VP Engine Alarm Information

[ConchPirate]

Twin 2004 VP 5.0GX-i engines that have a Tach as pictured. I do not see an audible alarm under the dash area, and am wondering if alarms/info would show up in the area on the tach that shows the engine hours? Have only seen the hours so far as shown. If alarms will be notified in the Tach, I suspect it would be a code. Is there a handy dandy alarm code information sheet somewhere for download?

TIA

 

[muc]

Pretty sure that tach will only show hours.
You should find your alarms and fix them. They should beep when you turn the key on. Alarm is important.
Volvo makes a lot of 5.0GXi engines, they aren’t all the same. 2004 doesn’t mean much. Serial number is better.

 

[ConchPirate]

Ok, thanks Muc. Alarm is probably behind one of the gauge clusters. I'll start looking. It's a 2004 Monterey 282, with engine Serial #'s 4012105462 and 4012105456. Being twins, would there be two alarms, or just one tied to both?

 

[muc]

your engines were built in 2003, warranty started in 2005.

Audible Alarm
If an audible alarm has been installed on your boat, it will perform a brief self-test when the ignition key is turned to the RUN position.
Following is a description of how the alarm performs the self test.
EFI Engines - When the ignition switch is turned to RUN (key on, engine off), the alarm emits two short beeps to indicate that the ECM is performing a check of the sensors. If there are any problems detected by the ECM, the alarm will sound; otherwise, it will remain off.
I always instructed customers to turn the key to the on position and wait for the 2 beeps before turning it to the start position. This does 2 things, checks the alarm and allows the EFI fuel pressure come all the way up.
Don't use 2 hands and try to start both engines at the same time, it just leads to problems. Start them one at a time.

There should be 2 alarms ---- one for each engine.

The alarms were considered an option when your engines were installed, so you might not have them.
They were installed behind the dash during your boats years, that's where you should look for them.

I'm don't know much about Monterey boats. So don't know if it was common practice to install them or not. If not, the wiring for them is always there behind the dash. If you don't have them or their not working, I highly recommend installing/repairing them. They could save you many many $$$$!

Some customers think they are too loud, some think they aren't loud enough. For those people I would install lights in the dash, instead of or in addition to the alarms ---- very inexpensive upgrade.

 

[ConchPirate]

I'll look around for them. Suspect Monterey may not have put them in. The keys are off or run and located in the 12V panel in the cabin. Start/Off is push button on the dash. Each engine with its own key and dash button. No write up by the surveyor so maybe he realized they don't exist. If they truly don't exist, I'll look into getting some.

Thanks again.

 

[muc]

I assume the switches on the dash have a stop,run,start?
If so, when you read my post above. Substitute dash switch everywhere it says key switch.

 

[ConchPirate]

Negative. The helm switches are simple rocker types - push top momentary to start, push bottom (again momentary) of switch to stop.

 

[muc]

Negative. The helm switches are simple rocker types - push top momentary to start, push bottom (again momentary) of switch to stop.

That is a rare system. I believe the alarm should sound when you turn the key on.
It is also a system that is usually found on upper level boats. My guess is that you do have alarms installed and they just aren’t working.

 

[ConchPirate]

So found (heard) the alarms today. Also discovered that the start stop helm push buttons have a detent "on" position that runs the fuel pumps and heard the two computer check chirps when only pushed to the "on" position. When shown operations initially, was told the keys were "on" and just push the buttons to start. Wasn't told the buttons had a detent "on" position as well. Thought they were more like our car's pushbutton ignition. Live and learn. Another concern solved. Thanks MUC for your feedback. Very helpful.

 

[muc]

Glad that I was able to help.

The setup you have is pretty common, most of the SeaRays I work on are like that.

You should be happy you don’t have the momentary off buttons. The engine computers back then weren’t smart enough to do that. So to have that system required a “black box” behind the dash. They broke a lot and were expensive to replace.

 

[ConchPirate]

Glad that I was able to help.

The setup you have is pretty common, most of the SeaRays I work on are like that.

You should be happy you don’t have the momentary off buttons. The engine computers back then weren’t smart enough to do that. So to have that system required a “black box” behind the dash. They broke a lot and were expensive to replace.

I (we) looked at Some Sea Rays that had that "modern" embedded button system running to those black boxes and when I looked at a replacement for one that had a bad corner I was shocked! I couldn't believe the prices of the dash panels and boxes. And worse, availability is getting slim as well. Passed on all those boat models because of it.