Alarms

[Eugene Camerota]

Hello all, I am new to this forum. I am hoping is someone can give me some help. I have a 2007 185 sport with a V6 Merc. I am having a reoccurring problem in that when the boat is underway I get an intermittent chirping from one of the alarms. It happens right when you start using the boat and periodically during usage. The dealer has changed the impeller, thermostat and cleaned out any sand, etc in the engine. I just got done reading an extensive thread from 2010 about this problem, but it did not state the final solution to this individual's problem. From this thread it seems like it could be the temperature sensor. I also made sure the drive oil was full. When the alarm goes off, the temp gauge reads 170 so that is normal. It seems from that thread that this is a common problem. I would appreciate any thoughts as I am at my wits end! Thank you, Eugene

 

[Scotyp]

I have a 98' 210 Bowrider and my electrical diagram shows the Drive unit oil level and Oil pressure switch tied to the Audio warning(Chirp). Scot

 

[Lazy Daze]

One thing you need to understand is that the alarm is completely separate from the gauges. There are two sensors for the oil and temp (well, the one that feeds the gauge is technically called a sender). So your temp or oil gauge could be reading normal, but the sensor that drives the alarm may be flaking out.

On your boat/engine, the only things that will sound an alarm (making an assumption that you have a carb'd engine... would be good to add that info) would be oil pressure, temperature and drive fluid.

I don't think this really classifies as a common problem - but at 13 years old, it's not uncommon for some things to occasionally fail, either.

 

[JMG]

I have had the same problem in my 2006 185 4.3 tks. Turned out, at least so far, that the main wiring harness connection at the rear of the engine, I believe it is a 9 pin plug, had gotten slightly loose. It's a large round plug on the starboard top aft of engine, near the distributor, with a stainless hose clamp around it. A local mechanic told me the pins are split down the middle , and the clamp is needed to ensure good contact through expansion and contraction. I replaced everything associated with the alarm, oil pressure sender and sensor, water temperature sender and sensor, and the entire drive lube reservoir including the sensor within. Still got the alarm until I disconnected the plug, greased and reattached it, and clamped it down tight. So far no alarm, did that middle of last season. It's worth a shot, IMO.

 

[Eugene Camerota]

Thanks for the responses! Keep them coming. The engine is carb'd.