power steering - will it cause an alarm

I have re-read this post from start to finish.

I also have a 03 280 Dancer with analog gauges so like your boat the engines are smart craft ready but not active.

I am at a loss as to what is causing your alarm issue.

Just FYI….when you are on plane the impellers do nothing. Technically they are spinning but the water flow would be fine even if the impellers were not there.

At idol speed the impellers do their thing.

Based on your description your issue is not the impellers. I’m not saying you don’t need to change them just that I don’t see how this alarm issue is related to the impellers.
 
Why did the tech not scan the engine while the alarm was present?

Did he not go on the sea trial? The code should be in the history.

Did the tech mention what EFI unit you have? Go to the rinda technologies web site and download their scan tool users manual and you can see what codes the unit can read with the computer.

http://www.rinda.com/acro/Merc_manual_v5.pdf
 
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Presentation, could you let me know what you mean?

At idol speed the impellers do their thing.
Click to expand...

2000SEARAY280SS, Thanks for the link. The mech has said that the alarm will be in the history even if it was not alarming at the time the computers were attached. I did specifically ask that question because I was very ready to take them for a ride. I don't know one way or the other. He did indeed go into alarm history and nothing stood out. As far as which EFI system, I'm not sure. They went off of serial number when they set up the computer at the time they connected it.

As another frustrating update, we were out all day yesterday and did not get ANY alarm. The only real thing of significance that I did was swap port and starboard WPS.

I would like to know what the normal water pressure at idle is.
 
Another update (5/17/10)

To date:
swapped WPS - no change (alarm on SB side)
Swapped knock sensors - no change same

I cleaned up the threads on the WPS because they had what looked like sealant in them all the while added the ground. Took her out Sat and no alarm while up at about 3,100 RPM (my tachs are off - SB showed 3,800???). Ran all day like this.

Sunday - went out - didn't do anything went up on plane and alarmed around 3,100. Shut down restarted - no alarm the 35 min run.

I'm ready to throw in the towel.
 
Move your grill mount to the other side of your swim platform (and paint it white) and see if the alarm moves to the other engine!
 
HA! Why didn't I think of that!?!?!?!

(Keep it up and I'll bring Koda by your front door!) :)
 
Here are some things that will cause the alarm on my MEFI 3 unit. I could not find anything for your year since I think you have the MEFI 4 or the ECM 555.

Something to think about. The tech should have been able to figure it out not sure why he did not. Unless it is something not in the computer.

Sorry I could not help.

MEFI-3 and Audio Warning
The MEFI-3 engine’s Audio Warning system will sound the alarm differently and it has more
items that will cause it to sound.
There is what is called a ‘soft’ and a ‘hard’ alarm.
1. Soft Alarm = Below 3000 rpm. Horn on for 1 second, off for 3 seconds, on for 1 second,
off for 3 seconds, etc.
2. Hard Alarm = Above 3000 rpm. Horn sounds all the time.
Audio alarm sounds for the same malfunctions as MEFI-1 and -2;
1. MCM - Low lube level in Gear Lube Bottle. [General 1] or MIE - High Transmission
fluid temperature [General 2].
2. MCM/MIE - Low engine oil pressure.
3. MCM/MIE - Too high engine coolant temperature.
Early production and service ECMs had the following items that will sound the alarm;
1. MCM/MIE – Horn will sound if there is an active engine Diagnostic Trouble Code [DTC]
that is occurring while the engine is running. The horn will not sound a stored DTC.
Correcting the DTC malfunction will stop the horn.
2. MCM/MIE – Horn will sound if the battery voltage to the ECM is low, [less than 9v for at
least 5 seconds]. Using the throttle lever to increase engine rpm to get the alternator to
put out more voltage will correct most low voltage problems.
3. MCM/MIE – V6 and V8 305/350 cid engines only. Horn will sound if there is low fuel
pressure [for at least 5 seconds]. These engines have a fuel pressure sensor. The EFI
engines have the sensor in the throttle body unit and the MPI engines have the sensor
located in the port fuel rail toward the rear of the engine. Correcting the cause of the low
fuel pressure will stop the horn.
The ECM checksums listed below have these additional alarms turned ON in them.
NOTE: Later production and service replacement ECMs have these extra alarms turned off.
If the ECM checksum is different from the ones listed below, the extra alarms in that ECM
is turned OFF.
MCM 4.3L EFI: ECM never had these extra alarms turned on.
MCM 5.0L EFI: With D04B or D074 checksum.
MCM 5.7L EFI: With D7ED or D798 checksum.
MCM 350 MPI, MCM 350 MPI Horizon, MIE 350 MPI Ski, MIE 350 MPI Inboard or MIE 350
MPI Horizon Inboard: With E60D or EAED checksum.
MIE Black Scorpion: With BB98 or BB42 checksum.
MCM 7.4L MPI or MIE 7.4L MPI Inboard: With FE28.checksum.
MCM 454 MPI, MCM 454 MPI Horizon or MIE 454 MPI Horizon Inboard: With EBC4
checksum.
MCM 502 MPI or MIE 8.2L MPI Inboard: With F02D checksum
 
Thanks 2000searay280ss,

The one thing I can say is that it's not a solid (hard) alarm. It's 2 beeps, 1 per second, then a one minute pause and it repeats (I timed the pause).

I talked to the shop and we're at the point where there may not be a DTC being stored in history so we agreed to work up a work order and they take it out with the computer hooked up. I'll be sure to post my fix considering the amount of 2alarm/pause questions there are out there!
 
