Electrical Anode on Nissan 18hp 4-stroke

[oncebitten]

I have a 2003 Nissan 18hp 4-stroke. Since new it has had an annoying buzzer sound that goes off while running. I checked into it when I first got the motor and it's a known issue with one of the electrical wires, which needs an anode or diode or some such thing installed. Can anyone tell me where to get the annode and which wire gets it?

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Electrical Anode on Nissan 18hp 4-stroke

Dave,

There is no such known issue. Your engine came with a three year warranty...I would urge you to get it into an authorized dealer who will be able to correctly diagnose and repair the engine.

 

[oncebitten]

Re: Electrical Anode on Nissan 18hp 4-stroke

Hmm... that's not what my "authorized dealer" told me three years ago when I purchased the engine. I was told by both the company I bought the engine from as well as my local dealer that it was a well known issue, it was not critical, and that it wouldn't effect performance, and would be about a twenty minute fix when it became too annoying for me. They also said I could do it myself, but it would be difficult for me to find the right wire.

This is not directed at you Elvin, but this is why "authorized dealers" get a reputation for being questionable in the ethics department. Who can you trust anymore? I've got to wonder. Thanks Elvin.

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Electrical Anode on Nissan 18hp 4-stroke

I agree it's a crappy situation. Basically what they both did was blow you off because they did not want to address the problem. I have heard of some cd modules that had a defective circuit that would cause the light to come on. You have to replace the CD. I only know of two engines in four years that had that problem, but you could be number threed Anyway, it's an easy fix. Just get it into a dealer and tell them to fix it.

 

[oncebitten]

Re: Electrical Anode on Nissan 18hp 4-stroke

Wait a second, I think I might be confusing you with my lack of completeness. No light comes on, the buzz comes from the remote control box, not the motor. It only happens in gear.

I'll take it in to have it fixed, but I doubt it's going to be covered because it's a degenerative 3 year warranty. (Many people on the other side of the transaction call it a Pro-rated warranty)

Thanks for your help Elvin.

 

[DHPMARINE]

Re: Electrical Anode on Nissan 18hp 4-stroke

Dave,first off,nice boat,nice pics.

As to your problem,you obviously should (then) have said it was annoying,and fixed it then.

While that did not happen,it might not be hard to pursue.Call Nissan.They are in Texas,and seem to be smale scale (MY guess is a 4 or 5 person facility).But they work with me well.

As to 'US ' authorized Dealers.... did you buy it from one or online ? I don't have a problem with that.BUT you have to do your part and register to get the warranty activated if you bought it on line..If you don't Nissan won't re-emburse me,and I work too often for nothing on the products I do sell over the counter.

Elvin,thanks for the posts you answer here.I am reading them to learn more about Nissans.We sell a lot,but see few problems except when they physically break them.
You do a great service.
DHP

 

[oncebitten]

Re: Electrical Anode on Nissan 18hp 4-stroke

Thanks DHP. Have a great day!

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Electrical Anode on Nissan 18hp 4-stroke

The warranty is not pro-rated...It's three years just like everyone else's warranty. On remote models the buzzer takes the place of the light, at the control box. Assuming that all the wiring is okay and that the problem is an errant signal from the engine...It could be any of the following:

Low oil
Oil pressure leak(blown gasket or seal)
Kinked oil line under the powerhead
Stopped up oil line filter under the powerhead
Defective oil pressure sensor
Defective CD module.


My W.A.G. would be the CD based on what you were originally told.


DHP,

Three people in their service department...On a good day that is. Usually just twod

 

[oncebitten]

Re: Electrical Anode on Nissan 18hp 4-stroke

First, let me apologize. You're correct again. I remembered a whole fine print pro-rating system printed on something within the literature I got with my engine, but I can't back that up. I've checked my manual and you're correct. The manual doesn't have any pro-rating language. I can't explain my mistake, but it is a mistake on my part.

Second, I've found a dealer locally that I will try out. I'm sure they're good people who will be patient and professional.

Thanks for your help Elvin. Have a great weekend!

 

[oncebitten]

Re: Electrical Anode on Nissan 18hp 4-stroke

Taking the boat in on Wednesday next week at 8:30. This dealer seems very up front about issue and says, "we need to look at it, it could be any of five or six things", just as you said.

Wish me luck.

