1996 oil alarm on 175 johnson

eddiec

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Mar 9, 2011
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Apologise in advance if I'm starting a duplicate thread on an already asked question but have searched topics and found
no answers for my problem.
My fishing partner has a 1996 175hp Johnson engine. while loading the boat after a days fishing an alarm sounded. It
was a beep beep alarm not a constant beep. I'm not familiar with alarm codes or sequences on a Johnson engine. He was letting it idle while going to back his trailer down ramp to load his boat when alarm sounded.
Any help appreciated.
He also said after alarm sounded, he turned engine off, then tried to restart it and it wouldnt turn over.
after he got home he tried to crank it and it turned over but he did not let it start. alarm was not sounding at this point.
 
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SparkieBoat

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Aug 17, 2009
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3,643
Re: 1996 oil alarm on 175 johnson

thats the oil alarm, either bad sender or bad VRO. I would premix till I figured it all out. you can cap off the VRO line and unplug the vro wire harness and just premix. (make sure you have premix fuel all the way to the carbs before you crank it).
 

eddiec

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Re: 1996 oil alarm on 175 johnson

Guess I'm going to have to purchase a manual for this engine since I am not familiar with it at all. I have a 150 mariner on my boat
and have a manual for it that has been a tremendoous help, along with all the great info I have recieved from this forum. Thanks to everyone who replied.

I have no idea which sensor you are referring to or what the VRO is and where its located.

After alarm sounded, he turned the engine off, then immediately tried to restart it and it wouldnt turn over. After he got home he turned key and engine spun over fine and no alarm sounded at this point. Is there some kind of ignition lockout connected with oil alarm?

Thanks again for all the help and replies.
 

OutOfControl

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Nov 26, 2011
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Re: 1996 oil alarm on 175 johnson

eddiec,
I have a 98' J150 with the VRO still hooked up. However, SparkieBoat and other posters have convinced me to disable the system. My motor is 14 years old and your friends is 16, this will be one less mechanical item I'll have to worry about.
 

SparkieBoat

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Re: 1996 oil alarm on 175 johnson

plenty of post in here about how to bypass/disable VRO (oil injection)
 

eddiec

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Mar 9, 2011
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32
Re: 1996 oil alarm on 175 johnson

eddiec,
I have a 98' J150 with the VRO still hooked up. However, SparkieBoat and other posters have convinced me to disable the system. My motor is 14 years old and your friends is 16, this will be one less mechanical item I'll have to worry about.

Thanks OutOfControl,

I probably will unhook it too as soon as I find out what the heck it is. Never worked on a Johnson engine
 

Chris1956

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Mar 25, 2004
Messages
28,542
Re: 1996 oil alarm on 175 johnson

Eddie, Obviously a Service Manual would be a good idea. Johnnyrudes had several generation of oil injecting systems on their outboards. The latest (called OMS - Oil metering system) is excellent, and that motor may have it. If it does have the OMS, I would try to troubleshoot it before giving up on it. The OMS pump will be mounted on the front of the block, slightly left of center, and near the bottom of the cowling.It will have oil and gasoline "in" lines, mixed fuel "out" lines and a 3 or 4 wire electric connector. If it has a 4 wire connector (Grey, Purple, black, tan w tracer), it is very likely the newest OMS system.

A service manual for exactly that year and HP will tell for sure. Get the manual, look up the alarm, test the alarm circuits and sensors and then decide what path to choose.
 

eddiec

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Re: 1996 oil alarm on 175 johnson

Thanks Chris,

Appreciate your taking the time to reply.

I just went thru this with my 96 Mariner 150 and ended up buying a Clymer manual and removing all oil injection
components on it. I guess a Clymer manual for Johnson would be just as good.

Thanks again for the info.
 

boobie

Supreme Mariner
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Nov 5, 2009
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20,826
Re: 1996 oil alarm on 175 johnson

If you're going to buy a service manual get the OEM Factory Service Manual. Seloc and Clymer both Suck.
 

eddiec

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Mar 9, 2011
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Re: 1996 oil alarm on 175 johnson

ok, it is definitely the vro pump. when i pump the bulb on fuel line it comes out of the front of the pump. read somewhere on here where
you can buy a rebuilt vro pump and send old one in for core charge lots cheaper. Anyone know where to get a rebuilt pump?
 

boobie

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Re: 1996 oil alarm on 175 johnson

Don't know where to buy a rebuilt but you can get parts for the fuel side on shop.evinrude.com and do it yourself.
 

boobie

Supreme Mariner
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Re: 1996 oil alarm on 175 johnson

There's another site where you can get the whole kit for $135.00 but I misplaced my notes. Maybe somebody will chime in that knows it.
 

Chris1956

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Re: 1996 oil alarm on 175 johnson

the Maxrules web site likely has the rebuild kit.
 

SparkieBoat

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Re: 1996 oil alarm on 175 johnson

I have never been able to find the rebuild kit on the evinrude site, and I looked hard. maxrules has it. easy to find also.
 

eddiec

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Mar 9, 2011
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Re: 1996 oil alarm on 175 johnson

I have never been able to find the rebuild kit on the evinrude site, and I looked hard. maxrules has it. easy to find also.

ok, when i pump the bulb fuel leaks out of electronic module on front of pump. module has the 4 wire pigtail coming out of it. do they make a replacement module or do u have to buy the whole pump?
 

boobie

Supreme Mariner
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20,826
Re: 1996 oil alarm on 175 johnson

Go to Maxrules.com and look up the fuel side rebuild kit. This may cure your fuel leak. You also may want to call the guy who has the site and ask him about it.
 
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