Alarm driving me crazy!

D

DMarcel

Member
Jul 13, 2011
74
Long Island NY
Boat Info
2003 Sundancer 280
Engines
twin MCM4.3L MPI V6 220 HP
2003 280DA, twin v-6. Alarm sounds intermittently, 2 beeps (not a steady alarm) Have added lube oil in the past, which didn't take much, maybe 1oz. it appeared to have solved the problem then, but now it sounds when engines are warm and over an idle. All fluids are good, pressure and temp also good. Scraped some barnacles off outdrives, however alarm still sounds. Is there anything else that I could do or check without a short haul?
 
at idle? on plane? Have you checked the outdrive fluid reservoir?
 
It becomes more of a problem when on a plane. Yes, I added the lube oil to the outdrive fluid reservoir.
 
I just found an old post stating that two bursts every minute could indicate a sensor failure. Is anyone else aware of this. Also, what is a knock sensor and where are they located?
 
Idle air control - they can fail in different states. Sometime the engines will die at idle - sometime they'll just beep as you say. To prove this, swap the IAC between the two engines - its a 5 min job.
 
I had the same boat and I think I had to replace an IAC valve every year. Don't forget to change the IAC muffler too.
 
Had the same problem on my 2007 280DA 2 short beeps any time idle plane didn't matter smartcraft showed sensor failure. It turned out to be the water pressure sensor. I replaced it in about 40 minutes, no problems since. Hope this helps.

Ed
 
After getting a computer diagnostic, there were two water temp sensor failures and a bad iac. Hopefully it will be running fine tomorrow!
 
Took it out after sensor and iac replacement, still have same problem! Two beeps every minute and steady blast when bringing it onto a plane. Any other suggestions? Problem seems to be the port engine.
 
Please consider a different mechanic.

When the IAC was changed was then IAC muffler filter also changed? If not, and you don’t have a new one, remove the muffler filter and go for a ride. That whoosh sound is due to the missing muffler filter, the goal is to see if your problem persists.

Best suggestion for the 2 beeps per minute is to have the dealer/shop read out the error log to see what is generating the error condition. No need in ruining a good day out on the water and having to be towed back in.


Here are the codes:

MercCodes1.jpg

MercCodes2.jpg



2 beeps can mean a lot of things. A mercury mechanic can plug a device in and tell you exactly the reason for the beeps. Some of the error conditions will limit the available power the engine produces.

The mechanic needs to know how to get into the memory, not just the current faults. Here is a test, if the mechanic can look at the scan tool and tell you how many hours are on your motor they know how how to get into the memory.
 
Check to see if your alternator is working as well. On my 320 it went out and originally started an alarm only when I gave it throttle. It later started alarming all of the time since it was draining the battery. I should have just started the generator and turned on my charger to get home.
 
I have the same problem......I have replaced the IAC and muffler and the water pressure sensor on the power steering cooler -when I changed the pressure sensor it did get better -not fixed - It now only happens on a plane -also I may go 20 min with no alarm but then hit a wave and the alarm sounds -now if I stop the boat and shut that engine off and restart its fine for a while until I hit anther wave or just random....I have kinda given up and considering cutting the dam wire to that alarm
 
Thanks for your input!
With your input and my afternoon with a mechanic today, I may be working toward a solution.
The mechanic tried to get the fault codes with his computer, but was having difficulties with the computer. He is to try with another computer tomorrow.

He believes that the two beep problem is a bad tilt sensor on the outdrive. He feels the steady alarm when bringing the boat onto a plane may be a water pressure alarm due to a bad impella and or barnacles in the outdrive.

Hopefully this will be resolved shortly. I'll keep you posted!
 
He should't be saying maybe or believes to be. If he thinks the 2 beep problem is the trim sender then he should just plug a new one into the motor, set it to 0 or 1 and see if its still there. If he thinks the solid alarm is a bad impeller get that computer working and check water pressure when the alarm sounds. Like others said before all of those problems should be able to figure out by looking at the hours on the engine , then looking at (freeze frame) will have all alarms that sounded with the hours that it went off at.
 
On my 2006 240 I had an alarm issue also, Marine Max had it three different times. Finally they determined it was a loose ground wire. They tightened all the wires, no more alarm. This is something easy to check.
 
I had the same warning beeps, although I have inboard V-drives. Mechanic put a computer on the engines and it turned out to be a bad Oil pressure sender on the Port engine. No problems since.
 
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