Buzz alarm went off today

340DA

Member
Jul 21, 2008
365
LI Sound
Boat Info
2000 Sundancer Sport Cruiser
Engines
454 Mercruiser w/Bravo III Drives
Today is the 1st time I have taken my 2000 340DA out for the season. I had a buzz alarm (very loud) go off today for the 1st time since I have owned the boat (10 years). It was definitely in the dashboard area. It sounded twice and then shut off, and then it stopped completely. Water temp is good, Oil pressure is good. All within acceptable limits.
For this season I had the water pump changed on the starboard engine and the circulating pump changed on the port engine

I have never had that buzzing alarm go off in previous years.

Why does that buzzing alarm sound? What does it mean?

Any thoughts?
 
the constant alarm activates with no engine oil pressure, high engine temperature , hot oil in the inboard transmission , or low/no oil in the drive res bottle
 
since the oil pressure remained steady while underway (I even checked the oil levels in each engine - both are clean and up to proper levels), the engines did not overheat at all and temps stayed in appropriate ranges while underway and I do not have an inboard transmission (I have Bravo III outdrives) then I have to conclude that it is low oil in the drive res bottle.
Here's what happened: the alarm went off twice yesterday. Once at the dock. I shut the engines off, it continued to sound for 30 seconds then it stopped. I started the engines again and let them run for 15 mins - NO Alarm. I looked at the fluid bottles and noticed the starboard seemed lower, not empty, just lower. I added fluid. Started the engines and NO alarm.
We took the boat out and motored to the 5mph buoys for about 15 mins - NO alarm.
Then I pushed the throttles forward and started to get up on plane and the ALARM went off for about 30 seconds, then stopped and did not come on for the remainder of the day - for over an hour of use. I stooped and got back up on plane 3 more times - NO alarm. None for the remainder of the day
 
Shot in the dark here but....I had a similar alarm and it wound up being a partially clogged fuel filter in the fuel regulator. It is a small "screen bowl" type filter.
IMG_0462_1024.jpg
 
In your boat, you have a high water alarm connected to a secondary float and bilge pump. It sounds to me (and could certainly still be something else), from the info given, as that is what sounded... especially since you said it sounded when getting up on plane (water rushed aft). Then the water got pumped out and subsequently you never heard the alarm again. The primary pump should have evacuated the water to begin with, but maybe the float got stuck or the pump is dead.
 
THANKS... all good suggestions.... I will check BOTH of these suggestions
 
Oh, did you happen to notice the System's monitor panel while the alarm was sounding? Sometimes it's hard to see the lights, depending on the sun. Have you verified the panel is operational? There's info in your manual about this, if you want to read more.
 
Actually, I was looking at the Owners Manual today and the manual shows a System Monitor panel on the dashboard. However, on my boat, I do NOT have that panel. I never had that panel. That seems strange to me now but it never occurred to me that I should have it, until I looked at the Owners manual today and saw it.
 
Does your motor have knock sensors? On my 7.4 mpi I chased an alarm for weeks as everyone told me only oil pressure, water temp and in my case out drive fluid level would trigger the alarm. I finally broke down had a really good Mercruiser certified mechanic scan it to find that a knock sensor fault would trigger the alarm and had to change both and since the plugs were corroded change that them as well.
 
since the oil pressure remained steady while underway (I even checked the oil levels in each engine - both are clean and up to proper levels), the engines did not overheat at all and temps stayed in appropriate ranges while underway and I do not have an inboard transmission (I have Bravo III outdrives) then I have to conclude that it is low oil in the drive res bottle.
Here's what happened: the alarm went off twice yesterday. Once at the dock. I shut the engines off, it continued to sound for 30 seconds then it stopped. I started the engines again and let them run for 15 mins - NO Alarm. I looked at the fluid bottles and noticed the starboard seemed lower, not empty, just lower. I added fluid. Started the engines and NO alarm.
We took the boat out and motored to the 5mph buoys for about 15 mins - NO alarm.
Then I pushed the throttles forward and started to get up on plane and the ALARM went off for about 30 seconds, then stopped and did not come on for the remainder of the day - for over an hour of use. I stooped and got back up on plane 3 more times - NO alarm. None for the remainder of the day

My bet is high water alarm since you said it stayed on for 30 seconds after shut down and was a "buzz" alarm as opposed to a beep or tone alarm.
 
Actually, I was looking at the Owners Manual today and the manual shows a System Monitor panel on the dashboard. However, on my boat, I do NOT have that panel. I never had that panel. That seems strange to me now but it never occurred to me that I should have it, until I looked at the Owners manual today and saw it.

If memory serves, I believe that was an option on the boat. My post above was confusing - it implied that it was a standaard feature.
 
For clarity....my alarm from the clogged filter basket was a series of loud "beeps".
 

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