Warning lights on dash.

[sasngang]

I could use some troubleshooting help. RE: 2001 43GL PEFS in a 4WINNS. New motor runs great. Having issues at dash with warning lights and audible beeps. The 2 icons in the photo below are on, and a loud warning beep for at least 5 seconds after the engine is started. Believe it or not... the 4Winns owner's manual does not describe the dash icons (THAT's CRAZY).



To me, the icons look to be related to oil level, oil temperature, or oil pressure. As far as I know there is no oil temp or oil level sensors on this engine. I do have a oil pressure switch near the oil filter and just replaced it with a new one (it has continuity when the engine is off, and no continuity when the engine is running.) There is also an oil pressure sensor at the top rear of the motor, which reads 242 ohms unconnected, and when the wire is not connected to the sensor, with key off it shows 0.08V, and with key on it shows 11.48V.

Other details that might be relevant...
- I've inspected the primary wire harness connection at the rear of the engine (the one that goes up to the dash). Those connections look fully clean with no corrosion on the male connections. I cannot see the female side, as it faces the transom. If needed I will get a camera back there for some photos.
- The fuel gauge shows below empty, but the tank is 3/4 full. I've cleaned the connections at the tank, and verified ground continuity.

Any help or troubleshooting direction would be appreciated.

 

[dubs283]

Those are common symbols for engine oil pressure and engine coolant temperature. The lights being illuminated with the engine running indicate oil pressure below specified threshold, coolant temperature above specified threshold, or an issue with the warning system switches/wiring

 

[sasngang]

I have placed an old school mechanical oil pressure gauge on the motor and we have 40 psi at idle. The Engine coolant temp shown on the dash is also erroneous as these symbols are illuminated at cold start. And even if left running for 20 minutes the engine is cool.

What I'm looking for is proper troubleshooting procedures to determine the wiring or sensor faults. For coolant temp, the only sensor or switch I see is on the front of the intake.

 

[muc]

Looks like a “four winns VDO dash” you can google that and look at the CDI website for troubleshooting. And yes they can be trouble. Don’t know if they still do, but 4winns used to sell a new dash that plugged right in. That’s how the dealership I worked for handled this problem.

 

[Donald0039]

With respect to the oil pressure, the sensor is often the problem on many engines. You can make sure the sensor is properly grounded to the engine. And if you can get the spec you can measure the sensor with an ohm meter with the engine off and with the engine running.

Or it be a sensor that just opens or closes at low oil pressure.

 

[muc]

With respect to the oil pressure, the sensor is often the problem on many engines. You can make sure the sensor is properly grounded to the engine. And if you can get the spec you can measure the sensor with an ohm meter with the engine off and with the engine running.

Or it be a sensor that just opens or closes at low oil pressure.

That’s not how a VDO dash works.

 

[Donald0039]

That’s not how a VDO dash works.

Regardless of how a VDO dash works, the oil pressure sensor must either change in resistance as the oil pressure changes or just be like a switch and open or close beyond or below a minimum oil pressure.

 

[Donald0039]

Or just replace the oil pressure sensor if you cannot get the specs for it.

 

[muc]

Or just replace the oil pressure sensor if you cannot get the specs for it.

If my memory is correct, the lights get their signal through the black box which watches the gauges. So if the gauges work, replacing the sender won’t help.

 

[Horigan]

Many times idiot lights are driven by separate switches and not powered by the gauge sensors.