constant warning buzzer 88 150 VRO not overheating

[rkbuck]

First off... GREAT SITE!<br /><br />I have a 1988 evinrude vro 150 about a week ago I noticed a very faint buzzing in the control box at high speeds progressively the alarm got louder and you could back out of the throttle (still on plane) and the alarm would quit. The alarm got to where it would stay on at anything over an idle. I have checked the temp sensors and thermostats but now the alarm goes off as soon as you rev up the motor even on a cold start. Now that is what the motor was doing until being the master mechanic that I am made it worse. I checked all of the fuel filters and fuel lines all were OK then I thought I would check the vacum switch so I took it off must have been a big mistake because I hooked it all back up and now as soon as you turn on the key the alarm comes on and stays on. I have heard how reliable the fuel pumps on the vro are so could it be the vacum switch itself? How do you check the vacum switch? Is there anyway to make the alarm turn off? If I go to a regular fuel pump and pre mix gas do I still need the vacum switch? Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.<br />Arkbuck

 

[nautaclue]

Re: constant warning buzzer 88 150 VRO not overheating

I can't help, but I have the same problem with the temp alarm going off pretty much the way you described. Seemed to be throttle related and would do it even when the engine cooled down. I disconnected the wire (tan) from the horn and will watch the gauge closely until I figure out why the alarms goes off.

 

[kgw]

Re: constant warning buzzer 88 150 VRO not overheating

Hi all<br />I have 86 140 and fought that prob for a few years mine was very intermitent and hard to trouble shoot ,finaly failed outright. it was the self test circuitry in oil tank. since your motors are 88 im not sure if that was when they put the self test into the horn itself. you can try diconnecting the 2 wire plug from the oil tank and see if horn stops<br />good luck

 

[OBJ]

Re: constant warning buzzer 88 150 VRO not overheating

Arkbuck....start disconnecting alarm inputs to the horn until it quits. This will give you at least a place to start. Once you find which input is causing the constant alram, then go after the cause.<br /><br />Keep us posted.

 

[rkbuck]

Re: constant warning buzzer 88 150 VRO not overheating

Fixed it. I feel like an idiot. The fuel line was crimped coming out of the boat and was causing a fuel restriction. Good news is I now have a new water pump and tstats.

 

[onehunglow]

Re: constant warning buzzer 88 150 VRO not overheating

Yes, I had a similar problem but it turned out to be a faulty sensor in the oil tank. Replacing this sensor (109 buckaroos) fixed the problem but I do not understand why since an oil problem is either short beeps or 1/2 second on and 1/2 second off. The steady horn is supposed to mean heat but this was not the problem.<br /><br />I am glad you found your problem to be a fuel restriction though - Evinrude put that check in there to prevent the carbs being laden with oil if not enough fuel is getting in there.

 

[kgw]

Re: constant warning buzzer 88 150 VRO not overheating

Onehunglow,<br />The circuitry in the oil tank also supplies the self test feature and thats the circuit that failed,same prob I had.

 

[onehunglow]

Re: constant warning buzzer 88 150 VRO not overheating

Yup - pretty scary racing along at high speed and then the "overheat" buzzer goes off! Slowed it down and it stayed buzzing. But the motor didn't feel hot and everything seemed to be working, exhaust had blue in it (oil) and pisser was pissing.<br /><br />There is a lot of negative press in this forum on these VRO's and many people disconnect them and mix in the oil themselves. <br /><br />If this happens again, is there an easy way to test and see if it IS the VRO circuitry that is the culprit?

 

[james roach]

Re: constant warning buzzer 88 150 VRO not overheating

I have a 1987 200 VRO and mine does the same thing. It is not overheating. I have isolated it to the port side temp sensor. I unplugged it and the problem went away. I then cut the wire in front the sensor and found the lead wire corroded on the inside. I replaced a section of the wire and hooked the sensor back up and the problem went away. Mine did this for years.