Audio Warning System sounding

[cgmacll]

I have a merc, 4.3l 262cid with an merc alpha one stern drive. I just changed the fuel filter oil filter oil change distributor cap and sensor change. Now the audio warning sound is going off the drive fluid is ok oil pressor is good sender is good. any other thing you can tell me that I am Missing.

Thanks Chris

 

[tractoman]

Re: Audio Warning System sounding

I'd have a look at the wiring at all the sensors. If it didn't do this before, and it is now you may have knocked something loose. Did you disconnect anything? What sensor did you change?

 

[ken_23434]

Re: Audio Warning System sounding

You did not tell us what year. Assuming it is a carbed engine, they have oil pressure (low sets it off), engine temperature (high sets it off) and drive fluid level (low sets it off).

I think all the switch are "open" when it is sensing a "normal" condition, and they "close" when the parameter is bad. So, if you did a resistance check on each switch, you should see an "open" across the switch unless there is a "bad" condition being sensed.

Another option, is if the wire that connects all the switches together is grounded somewhere, it will complete the circuit making the warning to go off.

The sensor that drives the gauge in the dash is separate from the switch that triggers the alarm.

 

[cgmacll]

Re: Audio Warning System sounding

I changed the sensor in the distributor. I have checked all the sensor nothing not connected. Does the audio thing go off with all the sensors or just some of them. What else should I look at. It did not do this when I first started this maintenance work.

 

[cgmacll]

Re: Audio Warning System sounding

Sorry 2002 and yes ti is a carb

 

[ken_23434]

Re: Audio Warning System sounding

At the top of the forum is an "adults only" sticky that has links to download the factory service manuals for your engine and drive. Make sure you download the ones that apply for your boat and check out what the manual says. It will show you exactly where the sensors and switchs are.

I am pretty sure you can pull the wire off a switch and if that switch is the one making the the alarm go off, then it will stop.

 

[cgmacll]

Re: Audio Warning System sounding

So you mean that if the switch is open I should read nothing on my meter.

 

[cgmacll]

Re: Audio Warning System sounding

Ok. I will Try that. I do have the manuel from seloc online but some times it is faster to use this then the book. Thanks

 

[ken_23434]

Re: Audio Warning System sounding

So you mean that if the switch is open I should read nothing on my meter.

I suggest using a meter to measure RESISTANCE (ohm meter, resistance meter, what ever it's called). Make sure the ignition switch if OFF. Measure resistance in an energized circuit will kill your meter. If the switch is "open" will will appear as infinite resistance on your meter. Depending on your meter, that reading will be displayed in different ways. If the switch is "closed" it will appear as a "short" on the meter. A short will be 0.0 ohms or very low resistance.

To see what your meter reads for an "open" just turn it on with the 2 probes not touching anything. That is an open. Now touch the 2 of them and then the meter will display 0.0 ohms for a short.

And... an open at one of the switches on the engine is "normal". So, for the oil pressure switch, if the oil pressure is normal, then the switch will be "open". However, since you are checking this with the ignition OFF and the engine off, that switch WILL be closed (since there is zero oil pressure). The outdrive fluid level and engine water temperature switches should be "open" when the fluid level is OK and engine temp is below 200.

2nd and ... All 3 of these switches are wired together. So, you need to take the wire off the swich when you do the check, to isolate that switch from the other 2.

To verify the oil pressure switch is "open" with correct oil pressure, you need to remove the wire from the switch, have the engine running, and measure the resistance. With the engine running (oil pressure > 6psi) the switch should be "open".

I hope that cleared things up and I didn't just confuse the hell out of you.

 

[cgmacll]

Re: Audio Warning System sounding

Hay all ! I disconnected the drive sensor and the sound stopped so I guess I have to get one of them thanks for all the help.

 

[ken_23434]

Re: Audio Warning System sounding

Ok. I will Try that. I do have the manuel from seloc online but some times it is faster to use this then the book. Thanks

The Seloc manual is not really very good...

 

[cgmacll]

Re: Audio Warning System sounding

Yes that is true the seloc manual is not to clear on how to do some things but it stills helps. Well it was the drive sensor that was bad so I gat a new one and it works good.

 

[ken_23434]

Re: Audio Warning System sounding

Yes that is true the seloc manual is not to clear on how to do some things but it stills helps.

You should still download the factory manuals. They are free and specific to your engine. The Seloc ones cover many different engines and drives and are half the size of the Mercruiser manuals. The Seloc just leaves out too much information and illustrations.