Buzzing when I turn the key to accesory position??!

[ryan04]

Hey guys, I got a 1996 Reinell RXL Cuddy. It's been a perfect boat for years, never had one stitch of a problem. The other day I went to start it and as soon as I turned the key to the accessory position, a buzzing noise came on? It's stored inside a heated garage, and I was just making sure everything was good before I took it out. I'm fanatical about oil pressure and engine temp. This thing has never even come close to over heating nor the oil pressure change up or down. She's solid as a rock. I checked the oil and it was a bit low but nothing crazy low, the hydraulic fluid for the drive is a bit low too. I never started the boat cause I didn't want to wreck anything inadvertently. Would this sort of stuff have sensors in them to cause the buzzing? Any ideas what that might be or where its coming from? Thanks

 

[Don S]

Re: Buzzing when I turn the key to accesory position??!

Is the buzzing the alarm buzzer for the engine? If so, it should come on when there is no oil pressure and the key is on. It should go off when the engine starts and the oil pressure builds up. Are you going to let us in on what engine and drive you have?

 

[ryan04]

Re: Buzzing when I turn the key to accesory position??!

Oh man, sorry guys. That's basic stuff I left out. eeeek. It's a 1996 5.7L mercruiser with alpha one. The buzzing is coming from up under the dash, and it's never buzzed at any point of me owning it. Before start up or after start up, it's never beeped or buzzed before. One long constant buzz. Thanks.

 

[Don S]

Re: Buzzing when I turn the key to accesory position??!

Get under the dash, find out for sure what is making the noise. Buzzing normally makes a vibration you can feel. Once you find it take a picture of it so we know what is making the noise.

 

[ryan04]

Re: Buzzing when I turn the key to accesory position??!

So I stuck my head under the dash again and had a good look around. And I found where it's coming from. It's a purple wire coming off the RPM guage that goes direct to a small black buzzer then a light brown wire that runs down with the main harness and down the side. The weird thing is it looks like the last owner may have installed this buzzer? is that possible? I only ask cause he used a big blue pinch connector to join the brown wires. So I don't know what happened there. Any thoughts of an alarm attached to the RPM guage? Thanks

 

[ryan04]

Re: Buzzing when I turn the key to accesory position??!

So I hooked the boat up to the water and started it. Idles perfect, oil pressure is exactly where it's always been, same as temperature. Shifts fine, rev's good. (but not too high cause there's no back pressure of course)

 

[Pete104]

Re: Buzzing when I turn the key to accesory position??!

You don't like "pinch connectors"? Is that the only pinch connector you saw? I doubt it!
When you say "accesory position", what is that? Is that the key 1st click left or right?

 

[Pete104]

Re: Buzzing when I turn the key to accesory position??!

So I hooked the boat up to the water and started it. Idles perfect, oil pressure is exactly where it's always been, same as temperature. Shifts fine, rev's good. (but not too high cause there's no back pressure of course)

Oh, by the way, WHAT ENGINE & WHICH DRIVE?

 

[ryan04]

Re: Buzzing when I turn the key to accesory position??!

No, the pinch connector wasn't the only one I saw. I'm just not a fan of them after sticking my head further in the dash I could see there was a ton of them. I'm just used to hand soldered and heat shrunk wiring. And pete it's a 5.7L Alpha one. It's actually a brown wire with a blue stripe on it that runs down into the engine harness, or at least I could only see it 3/4 of the way down the boat then it went into the wire wrap and I couldn't find it after that. The last 3 feet sorta thing along the transom.

 

[Fun Times]

Re: Buzzing when I turn the key to accesory position??!

The other day I went to start it and as soon as I turned the key to the accessory position, a buzzing noise came on?
I checked the oil and it was a bit low but nothing crazy low, the hydraulic fluid for the drive is a bit low too.
I never started the boat cause I didn't want to wreck anything inadvertently. Would this sort of stuff have sensors in them to cause the buzzing?

