1993 Force 120 overheat alarm

[Titanium3]

Hello all,

First thing i'd like to do is thank everyone here. I resolved a starter problem due to some great posts on here.

On to my actual concern. Overheat alarm tends to come on sporadically. First time it happened we were pulling the boat out of the slip, had to throw it into reverse quickly as another boat snuck up on us. Alarm sounded, took us about 2 min to get clear and we shut it down. No smoking or anything. Waited about 5 min then fired it back up, no problems. Drove around the rest of the day without a hitch.

Second time it happened we were cruising around and just came out of a no wake zone, turned the boat off and sat for about 5 min while I got in the water. My friend started the boat and the alarm sounded...we turned it off and gave it a min and it started just fine. We continued our day and evening with steady mix of cruising at high RPMS and 8mph no wake with no issues. I'm finding that it happens randomly and goes away for days at a time.

At idle a steady stream of water shoots out of the two holes. Did not check it while cruising. Any recommendations? I've heard it could be faulty temp sensor or water pump/impeller or thermostat or combination of both.

your thoughts?

 

[buddybarnhill]

Re: 1993 Force 120 overheat alarm

im guessing this is an outboard but yes i would go cheap first like changing thermostat and temp. sensor but with it happening shifting in reverse in a fast action i would change or check the oil in the foot...hope this helps alot

 

[jeffsji]

Re: 1993 Force 120 overheat alarm

Mine (1997 bayliner with 120 force Outboard) did that a ton right after I bought it when I was in no wake zones or sitting with the motor running (with water stream on the side of the motor even) so I changed the water pump and thermostat and had the same result. Then I met a guy with the same boat as I had so I started asking questions. He said his injectors were dirty and he had them rebuilt and it worked like a champ. I was not financially able to drop $500.00 at the time on a rebuild so I bought fuel injector cleaner at his suggestion and after about 4 tanks it worked (and it started easier after a hard session of tubing or skiing). I now add 2 cans every third or so fillup and have not had the overheating alarm since then (2 years ago) and we still drive 3 miles up a no wake zone river arm of a local lake that we always had the alarm come on before. Give that a shot before throwing a ton of money at it.

 

[john from md]

Re: 1993 Force 120 overheat alarm

When was your water pump changes last?

 

[Titanium3]

Re: 1993 Force 120 overheat alarm

Thanks for all the recommendations guys! I'll try the fuel injector cleaner first. Any specific one I should use? Avoid?

John: Prev owner had it replaced a few months ago (have the paperwork). I've only owned the boat for several week.

 

[john from md]

Re: 1993 Force 120 overheat alarm

I can't imagine fuel injector cleaner helping with an overheat alarm and I have been fixing everything from boats to airliners for 45 years.

John

 

[Titanium3]

Re: 1993 Force 120 overheat alarm

Well, took the boat out today. Let it idle for awhile while I was giving it a quick wipe down, no alarm. Took it on the water and cruised around at WOT for awhile, no alarm. Did some wakeboarding behind the boat, no alarm.

No noise all evening...When we got done wakeboarding I pulled the hood off and I could put my hand on it for several seconds before it got too hot. Will still likely replace the Tstat and impeller in the near future...it seems to have fixed itself for now.

 

[catfish hunter]

Re: 1993 Force 120 overheat alarm

Ya I had the sme problem. I to had a steady stream of water coming out the back from the water pump. After changing everything cooling wise on the powerhead and noticed no change i changed the water pump. Now water shoots out like a jet and have not had the alarm come back on yet.