Volvo Penta alarm at startup with the disater that followed

[boodaghost]

I've had limited use of my 2000 Chris Craft 328 with twin 5.7GSI's (grey engine) this season.
Each time, as usual, I crank the starboard motor first, port second. When I've cranked the port engine, I get alarm tone(s).
I shut the engine off and restart. No alarm. Go boating and no problem.

July 4th rolls around and my marina is out of fuel. I have to travel to another marina at a mutli-mile distance. Potential T-storm rolling in so I have the boat planing at around 3800rpm. Hear the two tone alarm as I'm slowing to enter no wake zone. I check gauges to see that port engine temp is just under 250 degrees. Immediately shut the engine off. I wait for a while until the fuel dock clears and get fuel. Assuming that this has given the engine enough time to cool down, I want to see if the motor will turn over. I hear the starter making a noise like it's trying to crank.

Satisfied by what I had heard, I limped back to my slip on one engine. The next day, I tried to crank and all I could get is the ratatatat of the starter giving me the finger. The question now is: Did I wreck the starter by using it too soon on an over-heated engine or do I have a full blown seize??? Pulled all plugs and managed to get some piston movement when a cheater bar was used.
Anyway, anybody that has had some experience with alarms, starters, overheats, and anything that might apply, shoot me something!!!

Thanks!!!

 

[Don S]

Re: Volvo Penta alarm at startup with the disater that followed

Sounds like a dead battery or loose battery connection. The battery cables need to have regular nylock nuts that you use a wrench on, not wing nuts. That may have been the reason for the earlier alarms as well.
EFI engines DO NOT like loose battery cables.

 

[boodaghost]

Re: Volvo Penta alarm at startup with the disater that followed

Thanks Don,

Interesting.......... I have tested all five batts (2 Crank and 3 house) and am only showing one that is suspect. That particular one does have a buildup of corrosion. I struggle to run down which would be considered the "cranking battery" as this boat has the T.A.B.S system and it appears that every battery runs directly into this thing. Any idea as to how to run down the cranking battery?

 

[Don S]

Re: Volvo Penta alarm at startup with the disater that followed

Have no idea what a T.A.B.S system is.

Make yourself a wiring diagram of your battery system, scan it a post it here, along with some info on what the T.A.B.S system is.