'89 Evin 120 - Horn Keeps Blowing at Start

[skibrain]

I've owned this boat and motor for about 7 yrs. Runs great.

The motor makes a sharp beep when ignition is turned to on - then the horn dies (quits making noise). Occasionally since I've had the boat, this beep has kept going. It is more typical if the boat has been sitting, like in the spring after being in storage.

Always, by turning the key on/off 6-10 times it has remedied itself. But today after the boat sat for a month, the horn would not go off. Yes there is oil in the tank. the VRO pump works. The boat was not overheated. It was cold.

the horn would not go off. I have half a mind to disable this thing, but I'd love to hear from someone with insight as to what could be causing this. I suspect some type of corrosion or a bad contact or loose wire...and likely right at the control.

Anyone have an idea?
Thanks.

 

[ezeke]

Re: '89 Evin 120 - Horn Keeps Blowing at Start

It is best not to disable the only warning that will tell you when you have an overheating engine.

The horn has three wires, one supplies positive power, one gives a test beep when the ignition is turned from off to the run position, and one provides the ground for the rest of the alarm system using the tan wire that runs through the main harness.

You can test the wiring by disconnecting the tan wire at the horn and then turning the ignition switch on. If the horn still continues to beep, replace the horn.

If the horn does not give the constant alarm with the tan wire disconnected, look for a short to ground in the tan wire.

The following link has wiring diagram that will help, just scroll down:
http://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/ignitionSwitch.html

When working on the circuits/harness, it is best to disconnect the battery.

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: '89 Evin 120 - Horn Keeps Blowing at Start

With the horn beeeeeeeeeeeping steady and constant as you've described, remove the TAN wire from the horn. If it continues to beeeeeeep with that wire removed, replace the horn.

 

[skibrain]

Re: '89 Evin 120 - Horn Keeps Blowing at Start

Thanks for the quick replies.
I'll take a look tomorrow.

 

[skibrain]

Re: '89 Evin 120 - Horn Keeps Blowing - UPDATE

Re: '89 Evin 120 - Horn Keeps Blowing - UPDATE

UPDATE:

Tried turning ignition to on one more time: BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP.
Unhooked the battery.
Took apart the control.
With control split, hooked up batt. turned ignition to on: Beep.
Hmmm. seems there might be something to that.
Put back together and test: BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP.

Unhooked the battery.
Took apart the control.
Unplugged the tan wire from the horn, hooked up batt.
Turned the ignition to on: Beep.
Horn must be good.

Unhooked the battery.
Took fine sandpaper and sanded contact for tan, purple and black wires coming off horn. I see the tan wire leading into the rest of the harness but after disassembling more of the control to get at it, doesn't look like there is anything I can do with the tan wire I see visible, and I don't see any signs of pinching or worn wiring there.
I tightened all visible contacts on horn and those on ignition switch.
Put back together and test: BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP.

Unhooked battery.
Laid purple and tan wires from horn a bit differently so they wouldn't be squeezed when closing halves of control housing. Cut a couple pieces of black electrical tape and laid them across the top of the horn plug connections (2 layers of tape). While I was at it, laid a couple pieces across the top of the ignition switch (2 layers of tape).

Cleaned up control. Regreased a few obvious spots.
Put back together and tested: Beep.
Went to have dinner, then came back and tested: Beep.

This is pretty typical of my experiences with electrical stuff. Other than tightening and sanding some contacts, insulating a couple of possible points of contact with the control housing, I don't KNOW that I did anything.

Finished a few year end things with the boat and pulled the batt. ready to take it to storage. We'll see what it will do in the spring I guess.

 

[iwombat]

Re: '89 Evin 120 - Horn Keeps Blowing at Start

You've got a nic in the tan wire somewhere, or a defective temp sensor. If that wire touches ground, or the sensor grounds out you'll get the BEEEEEP.

 

[skibrain]

Re: '89 Evin 120 - Horn Keeps Blowing at Start

Does The tan wire emerge from the wiring harness at the motor end of the cable?

 

[ezeke]

Re: '89 Evin 120 - Horn Keeps Blowing at Start

The tan wire is connected to both temperature senders at the cylinder heads, to the oil tank on the VRO2 if used, and to the VRO2 pump harness.