Testing VRO warning system

[fenwick]

I have a 1991 40hp Evinrude(tiller). The question I have is how do you test the warning<br />system.I don't have a ignition system(keyed)so<br />when I start it up no warning horn sounds.I'd<br />like to test it before the open water season<br />begins up here in Minnesota.Thanks in advance!

 

[OBJ]

Re: Testing VRO warning system

You should have the tone type horn fenwick. To find out what horn you have and if it works, find the overheat sensor lead coming from the head. Be a single tan wire with a boot on it.<br /><br />Pull the boot back to expose the knife connector. Now turn the key on and ground the knife connector to the block and listen for the horn.<br /><br />IF....the horn sounds like a "buzzer", that's the old style horn and will not sound when the key is turned to "ON". If it's a clean sounding tone, that's the newere type. If it doesn't sound at all....probably (in most cases) the horn module is bad. <br /><br />Let's start there and see if the horn does or does not work. The testing of the VRO is pretty simple to do once the horn is verified working.

 

[fenwick]

Re: Testing VRO warning system

OBJ,<br /> Thanks for the quick response! With my <br /> boat/motor set-up I don't have a key to<br /> turn on to start the motor.

 

[OBJ]

Re: Testing VRO warning system

Nut's....tiller...need to read a little better in my older age.....sorry about that.<br /><br />Simplist way....pull the boot back and use a jumper with alligator clips to ground the connector. Put the ears on the engine and start it up. Your alarm horn is in the tiller handle and is the tone type. If it goes off as the engine is started....it works. <br /><br />Don't have the manual in front of me but I "thought" the alarm horn should tone as the engine is started even though it is not a keyed ignition. Mybe one of the other guys can set me straight on that.

 

[fenwick]

Re: Testing VRO warning system

I grounded the tan wire and still got no horn.<br /> I then started up the motor and still got no<br /> horn(at least I didn't hear it) Next I took<br /> a spare battery and put power to the two leads<br /> on the horn,I then got a beep out of it.There<br /> are three leads coming off the horn.I assume<br /> that two of the leads are the power source.But<br /> what is the third one to? Do you have any idea<br /> on how to track down why I'm not getting beep<br /> when the motor starts up?

 

[Brew2]

Re: Testing VRO warning system

Hi Fenwick,<br /><br />Been a couple days since you got any responses, so I thought I would throw my $0.02. If nothing else it will get your post back to the top!<br /><br />The early versions of the VRO warning system didn't have the "self-check" beep when the motor first started. Not sure what year that was introduced, but I think it would have been after 1991. Therefore it is likely that your horn is only supposed to sound in the event of low oil, no oil, or overheat (and not at startup).<br /><br />Since you don't have an ignition system, the horn would only work with the engine running (unless you test it as you did with a battery). I was a little confused by your post....did you try to ground the tan wire (overheat sensor) while the motor was running? If not, try that. If the horn sounds everything is AOK.<br /><br />If it doesn't sound, then I would think that since you know the horn will make noise when powered, that the problem either lies in a short somewhere in the wire leading to the horn or the sensor in the block has gone kaput.<br /><br />Hope that helps a bit.<br /><br />Good luck!<br /><br />Brew

 

[Brew2]

Re: Testing VRO warning system

Now that I reread my post, I realized that grounding the wire should make the horn sound regardless of the condition of the sensor....so forget the part about the bad sensor (oops!). <br /><br />Cheers,<br /><br />Brew

 

[sldunker]

Re: Testing VRO warning system

Fenwick, I have the same year 40 hp tiller that you have. When I push the start button I will hear a short beep from the horn. You have to be listening for it because it is a very short beep. I would check the wiring, sounds like there may be an open somewhere or a poor connection.

 

[fenwick]

Re: Testing VRO warning system

sldunker, I took your advice and tuned my ear in when I turned the motor over. I can hear a short beep form the horn,thanks for the advice!Sorry for the delay in responding,thanks again!!!!<br /><br /> Fenwick