Vro Alarm

[piperdriver]

I am new to the world of VRO, and have a question. I recently purchased a 1990 Tracker Party Barge 24DL. On the back is a 1989 Tracker Pro series Johnson 110. Everything runs as it should. I have read many of the threads on vro, and I think I will leave it connected. I am pretty sure that it is working as it should because I get a good healthy smoke screen at start, and the oil level is going down in the tank. Now all of that to ask the question. When I turn the key to "run" i so not get any kind of alarm. should I have an audible alarm? Is there any way to test the alarm on the VRO system? Does the alarm work on oil level only, or is it on oil pressure? Thanks for any info.

 

[hoeser]

Re: Vro Alarm

Your box should chirp when you turn the key to the on position. I believe that your VRO system is sophisticated enough to have no oil (at the pump) alarm in addition to low oil and no oil in the reservoir. If your box isn't chirping when you turn the key on I wouldn't expect it to alarm when you actually have an issue. Do a search on alarm testing.

 

[piperdriver]

Re: Vro Alarm

When you say "box" I am assuming that you are talking about the engine controls. I may have to explain further. This particular setup has Morse Dual controls on the right side of the helm, and the key switch is to the left of the controls. I do not have a "box" so to speak.

 

[hoeser]

Re: Vro Alarm

Hrm. Yes, I was referring to your control box. I'm sure there is still an alarm somewhere in your setup but I'm not familiar with anything except the standard OMC controls.

In you case I would test the buzzer by grounding out one of your temperature sensors while the key is in the on position. They are located on the heads, you'll see a wire coming off each head eventually leading into a rubber that is covering a little connector. Disconnect, ground the end to the block and your alarm should go off.

 

[hoeser]

Re: Vro Alarm

It's probably worth while to mention that I'm no expert with this and that there are probably different ways to test the alarm system...this is just one of the ways that I know how to test the alarm system. As far as I know, it should always chirp for about 1 second when turning on the key if it is working.

 

[Maverick49]

Re: Vro Alarm

pardon me if I may. I have a 1990 johnson 40hp on a 90 bass tracker 17' pro. I have tracker marine control box and the alarm is not located in the control box, it's in a removable panel covered with carpet and has a three inch round plastic vent just next to where the control box is mounted. I had a constant alarm when ever the key was turned on, I thought it was my vro, but it was getting oil, so I new that was not the problem, then I checked my temp switch like the OMC manual said, ground to the block and it was suppose to cause an alarm but the alarm was already sounding off so I tested the switch in the hot oil with an ohm meter and it was ok. so then I suspected my alarm was bad cause someone on this forum said they do go bad, so I changed the alarm, which by the way they don't make one like that anymore, I got a replacement alarm from my local tracker dealer, hooked it up and still I had a constant alarm with the key on. then I had the boat on the lake (with the alarm unplugged account it was ear peircing) with a 50:1 mixture of gas in the tank and the vro also hooked up let the motor warm up a bit, ran it for about 15 minutes, then I plugged in the alarm, and it was as I said "ear peircing", I took off the motor hood, with the motor running I unplugged the vro wiring harness, and my alarm quit, I the took apart the heat temp switch and tested it by grounding it out on the block and my alarm sounded off. so I plugged the temp switch back in, put the hood back on. When I got home I removed all of the vro stuff and just run premixed gas. I'm assuming that I had a problem with my vro wiring harness which caused the constant alarm, I hope that what I did was right. I do have an alarm that works and I do not get a chirp when I turn the key on and it's the same vintage as yours.
Rick.

 

[piperdriver]

Re: Vro Alarm

And it continues---- Just got back in from doing some trouble shooting here is what I have. There is a buzzer under the helm. Took it off and it tested good. Reinstalled. Went to the engine and found 4 connections. One for each head temp sensor total of two. One on the VRO pump and one for the VRO tank. Unplugged each of the four connectors one at a time, and shorted to ground with a test light. At each connector the alarm sounded when shorted to ground. Put everything back together. Still no momentary alarm when the key is turned "on". Maverick49's 1990 tracker has no "chirp". I think that I am satisfied that the integrity of the system is good. Any other thoughts?

 

[redtech]

Re: Vro Alarm

chirp is alarm self test. vro alarm is either curcuit board or a bad diapham between gas and oil side in pump

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: Vro Alarm

The self test is built into the warning horn itself. Some had it, some didn't...How many wires do you have going to the horn? If 2, then it will not self test...

 

[piperdriver]

Re: Vro Alarm

Only 2 wires going to the alarm. Sounds like you have solved the mystery. Thanks to all for the replies.

 

[tfbrown1270]

Re: Vro Alarm

I have a 1992 90 hp VRO...no self test alarm chirp with mine and the overheat and VRO alarms work..fwiw.