Alarm sounds when starting the motor

[who4ever]

Here's something new.  I have a 2000 Osprey Sport 215 23 foot Dual Console I bought in the spring.  The last 2 times I started her up cold, a slow beeping alarm went off and stayed beeping for about 3-5 minutes and then went off.  My marina's mechanic says boats have alarms that will go off when overheating or when the oil pressure is low.  She can't be overheating, because this occurs on cold startup.  I have plenty of oil in the tank, and the two lids to the oil tank seem pretty tight.  Any ideas?
Whew!!!
Dave

[slvrlng]

And the question is..... what kind of motor and the year and size. Model # would help also.

[fitz73222]

yep, sterndrive or outboard?

[pete]

if you have an owners manual,or look one up,it may tell you what the beeping means

[gran398]

Beeping sounds are a warning. My brother had a 40 pound cat named "Minnie" that beeped when it went in reverse.

[MarshMarlowe196]

Beeping sounds are a warning. My brother had a 40 pound cat named "Minnie" that beeped when it went in reverse.

 

If it's an inboard, it could be an oil change reminder alarm... Need more info

[who4ever]

200HP outboard Mercury. 11 years old.

[wingtime]

A beep beep beep beep beep alarm from a mercury usually means there is a problem with the oil injection system.  Either a low level or something like that.  You should get a single beep beep when you start it to let you know the system is working.  A continuous tone is a overheat alarm.   I disconnected my oil injection system so I forget what the normal start up beep is.


Here is an article for you to read on how it works:

http://continuouswave.com/whaler/refere ... ction.html

[fitz73222]

There are normally two possible root causes for the issue. 1) Defective warning module or 2) the magnetic switch in the oil tank is bad. It is the device the warns of low oil in the oil tank. You can disconnect the two wires that go into the bottom of the oil tank (back, blue) and see if it stops the warning horn. The warning modules arent cheap. The last one I bought was $150 if I recall. They are easy to replace just unbolt plug and play. My gut tells me its the low oil switch. Never had a Merc that they didnt go bad. You can replace the switch in the tank very easily if you choose to.

[m14918]

Be careful my friend.  This could mean an oil pressure problem.  Even if you have plenty of oil in the tank, the oil pump could be bad. If it is a twom stroke, make sure there is plenty of blue smoke coming from exhaust when starting and some when running.  If not, no or low oil is getting to engine.  My friend had the same exact problem and blew his Yamaha powerhead.  Good luck and hope you work it out.

[who4ever]

Thanks

[who4ever]

To fitz73222, some questions.  By disconnecting the 2 wires that go into the bottom of the oil tank and the alarm stops, that means the warning module is defective, right?  If so, then I just replace it, right?  Where is it?
What does the low oil switch do?  Is it a switch or a sensor?  You say it is a the bottom the the tank.  How do I access it if there is oil in the tank?
Thanks, Dave

[saltfly]

This may sound crazy. But check your battery connections. I had a 150 merc. And the wing nuts on the battery, became loss. The alarm, would do just as yours is doing.

[fitz73222]

Hi Dave,
If the alarm stops when you disconnect the blue and black wires it means the low oil switch is bad. It is a very simple magnetic switch with an internal float that when the oil level gets low it connects the blue and black wires that closes the circut and sounds the horn. The switch is located on your secondary oil tank under the cowling. You have a little pony oil tank, separate from your main oil tank mounted in the boat. The switch is installed in the bottom of that tank. You will see the wires running to it. Unscrew a little clamp, pull out the switch and replace it. They're pretty cheap and a 10 minute fix.

[who4ever]

MY SECONDARY OIL TANK!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WHAT IS THAT AND WHERE IS IT?  WHAT IS A COWLING?
DO I NEED TO MAKE SURE THIS IS FILLED WITH OIL ALSO?