Warning Alarm

[Thomv]

I know, when you turn on the ignition switch you do hear a very loud audible alarm which will stop going off once the engine fires up. I am familiar with that sound but wanted to know, if the sensors encounter a low oil pressure reading or low drive oil will that same sound go off or will the sound be an audible signal going off for a second and then off for another two or three seconds before sounding again for about one second and then just continuing doing this same type of cycle or should it just be one loud continuous sound?

 

[dubs283]

Re: Warning Alarm

overheat and low engine oil pressure should definitely be a hard, constant alarm if there is an issue

gear lube could be a constant alarm, or an on/off - depends on the system

other sensors can give on/off alarms as well

the only way to be absolutely positive is checking fault codes

 

[Don S]

Re: Warning Alarm

Depends on what ECM you have as to what sounds you will get.

Your serial number doesn't say for sure which one.
Which one does yours look like, and what kind of alarm are you getting?

 

[Thomv]

Re: Warning Alarm

Not sure which ECM I have. Both motors are fuel injected and were built in 99. I am believing it may be my non-functioning Uniden depth sounder that only blinks 0.00 on its display. What is so strange is that the warning sound started as soon as we fired up both engines while the boat was in the water for the first time since buying it used. While out of the water no warning sound. What gets even more interesting is that while idling in the water the alarm would cycle on and off very consistently on for 1 second and then off for 2 and then repeating itself. Once we got over 2,000 RPM the alarm would go silent. Upon further investigation we found that the alarm, under idling conditions in the water it would only go off when the starboard motor was only on, not when the port motor was on. I still suspect all this is coming from the depth sounder that is not registering any depth readings, just a blinking 0.00 reading.

 

[Don S]

Re: Warning Alarm

Shut the depth sounder off, take the fuse out, un plug it or whatever. Then try.

Look at your ECM, you need to know what kind it is. If not right now, you will later.

 

[Thomv]

Re: Warning Alarm

Shut the depth sounder off, take the fuse out, un plug it or whatever. Then try.

Look at your ECM, you need to know what kind it is. If not right now, you will later.

Don,
Is the ECM on top of the motor under one of the plastic top engine covers? I will take a look when I get off of work tonight. I also would like your opinion on a good repair manual.
Thanks

 

[achris]

Re: Warning Alarm

You have 3 choices of service manual.... OEM, OEM or OEM... Personally, I use the OEM, it's the best of the three....

I'll upload them and add as an edit on this post...

Chris..........

ENGINE MANUAL
DRIVE MANUAL

All done.

 

[Thomv]

Re: Warning Alarm

View attachment 193898

Depends on what ECM you have as to what sounds you will get.

Your serial number doesn't say for sure which one.
Which one does yours look like, and what kind of alarm are you getting?

View attachment 193659

I attached the picture of my ECM.

 

[Don S]

Re: Warning Alarm

View attachment 193898

I attached the picture of my ECM.

Didn't work. How to Post Pictures - The Basics?/ 468676

 

[Thomv]

Re: Warning Alarm

Here is the picture.

 

[achris]

Re: Warning Alarm

Mefi-3/mefi-4

 

[Thomv]

Re: Warning Alarm

Mefi-3/mefi-4

Not sure what you mean.

 

[achris]

Re: Warning Alarm

MEFI-3/MEFI-4

Not sure what you mean.

That's the model of ECM... Now you know that, you can find out what the different alarms mean.

 

[Don S]

Re: Warning Alarm

I know, when you turn on the ignition switch you do hear a very loud audible alarm which will stop going off once the engine fires up. I am familiar with that sound but wanted to know, if the sensors encounter a low oil pressure reading or low drive oil will that same sound go off or will the sound be an audible signal going off for a second and then off for another two or three seconds before sounding again for about one second and then just continuing doing this same type of cycle or should it just be one loud continuous sound?

Meanwhile, back to your original question about the alarms, here is the different alarms you can have with the MEFI 3 system, you don't have a MEFI 4 because Merc didn't use the 4 on your engine.

 

[Thomv]

Re: Warning Alarm

I think I found my problem. On Sunday I had some free time and was able to locate all three sensors. If you remember I only had the alarm going off softly, one second on and then off for three seconds and then repeating the same sequence until I got over 3,000 RPM which then would shut off. On my oil pressure sensor I had a resistance of 18 ohms between the ground and the sensor contact. On my other engine there was no continuity at all which would indicate a good sensor. Ordering parts today is great online except I can't understand how a company can charge almost $15 for UPS when the shipment is shipping out of the same state that I reside in. The shipping almost costs as much as the part! Hopefully this will take care of my problem because all other sensors did not show any continuity.

 

[achris]

Re: Warning Alarm

I think I found my problem. On Sunday I had some free time and was able to locate all three sensors. If you remember I only had the alarm going off softly, one second on and then off for three seconds and then repeating the same sequence until I got over 3,000 RPM which then would shut off. On my oil pressure sensor I had a resistance of 18 ohms between the ground and the sensor contact. On my other engine there was no continuity at all which would indicate a good sensor. Ordering parts today is great online except I can't understand how a company can charge almost $15 for UPS when the shipment is shipping out of the same state that I reside in. The shipping almost costs as much as the part! Hopefully this will take care of my problem because all other sensors did not show any continuity.

They sell the parts cheap, then make up the profit on shipping.... Trap for young players that one. You need to look at the TOTAL cost of the part (including shipping) to see if it's a good deal....

Chris.....
P.S. You want to try having stuff shipped to Australia

 

[Thomv]

Soft Alarm Still Going Off

Soft Alarm Still Going Off

I have not been able to isolate why I am getting a soft alarm (one second on and then 2 seconds off) only on my starboard engine while I am under 3,000 RPM. My oil pressure is normal, water temp normal and plenty of gear lube in my monitor bottle. While idling I have disconnected all three wires and the alarm still is cycling. I do have ECM MEF1-3. Is there something other than what I have mentioned that could be causing this problem? I like a challenge but this is getting old real fast.

 

[Don S]

Re: Soft Alarm Still Going Off

Re: Soft Alarm Still Going Off

The gauge senders have nothing to do with the alarm switches that turn on the alarm.

But being an MPI, there are other engine sensors that can cause that fault besides the oil pressure, temp, and gear lube. You need to get it hooked up to a diagnostic computer and find out what is causing the alarm.

 

[Thomv]

Re: Soft Alarm Still Going Off

Re: Soft Alarm Still Going Off

The gauge senders have nothing to do with the alarm switches that turn on the alarm.

But being an MPI, there are other engine sensors that can cause that fault besides the oil pressure, temp, and gear lube. You need to get it hooked up to a diagnostic computer and find out what is causing the alarm.

View attachment 196340

I did open the sensor codes attachment on a previous post about the same thing and it only indicates a beep that alternates on for one second, then off for three seconds with a soft alarm below 3000 RPM and a solid horn above 3000 RPM. When I reach 3000 RPM the soft alarm turns off and I do not get the solid horn sound so you are right, it is not the oil pressure, temp, and gear lube sensors setting the soft alarm to go off. Does this mean I have to go to a dealer to find out what is causing the alarm to go off because I would not have the equipment to actually identify the code setting it off?

Is there a way I could find a list of codes for that engine that I could check before running to a dealer?

 

[Don S]

Re: Warning Alarm

Not sure why you started a new thread, since it's just a continuation of your original thread, so I merged the two together.