Intermittent Alarm - Bad Sensor?

seanmclean

Member
Jun 13, 2017
33
NJ
Boat Info
'03 182
Engines
4.3Merc
2003 SeaRay 182, 4.3 Merc I/O

Over the last few weeks I have been getting an intermittent alarm while underway (less than one second, more like a beep), generally when making a significant turn, or when bow is up coming onto plane. Oil Pressure (and level) is fine, operating in normal temp range, and gear oil is full (and freshly changed). As far as I know, those are the only three conditions that trigger the buzzer.

Given that its random and just for a second or less, I'm inclined to think that its a sensor issue. Does anyone have a diagram of the sensor locations on the 4.3 Merc? Any other ideas that I could chase down?
 
A bad sensor is one of the hardest things to diagnose. One thing you might try (I had this problem and posted about it in a different thread on here). My symptoms were similar to what you described. It ended up being the float inside the gear oil reservoir. The float inside was filled with gear oil and would sometimes sink to the bottom of the reservoir, throwing off an alarm. If that's it, it's a very easy fix. I would start there.

EDIT: Here is my old post - http://www.clubsearay.com/index.php?threads/496-mag-nagging-alarm-problem-solved.76199/
 
Thanks, cleaned mine up today, and in the process I found that one of the two quick connects on the sensor was barely plugged in. Perhaps that will do the trick.
 
Where are the connections located? Did yours make a single "beep" or two "beeps"?
 
Coming off the gear lube container, about 6-8" down.

Was usually just one beep/chirp. Nothing since then, did a 40mi cruise yesterday (long way for a little boat), and not a single beep.
 
Coming off the gear lube container, about 6-8" down.

Was usually just one beep/chirp. Nothing since then, did a 40mi cruise yesterday (long way for a little boat), and not a single beep.
Coincidental, for sure, a closed circuit to ground would cause the beep, an open circuit, like a disconnected wire, would make that circuit never beep
 
Coincidental, for sure, a closed circuit to ground would cause the beep, an open circuit, like a disconnected wire, would make that circuit never beep
Perhaps, depends how it is wired, normally open or normally closed. Float switches can go either way.
 
Scof is correct - if one of those bullet connectors was not plugged in, it would nullify the alarm system.
 
Mine periodically beeps as well. I unhooked the connection for the temp sensor on the thermostat. Thinking that’s why it’s beeping. I took it out briefly and so far no beeps. My question is by having that temp sensor unhooked would that turn off the whole alarm system. When the key is turned to the on position it makes the alarm sound.
 

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