Overheat alarm constantly on even before motor is running

[oxbeast1210]

1989 Evinrude tracker xp pro 150 hp model : te150slcem

thats the information of my outboard and thanks to the guys on this forum and a couple other sources i was able to get it running and it sounds great!
My problem now is that the alarm that sounds when overheating or low oil is constantly on even before i start the outboard read on if u care about the history behind this outboard ill make it short keep in mind this is what the last owner told me . takes the boat out shortly after alarm goes off lifts the cover and a red wire is meltd with a small fire and smoking . he gets towed in messes with it for about aweek and cant get is started. at this point he sells it to me and buys a new boat. The guys on here helped me get it running and everything works now except that the alarm is always on it is not a beeping sound its constant and starts as soon as i turn the key halfway
and continues after i start the outboard. before the incident the alarm would make a beep beep beep..... sound when the key was turned halfway and would tuen off after the motor was running just looking for some advice on where to start
thank you

 

[Will Bark]

Re: Overheat alarm constantly on even before motor is running

With the iginition switch on and the motor cover off trying moving the wires from your overheat sensors, you re looking for a rub thru on the insulation grounding to the block somewhere. This has happened to me on both my 150 and 110 Johnson. If it still sounds, then disconnect your oil tank sending wire, that's also happened to me on the 110 motor.

Hope this helps!

 

[oxbeast1210]

Re: Overheat alarm constantly on even before motor is running

Outstanding!
Mr. Will this gives me some things to try i will do waht you said and get back to you as soon as i can
thank you very much!

 

[oxbeast1210]

Re: Overheat alarm constantly on even before motor is running

Hello Mr. Will im in the millitary and working the night shift (so im really bored)
Just courios what did you end up having to do to resolve the issues you had ? Im not having any luck looking it up online and wont be able to do the tests you recomended untill i get home tomorrow > Im pretty excited about getting everything going and finaly testing her in the water lol
thank again for your help

 

[boobie]

Re: Overheat alarm constantly on even before motor is running

When you start checking wires for grounds check all the TAN wires from your control box all the way to what's on the mtr. The tan wires trigger the alarm. Keep us posted.

 

[oxbeast1210]

Re: Overheat alarm constantly on even before motor is running

Hi guys well i got lucky and the canceled the rest of the flights for tonight so i was able to test some of the things you asked me to. and i narrowed it down to something under the engine cover i know it doesn't say much but this tells me that the rest of the wiring throughout the boat is ok. Any way i checked out the orange wires like you guys recommended and its in pretty bad shape compared to the rest of the wires near what i believe are the sending unit its cracked pretty bad but didn't seem to be touching anything i moved them around a a bit to see if the alarm would trip on and of but it doesn't . Either way i think the wire needs to be replaced also my other question is how do i get the little sending unit out and if it is bad where can it be purchased?
thank you guys for the help and sorry if i rambled on a lot
thank again

O yeah before i forget after giving up for the night i put the cover back on and gave it one last try and the alarm worked normal just gave me the little chirp telling me the alarm is working .I got excited and took the cover back off but then it kicked in again

 

[Will Bark]

Re: Overheat alarm constantly on even before motor is running

By moving the cover that indicates to me that the problem is under the cover and you are moving a wire causing it to go to ground on the engine. I discovered mine was a small cut in the insulation on the tan wire coming from the starboard sensor on a sharp edge of the cylinder block. I used liquid eclectrical tape from Walmart and then split a piece of 1/4" fuel hose about 2 inches long and covered that section with the hose to keep it from rubbing thru again; did other wire the same before it coul rub thru. Not the most sophisticated way, but it worked. Souds like you are on the right track and will find it.

Also thanks for your service in our military!

 

[ezeke]

Re: Overheat alarm constantly on even before motor is running

The horn sounds when any part of the tan wire in the main harness is grounded by any means.

Try tracing the circuit from the ignition switch to the large red plug at the engine, then from the large red plug to the various alarm connections.

The burned red wire was probably caused by a failed rectifier, which should be tested.

http://www.maxrules.com/graphics/omc_pics/wiring/1989_89_150_175_9A.jpg

http://www.maxrules.com/graphics/omc_pics/wiring/1989_89_150_175_35A.jpg

http://www.maxrules.com/graphics/omc_pics/REMCONTBOX.jpg

http://cdielectronics.com/InstallSheet/193-5204.pdf

 

[oxbeast1210]

Re: Overheat alarm constantly on even before motor is running

you are welcome I love being part of the best country and military in the world!!
OK after better inspection of the tan wire i noticed it is in really bad shape cracks and bare wire all over i can believe i didn't notice this before so im sure that the wire is being grounded somewhere . Is there a way to just replace the tan wires. I think using the liquid tape would work just take me forever lol
Also thank you for the advice on the rectifier how can i test if it is working properly is there a post on the site that tells me the proper way to test it i tried looking but im not the best at navigating sites and forums
thanks you guys for taking the time to help me out!!!

