'90 Mercury 175 warning module

chris77777

Recruit
Joined
Sep 9, 2005
Messages
3
Re: '90 Mercury 175 warning module

Hi<br />Did you resolve your oil injection prob?<br />I have had a lot of experience with these.<br />Chris<br /><br /><br />
Originally posted by JLEHighland:<br /><br /> 1990 Mercury 175 OB, Model No. 1175422GD / SN 0C139827 (estimate 1100 hours, all mine)<br /><br />Beeping from the oil mix warning module has been an intermittent problem for several years. This is the beep, beep beep signal, not the solid horn sound that would be triggered by the heat sensor on the powerhead. Here is some history:<br /><br />· Oil injection pump was replaced by mechanic – did not help.<br />· New batteries – no help.<br />· Cleaned the strainer in the remote oil tank to improve oil flow to the on-board tank – this helped but did not completely solve the problem.<br />· Cap on the on-board tank is new, tight and the float switch is working properly; oil level in the tank is good.<br />· In the past, the beeping would come and go during some outings; I would rev the engine in neutral or stop and re-start the engine to make it stop. On a recent trip, nothing would make it stop. All systems checked out OK, so I added oil to the fuel tank to create a 75:1 mixture as insurance, then disconnected the power lead to the warning module to stop the noise and continued operating for the day.<br />· The bearing assembly for the drive gear to the oil mix pump was recalled and redesigned at some point; this is the part that houses the magnet that is picked up by the rotational sensor; replacing this part did not solve the problem.<br /><br />Adding the extra oil to the fuel ended up fouling the plugs and I discovered that by merely cleaning the #4 plug I could get the beeping to stop! At least until the plug re-fouled. It turns out the primary voltage to the #4 coil also provides the warning module with rotational data. I suppose the fouled plug provides a ground to the ignition circuit causing a change in the input voltage to the warning module, which then sets it off.<br /><br />I’m pretty sure that replacing the plugs will help a lot, but I have to believe this is not the root problem. What is the most likely problem and how can I test for it? A weak coil? Could I move the module wire to another coil as a test? And what caused the beeping prior to the plug fouling? Any other thoughts? I’m OK with a VOA meter, but that’s about it.<br /><br />Thanks a bunch in advance,<br /><br />Jim
 

JLEHighland

Cadet
Joined
Jul 30, 2002
Messages
18
Re: '90 Mercury 175 warning module

Turns out there was no problem with the oil injection. I was getting false buzzer warnings because the failing ignition system fooled the warning module: “… the primary voltage to the #4 coil also provides the warning module with rotational data”. Took me a while to see the link between the two.
 

JLEHighland

Cadet
Joined
Jul 30, 2002
Messages
18
Re: '90 Mercury 175 warning module

Replaced the inner switch box with new CDI box for no improvement. So then switched out the outer box with the old inner box so that both boxes have been changed. Still no improvement, same rough running and missing. Is this a stator or trigger problem??
 

Drybo

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jun 30, 2005
Messages
145
Re: '90 Mercury 175 warning module

I don't have a remote oil tank but this problem for my 91 115 was a simple float in oil tank that was stuck. About gave up but like you wanted it to work right. Even the dealer couldnt figure out the cause. just wanted to throw this in, I understand that alarm fustration, but not sure if yours has floats in oil tanks.
 

JLEHighland

Cadet
Joined
Jul 30, 2002
Messages
18
Re: '90 Mercury 175 warning module

byrdog, my problem now is ignition related. When I first brought this to the board 2 yeas ago the oil alarm was found to be caused by loss of primary power to the #4 coil. The coil power is supplied by the ignition switch box. I guess the oil alarm black box compares the oil pump rpm to the coil cycles and interpreted the mismatch as an oil pump failure, hence the alarm. Changing out the bad switchbox made the beeping stop and made the engine run smooth.<br /><br />Now, the poor performance is back (rough running and missing, oil alarm is quiet) and since I have replaced both switchboxes without any improvement I am thinking stator or trigger.
 
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