Help! Alarm going off

[Jeff May]

I have a 2001 Searay sundancer 260. 7.4 L Bravo III. I bought the boat last year. About five minutes into our trip from Sandusky to Cleveland to bring her home, the alarm sounded. It was a loud beep, that beeped every few seconds constantly. All gauges read good, oil, gear lube was checked and at the right level. It didn’t make sense. When you turn off the boat, it stops and won’t come on again until I open her up to 3000+ RPM. After getting work done, it stopped for months. First time opening her up this season, it came on again. She runs fine through the canal, but anything above 3000+ RPM it comes on which is very frustrating. Any help/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Lenny3]

Low water pressure? If the alarm sounded then it should have a symbol that shows up. Also, we’re the rpm’s limited during the alarm?

 

[Lazy Daze]

Lenny, he doesn't have Smartcraft, so he won't have any kind of display or symbol that would show up.

That alarm is going to sound for oil pressure, engine temp, drive fluid or what Merc calls "a sensor fault"... meaning a sensor is seeing something it doesn't like or is flaky. For things like oil pressure and engine temp, you have two sensors - one drives the gauge (sender) and the other feeds the computer/alarm system (sensor). If you've verified you have enough drive fluid and the float isn't stuck, I suspect that's what going is that one of the sensors is flaky. Scan the computer to verify which one or take a shot in the dark at which one you want to replace.

 

[Jeff May]

Thanks for the response! Yeah I don’t have a display for symbols. The rpms were not limited. I’ve been told a sensor before. What’s weird is that when I got it fixed last year (new float switch, alternator, batteries, water pump etc.), it never came on again. That was August of last year. So we drove for months with no alarm. If it was a sensor, I don’t understand why after sitting all winter it just became faulty/flakey.

 

[Lazy Daze]

That's what being "flaky" is all about

 

[Korkie]

Might just be a dirty contact. The sensors are VERY voltage sensitive. Go over the motor and unplug, inspect and re-plug all the sensors and also check your grounds. Sometimes sitting over the off season will allow some corrosion and cause just enough resistance to make a difference. The slightest variation will cause a sensor to be "flaky" lol. Good Luck.

 

[brewster16]

What about high water in the bilge? He throttles up and gets an alarm.... I think you have to include an inspection of your bilge, bilge pump(s) and under floor compartments.

 

[Jeff May]

All great advice, thanks guys. My bilge is bone dry. I’m thinking it’s a flakey sensor

 

[Mike Baskin]

I have a 2001 Searay sundancer 260. 7.4 L Bravo III. I bought the boat last year. About five minutes into our trip from Sandusky to Cleveland to bring her home, the alarm sounded. It was a loud beep, that beeped every few seconds constantly. All gauges read good, oil, gear lube was checked and at the right level. It didn’t make sense. When you turn off the boat, it stops and won’t come on again until I open her up to 3000+ RPM. After getting work done, it stopped for months. First time opening her up this season, it came on again. She runs fine through the canal, but anything above 3000+ RPM it comes on which is very frustrating. Any help/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

my guess bad water pressure sensor. i had a similar alarm and tthat was it. easy to change also