Alarm comes on when I turn the ignition on

[jmark]

I have a used 1999 crownline 5 liter 20 foot bow rider. I have had the boat for the last 3 years and recently, coming out of winter storage an alarm goes off whenever I put the key in the ignition and turn the power on to the dash (not started engine). The alarm is a single tone, no beep. The alarm stays on even if the depth finder is turned on or off. There was no owners manual when I bought the boat so I only have a general guide for engine / lower unit maintenance. When driving the boat the alarm will occasionally quit for a few minutes but then come back on. It is not my horn malfuntioning either. I have used the boat succesfully for since I bought it and it never did this.
Any suggestions?

 

[bhammer]

Re: Alarm comes on when I turn the ignition on

What engine? I am guessing a 5 liter is the merc??? You can find the engine manuals for your engine in the Adult's Only sticky in the merc forum. I wouldn't run the boat anymore until you find out what the alarm is telling you. It could be a simple wire that got disconnected while winterizing.

 

[burp]

Re: Alarm comes on when I turn the ignition on

I'd bet the lube level in the outdrive lube reservoir is a little low. It's mounted on the engine. Also the owners manual can be downloaded from here http://www.crownline.com/downloads/owners-manual/ They are generic.

 

[flycaster]

Re: Alarm comes on when I turn the ignition on

Could also be that the battery charge is not up full?
If the voltage level goes to low the alarm will come on.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Alarm comes on when I turn the ignition on

A lot of MerCruisers have an audio warning system for low oil pressure and overheat. if your boat has one of these, and you put the ign key in the on position, the alarm will sound since the engine has no oil pressure in the non-runing position.

Look on the motor for two oil pressure sensors, and two water temp sensors. On my '88 Merc 4.3LX, the two water temp sensors were on the thermostat housing. The oil pressure sensors were on the rear of the block, near the dissy and on the bracket that holds the oil filter.

 

[Nandy]

Re: Alarm comes on when I turn the ignition on

You are a really brave one my young padawan to run a motor with a buzzer alarm going off and not knowing what it is... Hope you get the issue solved with not damage to your rig.

 

[J. Mark]

Re: Alarm comes on when I turn the ignition on

Name stealer

 

[strokeoluck]

Re: Alarm comes on when I turn the ignition on

On our 4.3L Merc I recall reading that the buzzer comes on whenever the key is turned to the "accessory" position (not officially "On") just to let you know the buzzer thing is working. But it's really the warning sound for when oil pressure is low (I believe). Once I fire up the engine the sound immediately goes away. It freaked me out at first when I first got the boat and was playing around w/it in the garage. I quickly referenced the manual and calmed down. (Yes, I'm a typical male that starts playing w/his toys before reading the manual; I've since read the manual a couple times and it sits by my bed for nighttime reading).

 

[Not a yot]

Re: Alarm comes on when I turn the ignition on

Could be several things first check all sending units on engine , Oil pressure , heat sensor , wire could be off one of sensores

 

[180shabah]

Re: Alarm comes on when I turn the ignition on

We still don't know exatcly what engine/drive this guy has.

If it is a carbed Mercruiser (very likely in a '99 crowny) there are three things that will activate the warning buzzer:
- low oil pressure
- low drive lube
- high engine temperature

Sorry - low voltage is not one of them.

If this boat has smartcraft, then all bets are off.

 

[WestCoastBoater]

Similar to previous comments above, for our '94 Mercruiser, the manual indicates that
Audio Warning System Warning buzzer will sound if:

1 Cooling system water temperature rises too high.
2 Engine oil pressure gets too low.
3 Drive unit oil level gets too low​

In our case, problem solved by topping up the drive oil reservoir (top of engine, stern/port side)

 

[QBhoy]

Hi
a fair few mercs have a long beep when ignition is turned on. They normally go off in a few seconds, except of your battery is low.