 

[ezeke]

Re: Overheat alarm constantly on even before motor is running

There is no simple way to test a water cooled regulated rectifier other than as described in the CDI troubleshooting steps at the link: http://cdielectronics.com/InstallSheet/193-5204.pdf

However, you can be fairly certain that you have a problem rectifier if any of these is true: 1. any of the rectifier wires show signs of overheating; 2. your tachometer does not work; or, 3. your battery is not charging.

 

[oxbeast1210]

Re: Overheat alarm constantly on even before motor is running

sweet ill test it out how about the tan wire i believe i need to replace it what would be the easiest way?
thank you

 

[ezeke]

Re: Overheat alarm constantly on even before motor is running

Probably the best way is to replace the engine harness with a new replacement engine harness. CDI Electronics makes them.

 

[Will Bark]

Re: Overheat alarm constantly on even before motor is running

He's right, the best way is to replace the harness; but the fact that the harness is over 200 bucks I would try to locate the grounded area and replace that section of the wire with marine grade butt connectors which will get you by for a good while. I'm just a shade-tree mechanic without a whole lot of shade and have to live on retirement income. You're in the right area and will locate it soon.

 

[ezeke]

Re: Overheat alarm constantly on even before motor is running

The CDI replacement engine harness is not $200. Try outboardparts.com.

The tan wire in the wiring harness has leads in several amphenols and connections for both temperature switches, the VRO pump, the VRO oil tank and the vacuum switch. It's not a smple bypass because there are blocking diodes as well.

 

[Will Bark]

Re: Overheat alarm constantly on even before motor is running

My bad, only $187.00 plus shipping; I wasn't telling him to bypass the wire; but to replace that section.

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: Overheat alarm constantly on even before motor is running

With engine NOT running and with key in ON position and horn sounding, remove the TAN wire for the horn. If horn continues to sound, the horn is faulty, and if so replace it.

If when removing that TAN wire, the horn stops sounding (Horn is okay), start disconnecting the TAN wire from the sensors at the engine until the horn goes quiet to reveal the troublesome sensor.

(VRO Horn Warnings)
(J. Reeves)

NOTE: I retired around 1991/92. Possibly some of the later V4 engines and others may also incorporate a fuel vacuum switch that would enable a fuel restriction warning to sound as mentioned below, an unknown factor to myself.

1 - A steady constant beep = Overheating - The V/6 engines, possibly some others, have a fuel restriction warning which is also a steady constant beep.

2 - A beep every 20 or 40 seconds = oil level has dropped to 1/4 tank. (Late model engine = Every 40 seconds)

3 - A beep every other second = VRO failure, air leak in oil line, oil restriction, (anything that would result in a lack of oil being supplied to the engine).

NOTE - If the warning horn is the black plastic (overpriced) three wire type horn, the warning horn should beep once when the ignition key is turned to the ON position. If it does not, it is either faulty or someone has disconnected it (a stupid move!). At any rate, if it does not beep which indicates that the horn is non functional, find out why and do not run the engine until the problem is corrected.

Thousands of parts in my remaining stock. Not able to list them all. Let me know what you need and I'll look it up for you. Visit my eBay auction at:

http://shop.ebay.com/Joe_OMC32/m.html?_dmd=1&_ipg=50&_sop=12&_rdc=1

 

[oxbeast1210]

Re: Overheat alarm constantly on even before motor is running

Awesome thanks for the loads of information!! I will continue to look for the grounded area and try to fix it for now and eventually when i get approval and have the funds (from the wife shes stricter then the navy lol) ill buy a new harness since i'm on a limited budget ill keep looking for the problem area.
thanks again guys !!

 

[oxbeast1210]

sorry i didn't know how to delete lol

 

[oxbeast1210]

Re: Overheat alarm constantly on even before motor is running

Hi guys good news i found the area that's causing the alarm to go off
unfortunately i do not know how to fix the issue . I missed one tan wire when i was disconnecting them earlier and i believe i found the one casing the issue unfortunately i have no clue how to fix it . The wire goes to what looks like a rubber plug with another tan wire that goes into the motor how can i access this?
thank you