I am having the exact same problem. I am going to see if a tech can read my code on Thursday. If you didn't hear that darn sound you wouldn't know the difference...the boat runs great. How is it that these mechanics have never seen this??? As anyone tried a PCM switch to see if they are going bad? They have been known to go out in cars.
 
I'm not sure if that could be it or not where is it located and what is it? I googled the heck out of the internet and theres lots of leads but none that come back with a solution. To me (being a gear head, but not a real "boat-head") it seems this fault only shows up when underway and the only way to get it is to hook up the CDS and run her out and make the alarm go off.

The shop told me they plan on working on mine this morning. Whatever it ends up being I promise to post here and the other boards I've reached out to. There is another individual whom I've been emailing that is having his shop work on his today. He's experiencing the same thing.

FamilyTime, what RPM to you typically cruise at? I'm running around 3,100~ish.
 
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I normally run about 3500 RPM, for my best cruise/on plane speed. I was referring to the PCM, power control module, or the ecM, engine control module, or the computer as some call it. Either way, this is turning into an expensive (and very frusterating) problem. Keep us posted.
 
I have an update!!!

FamilyTime, thanks.

THe shop took her out yesterday with the CDS connected and was able to recreate the alarm. The shift interrupt sensor (can't remember sensor or switch) while in gear went from normal to neutral and then back which tripped the alarm. The mech was able to get it to stop alarming by bouncing it back to neutral. He took off again and it flipped state while around 3100-3400 rpm. It apparently will genernate a critical horn.

I HOPE this is the end. They had to order the switch so we'll know something today or tomorrow. He said he's about 85% sure this is what it is.
 
Had this happen to me. It was an ICAC valve or sensor or something like that can't remember the exact spelling. Service tech said was ok to drive but beep every minute drove me up the wall on our trip. Had it fixed when got back. I've heard it is a real easy fix..... others here may tell you how to fix it without paying or the service. When my alarm beeped it would say something like service port engine for like a second then go off until it beeped one minute later. Dan D
 
DanD, I did swap IACs with my port/SB and the problem always remained on the SB engine.

Another CSR person found that a connection was loose on his SB engine that apparently feeds the helm. The connector would be loose when the engine was cold and once things warmed up it would stop. This would explain why after stopping/starting the engines after cruising around the alarm would silence. The connector was back by the distributor cap.

Tony, if I misstated your situation please feel free to correct. I'm hoping to seatrial on Sat to see if my issue has been fixed. If if isn't I'm going for the connector!
 
Interesting about that switch causing the error. I had a tech look at my boat and he mentioned a few good points. Some of the sensors DO NOT go through the computer, so there is a possibility of no code being present if they do a scan. It's important to ask if a tech just has a scanner or the full up laptop with the mercruiser diagnostic software. In my case, my water pressure sensor was giving varying readings. The only way to have know this was to hook up the laptop and see the output. My starboard engine was 2.2 while my port was 0, causing the alarm. After running for a few minutes it would read the pressure and then the alarm would stop. Changed out the sensor and my problem is now fixed. I guess we had similar symptoms with different causes. Where is the switch you mentioned?
 
The tech that looked at mine actually had the fulll on computer and took it out. He said when he got on it, it the CDS indicated the switch toggled states from in gear, neutral and back which then followed up with the alarm.

The switch is supposed to be up on where the throttle cables come onto the engine near the throttle body.
 
@DaleM - did you ever get this issue fixed? I have an ‘03 280 Sundancer and I have had this problem since the day I collected the boat 2 years ago. I don’t know how the previous owner was able to dupe me into buying the boat but every ride since I have had exactly the same problem you’re describing. I’ve identified that it occurs at 3400 RPM, I can ride all day below that without the alarm. Very long slow getting onto the plane below 3400 RPM. If I push it, ALARM - B - B every minute, until I shut the engine down and restart it. My tech has tried every sensor and sender - oil, water, trim, IAC, Termp and pressures - right now I’ve disabled the alarm to avoid the anguish. PLEASE, has anyone solved this mystery? We’ve run the boat with he computer on and NOTHING out of norm. Even when the alarm is going there’s nothing registering on the computer.
 
If you have the 555 ecm there should be live data available.
Very little info with the mefi's
 
Brian Lynch said:
@DaleM - did you ever get this issue fixed? I have an ‘03 280 Sundancer and I have had this problem since the day I collected the boat 2 years ago. I don’t know how the previous owner was able to dupe me into buying the boat but every ride since I have had exactly the same problem you’re describing. I’ve identified that it occurs at 3400 RPM, I can ride all day below that without the alarm. Very long slow getting onto the plane below 3400 RPM. If I push it, ALARM - B - B every minute, until I shut the engine down and restart it. My tech has tried every sensor and sender - oil, water, trim, IAC, Termp and pressures - right now I’ve disabled the alarm to avoid the anguish. PLEASE, has anyone solved this mystery? We’ve run the boat with he computer on and NOTHING out of norm. Even when the alarm is going there’s nothing registering on the computer.
Click to expand...
HI Brian, yes I got it fixed. If I remember correctly, it was called the "shift interrupt switch". It's supposed to momentarily stall the engine to take load off the drive train to allow for less impact during shifting. Also going off memory, when the computer was hooked up to it if you got the alarm and then tried to search for the fault, you wouldn't see it as it wasn't a sticky fault. As I understood it you needed to have the computer connected and 'catch' the transition of that shift interrupt switch - which was the error. The switch would flip states incorrectly (quickly from in gear, to neutral, to back in gear) when underway which would cause the ECM confusion and trip the alarm. The switch is up by the throttle body. Hope that helps.
 
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