aussieflash]

Re: Steady alarm going off

If it was a long beep it's overheat warning(faulty connection).If it's short beep beep it's the oil warning that sounds when key turned on to indicate it's working.
Does it sound when motor running as well.If not check wiring and connections.Hope you got a manual with boat,you will need it.

 

[sschefer]

Re: Steady alarm going off

Here's where it gets tricky. Some of them had a test tone that went off for a few seconds when you turned the key to on. And, some of them didn't. If you disconnect the temp sensor wires and the oil level sensor wires from the module and then turn the key and hear the beep but it continues and will not stop, then it's the module that's gone bad. If not then reconnect the oil level sensor and repeat. If still no alarm, reconnect the temp sender and repeat. Repair or replace whichever sensor is setting off the alarm. Since it just started happening, I would look for any frayed or burnt wires. If an exposed sensor/sender wire is touching the block it could cause the alarm. Burnt wires indicate a more serious problem occured at some time.

 

[dylaustava]

Re: Steady alarm going off

Nope, no manual with the boat. That's part of the problem. Backed it into the lake. Turned the key. long beep sounded. started the motor and the beeeep continued. pulled it out of the water and brought it home. every time we turn the key one click the alarm sounds.

 

[dylaustava]

Re: Steady alarm going off

any idea which are the temp sensor wires and the oil level sensor wires? we did not get a manual with the motor and can't find one on-line. the dealer says they think it is a stuck oil level float but everything I read says the constant beep usually indicates a temp alarm not an oil alarm.

 

[shankforce]

Re: Steady alarm going off

Deffinatly sounds like a connection that is bad or disconnected or bad sensor. I would check out this motor with a fine tooth comb with the troubleshooting guide in my hand. Every wire compression check the whole ignition circuit with a dva. But it is nice to do this before you buy the boat. I have had things go wrong 1 week after I bought a motor or boat.

 

[madgadget]

Re: Steady alarm going off

This may be of interest too:

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=476165

 

[Maxz695]

Re: Steady alarm going off

becuase this is a long beep it,s irrelavent but a poster just posted about finding the fault behind the oil warning sensor being moistue gettin behind the sealed alarm and corroding the mainboard causing malfunction but this sounds more like the temp sensor or a related problem but i thought you might like to know this newly found information on oil injected engines