Rinda code interpretation - "General Warning #2"

[Loneranger]

I told you guys once I received the rinda mercruiser scan tool to be prepared for plenty of questions.

I may be looking in the wrong place but the 7.4L Mercruiser service manual nor the rinda owner's manual gives a very good list of the codes and their interpretation. Any other ideas on where to learn more about the MEFI system?

I hooked up the scanner and initially had 2 codes:

1) General Warning #1 telltale indicator has been set

2) General Warning #2 telltale indicator has been set

I erased both of the codes and ran the boat the next day and at the end of today rescanned the engine and I had only this code:

1) General Warning #2 telltale indicator has been set

The only other item that I did not understand is when scrolling through the real time engine data were the following:

"Check Eng Lamp" registered as "on" when the engine was off and "off" when the engine was on.

"Fuel Pump Output" registered as "off" when the engine was off and "on" when the engine was on.

"Input J2-20" registered as "on" with engine both on and off.

The other items were all "off" weather the engine was on or off.

Of course the other items gave real time numerical values that all seemed to fit the specifications that I have for the engine. The engine runs fine, sounds good, starts easy, in short no problems. Anything I need to be concerned with with the "general warning #2"?

Thanks
John

 

[Loneranger]

http://www.*******.com/merc/Bullet/99/99_03.pdf
I found out 2 things so far. First I had the wrong service manual but even with the correct service manual I find nothing on general warning #1 or #2.

I found the above link to a service bulletin that does reference:

General Warning #1 is low drive lube

General Warning #2 is high transmission oil temperature

I do not have a transmission however and #2 is the persistent code.

John

 

[Loneranger]

Anybody have a suggestion of how to learn more about fuel injection engines and diagnostics specifically the MEFI system? A book, course, etc.

Thanks

John

 

[Loneranger]

I guess I will have to get with the dealership sometime to see if they can educate me. I emailed mercruiser directly and this is the response I recieved:

"Thank you for your inquiry. We are sorry to inform you that the Consumer Service Department does not function as a technical or diagnostic repair facility. Inquiries of a technical nature are best referred to our dealerships because they have certified Technicians to serve as our experts with MerCruiser products, and the diagnostic tools and equipment to assist you. They are in the best position to discuss and review your request and in the rare case where a staff member of any dealership is unable to answer a technical question regarding one of our products; there are technical resources available exclusively to them from MerCruiser where answers may be obtained. We apologize that we are unable to provide the information that you are seeking, however, due to the inherent safety concerns when servicing engines, we are unable to diagnose engine issues through an e-mail format. Therefore, we do not wish to speculate in technical areas."

Not very helpful information. I also recieved no response on the marine engine . com mercruiser forum. I guess this information is just to proprietary. ha. ha.

I still am not sure what general warning number 2 is exactly.

John

 

[fc3]

You can try digging though the factory service manuals.

 

[Loneranger]

I looked through the service manuals and I can find every other code I think that could possibly alarm except for General Warning #1 and General Warning #2. The only reference to these I found in a service bulletin 99-3 which references #1 as low stern drive oil and #2 as low transmission oil pressure.

John

 

[fc3]

The wiring diagram shows what sensors are connected to the various inputs. You can check to see if you have anything connected to that input. If not, it's just bus noise that is not adequately damped by a pull down.

Best regards,
Frank

 

[Loneranger]

I talked to my local Mercruiser Tech (granted he works mostly on outboards) but he had not ever come across a "General Warning #2". He verified that the other operating parameter data I recorded was within specification.

I found after digging through the service manual again that Input J2-20 (which is turned on for me weather the engine is running or not) is connected to the Transmission Neutral Switch for a load activation signal for MIE only. Since I have a MCM I suppose that the reference to General Warning #2 being High Transmission fluid temperature is correct and since I do not have a transmission I can ignore it.

The only thing I am going to check next is the audio alarm. I do not get any alarms when the engine is running but when I key the ignition On initially I get not one short beep but two. I will check and make sure the second beep is not coming from something else like the depth finder but I think there is only supposed to be one beep when the ignition is initially turned on.

John