90 johnson 70 hp VRO warning buzzer always

[mech1993]

Hello, I actually have two concerns #1 Was out on the water (real rough) and the warning buzzer sounded pulled over and anchored started checking things...oil in tank ok...water pump stream ok.... felt cylinder heads not too hot..... then found battery cable off, found the wing nut reinstalled went to start engine and warning buzzer sounds all the time with key on. Tried disconnecting the battery again with the key off and after reconnecting the buzzer still on always when key is on. Also checked temp sender wire for short to ground ok. Any ideas? #2 The engine starts fine when cold, after warmed up and shut off for 1/2 hr or so refuses to restart, cranks normally, tired diff. throttle settings no change, choke or no choke, no change. A shot of either starts right up. Primer bulb is hard, fuel has been drained and replaced, and have confirmed good blue spark. Did not have the starting issue before the buzzer issue.....Related??? Don't know much about the VRO system was wonduring if the "black box" may be the source of my woes?
Thanks in advance

 

[DJ]

Re: 90 johnson 70 hp VRO warning buzzer always

First off. Lose the starting fluid. That stuff is death for a two stroke engine. It's better to use a spray bottle of mixed fuel/oil.

If it starts with a shot of fuel to the carbs, it's a fuel issue.

Is the engine spinning over fast enough? If your battery connection came loose you may have popped your voltage rectifier. That would not stop it from starting but it will not charge the battery.

 

[mech1993]

Re: 90 johnson 70 hp VRO warning buzzer always

Would the rectifier cause the warning buzzer to sound when the key is in the on position? My thought is something in the control for the buzzer got shorted when the battery cable came off, seems to charge ok, I can monitor the voltage before start and after start 12.2 before 13.5-6 after, this would indicate that it should be charging. The starting fluid was used when I was stuck in the middle of a big lake (only thing available at the time), and my four stroke kicker was out of gas. I had entertained the thought that it could be a fuel concern however after cranking the engine for a long time and using the choke you can smell fuel, and alot of it. Opened up the throttle to clean it out and cranked still would not start, changed the spark plugs, cranked to clean out the engine with the plugs out, installed new plugs still no start. (Huh??) One shot of fuel and started right up and ran normally, good power, idled fine, ect. The boat has two batteries and I can use one or both for starting and or running. I have checked voltage while cranking does not drop below 10.2v, usually that is enough to run coils, igniton system, fuel pumps ect. without concern. One thought is the igniton timing being off, or advance stuck, or a flywheel key bent but not broken, would not make sense though because it starts right up when cold.

 

[HighTrim]

Re: 90 johnson 70 hp VRO warning buzzer always

I did not see where you mentioned exactly which alarm was sounding? Was it a steady constant beep, a beep every 20 or 40 seconds, or a beep every other second. Determining which of these will narrow down your problem.

(VRO Horn Warnings)
(J. Reeves)

1 - A steady constant beep = Overheating - The V/6 engines, possibly some others, have a fuel restriction warning which is also a steady constant beep.
2 - A beep every 20 or 40 seconds = oil level has dropped to 1/4 tank. (Late model engine = Every 40 seconds)
3 - A beep every other second = VRO failure, air leak in oil line, oil restriction, (anything that would result in a lack of oil being supplied to the engine).

NOTE - If the warning horn is the black plastic (overpriced) three wire type horn, the warning horn should beep once when the ignition key is turned to the ON position. If it does not, it is either faulty or someone has disconnected it (a stupid move!). At any rate, if it does not beep which indicates that the horn is non functional, find out why and do not run the engine until the problem is corrected.

Also pay attention to this, as it seems to pertain to you. Good luck.

(Odd Soundings Of Warning Horn)
(J. Reeves)

Should the warning horn beep constantly when the key is turned to the ON position rather than sounding just a short beep as it should, do the following test.

Remove the TAN wire from the horn. If the constant beeping continues, the horn is faulty, in which case replace it. However, on the other hand, if the beeping stops, something has gone wrong with one of the sensor components at the engine, in which case start disconnecting the TAN wires that are connected to the various components (Heat Sensors, VRO, Vacuum Switch if so equipped, Oil Tank). Disconnecting a unit and having the beeping stop...... you've found the faulty component.

NOTE: The small black plastic horn that has a built in black ground wire...... The TAN wire must be attached to the terminal closest to that black wire. Otherwise weird things will happen.

 

[mech1993]

Re: 90 johnson 70 hp VRO warning buzzer always

Thanks on the horn concern, yes it sounds continually with the key in the on position, removed the purple wire (the other two were red and black) figuring that was the control wire, and yes the horn came on with the key, so now time to find a new "overpriced" horn. Thank You
Also was thinking about the starting concern...maybe reeds not seating fully and or slighty deformed when hot?? I do not know what kind of carrier they are in but if it is plastic it could explain the hot start concern....Any thoughts?
Thanks again

 

[HighTrim]

Re: 90 johnson 70 hp VRO warning buzzer always

Also get rid of those wing nuts, they can cause problems as you have found. If you must use them, tighten them down with a pair of pliers or vice grips, not just hand tight.

 

[mech1993]

Re: 90 johnson 70 hp VRO warning buzzer always

Thanks for the suggestion, was already planning on installing a power distribution/fused buss bar this winter. Getting tired of cleaning GFS (green fuzzy stuff/ corrosion) off of the terminals, was planning on using traditional style cable ends on the regualr posts of the batteries for the main cables, and only using the wing nuts to secure the wires running to the buss bars, also bought some terminal sealer to help control the GFS. Thanks

 

[mikesea]

Re: 90 johnson 70 hp VRO warning buzzer always

you can try manually choking by turning the red knob on the choke solonoid to the side ,that should bypass the electrical part of unit,but,also ,listen to hear if it is activating when you push your key in,or what ever you need to do to energize the choke,somepeople have seperate toggles,if you dont hear a click when engaged,take a jumper from the positive on the starter solonoid,the cable that goes to battery,touch the screw that the purple white choke wire is held by,if you hear activation,you likely have a bad swtch,but it could be a loose connection somewhere,if you get activation,look for a broken,leaking choke/primer hose that comes from the choke solonoid delivering the shot of fuel which causes the eng to get primed,as for the alarm,I bet its faulty,but you could have a grounding tan wire from the heat sender ,

 

[mech1993]

Re: 90 johnson 70 hp VRO warning buzzer always

The choke does make noise with the key depressed, and the linkage does move as for the shot of fuel have never looked, but assumed that it is working because it starts good cold. However I will look for the shot of fuel just to make sure all is well. Thank you