Typically the horn coming on is considered to be normal with key on engine off. With everything in normal working order it would be telling you have no oil pressure due to engine is off. Once started the sensor should see 4 + psi oil pressure and should turn off the horn.

Just to confirm what you are interpreting as "hydraulic fluid", Where is the hydraulic fluid located, what color is the fluid, what color is cap/lid you needed to put more fluid in?

The mercruiser stern drive gear lube monitor typically mounted on the engine would sound the warning horn if lube was low or possibly if the lube was gummed up inside the bottle due to oil sludge from not being cleaned during drive oil changes. The float level sensor may be stuck down and sounding the horn.

Also if you had a bad temperature switch or if the brown wire with a blue stripe was grounded out someplace it would sound the warning horn as well.

So I stuck my head under the dash again and had a good look around. And I found where it's coming from. It's a purple wire coming off the RPM guage that goes direct to a small black buzzer then a light brown wire that runs down with the main harness and down the side. The weird thing is it looks like the last owner may have installed this buzzer? is that possible? I only ask cause he used a big blue pinch connector to join the brown wires. So I don't know what happened there. Any thoughts of an alarm attached to the RPM guage? Thanks

Sure it's possible, But typically the boat manufacturer or dealer would of installed the warning horn just how you are describing the installation as well. it sounds like it's in the usual spot.

So I hooked the boat up to the water and started it. Idles perfect, oil pressure is exactly where it's always been, same as temperature. Shifts fine, rev's good. (but not too high cause there's no back pressure of course)

With the engine started did you still have the warning horn going off?

 

[BoatDrinksQ5]

Re: Buzzing when I turn the key to accesory position??!

My buzzer (loud as H) does the same as you are hearing on a 'accessory key position. A partial turn of key.

I tried covering buzzer with tape/rubber.... but barely mutes it to just 'loud'.

Read you manual for that year and it should describe the warning buzzer. Mine says that is the test position for the warning buzzer - buzzes means its functioning (low oil alarm at that point)

 

[theBrownskull]

Re: Buzzing when I turn the key to accesory position??!

Maybe the "buzzer" was not working before due to bad connection or a faulty alarm/buzzer and yes I am not a fan of the pinch connectors either.

 

[ryan04]

Re: Buzzing when I turn the key to accesory position??!

FUNTIMES you solved it!! First of all I'm an idiot. I totally over looked the gear lube filling resivour. It was almost empty. I topped it up and the buzzing stopped. It's a bit weird though as to why the level dropped like that. I changed the fluid in January, and have taken it out 8-9 times since. No leaks on the drive and the oil looks almost new still. So I'll keep an eye on it. Thanks again boys!

 

[Don S]

Re: Buzzing when I turn the key to accesory position??!

I'm not understanding your problem. You said it was buzzing when you turned the key to the run position (NOT running). But now you added gear lube and it doesn't buzz when you have the key in the run position and the engine not running ???? If so, your oil pressure switch is either disconnected or not working, because it should be buzzing until the engine starts and you get some oil pressure built up.

 

[ryan04]

Re: Buzzing when I turn the key to accesory position??!

I insert the key turn it one click to the right so the guages come on. Volts, temp, oil P, trim, etc. That's when it started to beep. Not running just in the first click of the key. When yesterday it would start the boat and run it, it would keep buzzing and never shut off. So the engine is running fine, oil pressure is good temp is good, but it was buzzing still (yesterday). I've owned the boat for 3 seasons and it's never beeped or buzzed for anything not once. Not when I stick the key in then the buzzing stops once the engine is running like some boats, but rather no beeping or buzzer ever at any point until last week. I took it out today all day and it ran with no beep or buzz at any point, like a champ as it always has. Oil temp is steadily at 43 PSI and engine temp is steadily at 115 F. That's what those two have always read and continue to read. Good boat, and even a better day on the water thanks to you guys!! Thanks