VRO oil tank alarm

JC1933

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Dec 31, 2003
Messages
443
Hi guys, I let my oil tank go down to near empty on my 1995 130 johnson and alarm failed to beep the low oil signal, alarm is new and beeps when key is turned on, and there is power to the tank.I installed the alarm myself i grounded the black wire to the horn mounting screw is this where it should go? This wire has an iylet on the end and the wire length is just wright to reach this screw. Is this the problem? or is my oil tank switch defective? any help will be apreseated. J,C,
 

seahorse5

Rear Admiral
Joined
Jan 24, 2002
Messages
4,698
Re: VRO oil tank alarm

Remove the oil pickup assembly from the tank while the motor is OFF and the key is ON. There is a metal disk that moves with a float, and it "shorts across" 2 brass contacts when the oil gets low. The electronics inside the pickup assembly generate the LOW OIL warning which is a single beep about every 30 seconds or so. <br /><br />The tank wires should to to the motor as designed, but if the tank is in the console near the dash, you can run the black wire to a good ground and the tan wire to the horn circuit.
 

JC1933

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Dec 31, 2003
Messages
443
Re: VRO oil tank alarm

Hi Seahorse thanks for the reply, i checked the tank pickup mooved the metel disk up and douwn with key on nothing,i checked wires on top of pickup and there is power there, seems the contacs are not contacting. Or could it be the horn is not grounded at the correct place in the throttle control? Thanks for your time. J,C,
 

seahorse5

Rear Admiral
Joined
Jan 24, 2002
Messages
4,698
Re: VRO oil tank alarm

Since the horn beeps when you turn it on, that means it is operational. Now ground the tan wire from the motor's wiring harness that attaches to the oil tank pickup assembly (with the key ON) and the horn should sound. If not, you have to trace the wiring up to the horn. If it sounds OK, then you have bad electrics inside the oil pickup assembly.
 

Cricket Too

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
May 14, 2003
Messages
1,732
Re: VRO oil tank alarm

Are you sure that you have it going to a good ground. Check the ground for corrosion, and check the ground wire for continuity.
 

JC1933

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Dec 31, 2003
Messages
443
Re: VRO oil tank alarm

Seahorse@ mmcpeck, Hi guys, the horn sounds whene i ground the tan wire at the oil pickup so now it seems i may have a ground problem in the horn,I also checked the tan wire to the head heat censors horn sounds ok there also. Thanks a lot guys, may have to buy a new oil pickup if it is not the ground. have a nice evening. J,C,
 

seahorse5

Rear Admiral
Joined
Jan 24, 2002
Messages
4,698
Re: VRO oil tank alarm

The expensive oil pickup just tells you that the tank is getting low. Why spend the money if you visually inspect the tank often, especially whenever you fill up with fuel?
 

JC1933

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Dec 31, 2003
Messages
443
Re: VRO oil tank alarm

Thanks seahorse,i will keep visually inspecting and keep a close watch on oil consumption,and not bother to replace the pickup. As you said this is probley expensive. thanks verry mutch for your time,have a nice day. J,C,
 
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