Audible alarm silent

[jbwilli]

REF 1997 Evinrude 115 Ocean Pro
Original factory installed on 1998 HydraSports 1650 Key Largo Flats Skiff.

Guys I need a little help. I have no audible alarm warning "beep" from my engine at any time.
The boat does have VRO but there are no wires to the oil tank.
I have read Evinrude eliminated the wired VRO oil tank in 1997.
As a result, I monitor my oil level religiously and it performs as expected.

The engine performs flawlessly, but I fear my alarm warning system is not working OR has been disconnected.
All gages are matching original Faria, except the tach which s a simple OMC non-warning light type.
I do see a bundle of cut off wires in the center console that come from the engine harness.
I fear the original tach has been replaced AND those wires may be from the engine warning system.
Where do I start troubleshooting my alarm system?
Where would the beep come from...a speaker...a relay...???

Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: Audible alarm silent

Having retired in 1991, I am not familiar with the wiring color code within the wiring harnes of your model, however.........

Up to the time I retired, there was a small black warning horn that had a BLACK built in ground wire and two slide on type terminals. A PURPLE wire would lead from the "A" terminal of the ignition switch to the slide on terminal furtherest away to that built in BLACK wire of the warning horn. A TAN wire would be attached to the remaining slide on terminal that is closest to the horn's built in ground wire of the warning horn... this TAN wire leads to the temperature overheat sensors that are located in the cylinder heads.

The warning horn would be located inside the control box if a regular one piece self contained control box is used... the type that normally is bolted to the side of a center console or somewhere alongside of the drivers seat.

If a top console control setup is being used, the warning horn should be found under the dash of the console somewhere close to the end of the instrument wiring harness leading from the engine to the ignition switch etc.

Testing the horn is done simply by having the key in the RUN position (engine NOT running), then ground out one of the TAN wires leading from either of the overheat sensors at the cylinder heads. You could also ground out the slide on terminal on the horn that is closest to the horn's BLACK ground wire... the one that the TAN wire should be attached to.

As mentioned, your wire color coding may be different, and if so, hopefully another member will jump in here with that correction.

 

[hidef]

Re: Audible alarm silent

Based on your description of your wiring harness I would say you are missing the system check gauge. It was available as a stand alone gauge or built into the factory tach. The harness that has been cut should have four tan wires plus a purple, black and grey. The warning horn requires the system check gauge to be installed.

 

[boobie]

Re: Audible alarm silent

Agree +1............

 

[btomlins]

Re: Audible alarm silent

What are the different alarm sounds? Can someone describe the different alarms, for instance when you first turn the key on what should you hear? Over temp? Low oil etc?

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: Audible alarm silent

(VRO Horn Warnings)
(J. Reeves)

NOTE: I retired around 1991/92. Possibly some of the later V4 engines and others may also incorporate a fuel vacuum switch that would enable a fuel restriction warning to sound as mentioned below, an unknown factor to myself.

1 - A steady constant beep = Overheating - The V/6 engines, possibly some others, have a fuel restriction warning which is also a steady constant beep.

2 - A beep every 20 or 40 seconds = oil level has dropped to 1/4 tank. (Late model engine = Every 40 seconds)

3 - A beep every other second = VRO failure, air leak in oil line, oil restriction, (anything that would result in a lack of oil being supplied to the engine).

NOTE - If the warning horn is the black plastic (overpriced) three wire type horn, the warning horn should beep once when the ignition key is turned to the ON position. If it does not, it is either faulty or someone has disconnected it (a stupid move!). At any rate, if it does not beep which indicates that the horn is non functional, find out why and do not run the engine until the problem is corrected.

 

[btomlins]

Re: Audible alarm silent

Perfect thanks!!!

 

[jbwilli]

Re: Audible alarm silent

(VRO Horn Warnings)
(J. Reeves)

NOTE: I retired around 1991/92. Possibly some of the later V4 engines and others may also incorporate a fuel vacuum switch that would enable a fuel restriction warning to sound as mentioned below, an unknown factor to myself.

1 - A steady constant beep = Overheating - The V/6 engines, possibly some others, have a fuel restriction warning which is also a steady constant beep.

2 - A beep every 20 or 40 seconds = oil level has dropped to 1/4 tank. (Late model engine = Every 40 seconds)

3 - A beep every other second = VRO failure, air leak in oil line, oil restriction, (anything that would result in a lack of oil being supplied to the engine).

NOTE - If the warning horn is the black plastic (overpriced) three wire type horn, the warning horn should beep once when the ignition key is turned to the ON position. If it does not, it is either faulty or someone has disconnected it (a stupid move!). At any rate, if it does not beep which indicates that the horn is non functional, find out why and do not run the engine until the problem is corrected.

**********
Thanks for all the replies!
The weather had me tied up with rain, wind, cold and boat under cover until today.
Yes, I now believe my original tach was a Faria with warning lights (Systems Check type).
I dove into the center console and yes, there are 8 total wires in the bundle from the engine that have 5 of the wires cut. 3 of the 8 wires are black, purple and grey and these go to the non-warning light tach that has been installed. The remaining 5 cut wires are tan, tan/orange stripe/tan black stripe/tan yellow stripe and tan/green strip.
I see all of these same color wires under the engine cover going to various locations. I will trace them all down
and get a replacement Faria Systems Check Tach and figure out which wires go where on the warning lights.
So far, I do not see a piezo beeper/horn, BUT then again it may be buried in there somewhere OR it too has been removed.

Anyone know which publication is the best to purchase that would show a color wiring diagram of the engine harness for my 1998 Evinrude 115 SLECM Ocean Pro? I assume it would be a SHOP or REPAIR manual vs an OWNERS manual.

Thanks and I will update when I figure it all out!

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: Audible alarm silent

The factory "service" manual normally has a large color wiring diagram within it. The other service manuals... I don't know.

You might want to check with your local library as they usually have service manuals on hand.

 

[jbwilli]

Re: Audible alarm silent

**********
Thanks for all the replies!
UPDATE:

AHA, I found that my VRO oil tank DOES indeed have a float in it AND it is wired!
Also the left and right cylinder heads have tan/blue striped wires run to them that match
what I see as cut wires in my center console!
The good folks at Faria sent me a full breakdown on their System Checks Tachometer,
with a schematic of the 8 pin locations on the rear of the tach and what sensor wire hooks
to each pin. They advised the Deutcsh connector for their gage is a DT06-8S wedgelock.
It should now just be a matter of time to trace all my sensor wires and install a Faria Systems
check Tach to get my engine warning system back up and running. THANKS TO ALL FOR YOUR INPUT!
Piece of mind again at last!

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: Audible alarm silent

Yep, that oil tank float, when it gets down to the 1/4 mark will cause the warning horn to sound ever other 20 or 40 seconds... I believe on your model, it's 40 seconds. Good luck with your wiring.

 

[jbwilli]

UPDATE! I found a new OEM wiring harness on EBay for my 1998 115 Evinrude Ocean Pro for $35! It arrived and it had the Systems Check Duestch connector for the new Faria Systems Check Tach I purchased. Installed the harness and tach and now my alarm system works as advertised! PEACE OF MIND! BEEP! BEEP!