 

[oncebitten]

Re: Electrical Anode on Nissan 18hp 4-stroke

The report is, they are nice people, seem quite honest and helpful, and they believe it's the oil pressure sensor. He's ordered another and I'll bring it in for repair when the part comes in.

Found that warranty paperwork, it's a green pamphlet with all of Nissans warranties written out, and it is "limited" in the second and third year- it states that it doesn't cover as much as the first year. I know that's not the same thing as pro-rated, but I wasn't as wrong as I thought I was. It is also different from the information found in the owner's manual.

At any rate, I'm hopeful it will be covered, and I guess I've found the right service shop for me. Thanks again for your help. Especially you Elvin. Your generous, helpful and informative responses have got me moving in the right direction twice now. Thanks!

 

[oncebitten]

Re: Electrical Anode on Nissan 18hp 4-stroke

Rather than start another thread, I thought I would continue to comment on my motor issues in this one. Today, I ran about a quarter gallon of SeaFoam laced fuel through the motor. It chugged and coughed for about five minutes, then ran great. After five minutes I let it sit for five minutes, ran it again and continued that cycle until it just ran great all the time. Seams like pretty good stuff.

I'm going to continue using it with every fill up until the end of the season to see what effect it has on performance.

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Electrical Anode on Nissan 18hp 4-stroke

Just a note on warranty's...All manufacturers have a limited warranty with exclusions. Usually the second year and thereafter excludes additional items. For instance:

Water pump impellers, propshaft seals, propellers, etc are not covered by any warranty from any manufacturer at any point. Engine covers, gauges, etc are only covered the first year. The general rule manufacturers go by is, if you can wear it out...Then it isn't an item that is covered. Items like engine covers are not covered in the second year due to possible fading or stress cracking.

 

[oncebitten]

Re: Electrical Anode on Nissan 18hp 4-stroke

Okay, just got it back again. It's not the oil-pressure sensor.

I guess I wasn't clear with my description the first time, but they actually repeated my description of the problem right back to me as though I'd never said it. Hmm... is anybody listening?

They said, it's not the main alarm, but a phantom alarm going off all the time, when the gears are engaged, just barely audible"- almost exactly what I stated on the workorder. I said, "yup, exactly right". They said, "we took apart the control unit and found a cracked warm-up switch which, when disconnected, stops the humming completely, so we're going to order up a new one, and you can come pick her up until it's in."

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Electrical Anode on Nissan 18hp 4-stroke

Now I'm worried. There is no such thing as a warm up switch.

 

[oncebitten]

Re: Electrical Anode on Nissan 18hp 4-stroke

See, see what I'm always saying. Just sell me the F-ing part- I'll put it in myself. Give me a manual and a bunch of parts and I'll figure the damn thing out.

I think he's talking about either the ignition switch inside the remote box or the housing for the warm-up lever that keeps it from being engaged when the motor is in gear. I think he was just trying to give something in the remote control box a name that I could relate to.

 

[DHPMARINE]

Re: Electrical Anode on Nissan 18hp 4-stroke

Just want to include something happening to a customers motor (it's an 18 hp,also)

Warning horn was coming on loud.in gear.I found the idle low,around 540 RPM.I raised the idle,cleaned the oil pressure switch,and the horn was quiet.Except for a very low sounding beep,when in forward or reverse.

When the remote control was opened up the neutral saftey switch was found to be broken.

DHP

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Electrical Anode on Nissan 18hp 4-stroke

There are only three electrical parts in the box:

Ignition switch
Neutral safety switch
Buzzer

If one of them has a bad ground it's possible you could get a signal setting off the buzzer.

 

[oncebitten]

Re: Electrical Anode on Nissan 18hp 4-stroke

That's it, I give, I'm tagging out. That's MY damn motor!
:'( d

Thank you. Neutral safety switch it is. That humm, it's wicked annoying. It's the faintest, lightest noise, but it's so constant it will drive you crazy. I can't wait till it's gone and I can just listen to the purr of the motor again.

 

[oncebitten]

Re: Electrical Anode on Nissan 18hp 4-stroke

Update: Now I'm pissed!

Lovely Nissan won't cover the bill, even though I first reported this problem to an authorized dealer the week after I got the motor and was told to "bring it in anytime, it's not serious and it's covered".

Worst part is, the friggin' thing is still humming! Next time, I'm buying a Honda. I'm on the look out for a new mechanic too. Dumping these guys from my website.