Warning alarm?

[ricohman]

My new boat has or had a warning alarm.
At first I found it annoying as it would sound everytime you turned the key.
But I noticed today that this warning alarm has quit. I don't know if I should even bother trying to fix it. My boat has 11 hours on it and I am always checking the fluid levels anyways. And watching the gauges is somehting we all do.
Is this a mandated safety thing?

 

[sstone]

Re: Warning alarm?

If its a mercruiser with a sea-fire system, fairly sure it'll beep when the key turns as an ok-signal for the fire suppression and diagnostic systems. Check your fire extinguisher?

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Warning alarm?

Before you start you car if you just turn the key on....... all of the indicator lights light up to show they are working. Many marine applications will do a similar beep.

 

[Stachi]

Re: Warning alarm?

Does anyone know what type of boat he has ??? Kind of hard to help without ANY idea what the boat and engine is....

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Warning alarm?

Does anyone know what type of boat he has ??? Kind of hard to help without ANY idea what the boat and engine is....

Outboard? I/O? Inboard? Oars?

 

[ricohman]

Re: Warning alarm?

Starcraft Islander 221 i/o with a 4.3 merc.
I realize the warning alarm is only for drive oil, engine temp and oil pressure.

 

[markheck1]

Re: Warning alarm?

he has a 2011 Starcraft Islander with a 4.3 Merc I/O

Edit: Ha didn't know you were on, LOL

 

[QC]

Re: Warning alarm?

That alarm should be an extended "beep" whenever you turn on the key. I would not be OK if it stopped working. Very important for the three items you mentioned. Has saved me twice

 

[ricohman]

Re: Warning alarm?

Hmm.
Maybe I will pull the rear access panel and have a look. It does not alarm in the test mode so I assume it will be silent if the drive oil is low.

 

[Don S]

Re: Warning alarm?

Mercruiser had different types of alarms for different engines, do you have the serial number for your engine handy?

 

[ricohman]

Re: Warning alarm?

Mercruiser had different types of alarms for different engines, do you have the serial number for your engine handy?

Engine serial is 1A625174. Its a 4.3 TKS.
I really like this carb motor even though my buds bug me about not wanting an mpi or tbi.

 

[Don S]

Re: Warning alarm?

Your alarm should sound for 3 things.
• Engine oil pressure too low
• Engine temperature too hot
• Sterndrive oil level too low

When you turn the key on, the alarm comes on due to low oil pressure. Since it's now not coming on, I would be looking at the oil pressure switch and see if it may have become disconnected. Possibly knocked loose when they were replacing the trim hose. I'm fairly sure the sender is low on the block on the port side aft, above where the block mounted oil filter would have been.

You really do want those alarms.

 

[ricohman]

Re: Warning alarm?

Thanks Don, I will check that out.
I assume that the instructions on the panel say to "test" the alarm by turning on the ignition all one is really doing is hearing the low oil pressure alarm as the engine is not running.

 

[Don S]

Re: Warning alarm?

That's it, and it lets you know the buzzer itself works.

 

[ricohman]

Re: Warning alarm?

Well, I can feel the wire on the sending unit but there is another sending unit close by with two wires. I can't see any of this but the wiring is there.
I have found a couple of the alarms. One has a purple wire and a brown wire with a blue stripe. The purple wire is powered so is the other the ground?
I used my test light to ground the alarm on the brown wire but it didn't work and it should have at least made a bit of noise. I am going to try and ground this thing and if that doesn't work I bet this is the problem.
If I disconnect one of the wires to the drive fluid should the alarm sound?

 

[Don S]

Re: Warning alarm?

If you unplug the 2 wires going to the gear lube monitor and hook the two wires together (Engine harness wires) the alarm should sound if you have the key in the run position.
Alarm sender wires are typically tan with a blue stripe.

 

[ricohman]

Re: Warning alarm?

Hooked the two wires that come out of the drive oil reservoir together and turned on the ignition. No sound.
So that means the made in china piezo last 10.2 hrs.
Better this than the switch on the block.

 

[Don S]

Re: Warning alarm?

Have you looked to make sure the wires are hooked up to the buzzer? Should have a purple wire to the buzzer, and the tan/blue going to the switchs (NOTE) the switchs create a ground to make the buzzer sound. So you could just disconnect the tan/blue wire on the dash and touch the buzzer wire to ground, and if you have voltage to the buzzer it should sound. If not, you have a dead buzzer. It's still under warranty if it's the OEM buzzer.

 

[ricohman]

Re: Warning alarm?

I went to Radio Shack and bought a couple of 88db piezo buzzers for $12. Works as it should now. Thanks for all your help.
I know this is a warranty item but it is quicker as less aggravation by doing it myself. I will save the buzzer and email the dealer tomorrow. They would mail me out another if I asked them to.
I don't mind working on the boat as it won't be in warranty forever and I should get to know how its put together