Warning buzzer stays on

[Philom]

I have a 1987 Merc 70 outboard. It has been working fine and while at the lake the warning beeper buzzed a couple of times so I checked the oil resovoir. It was getting down to about 1/4 or so full and started to head back for shore to get some oil. It started to beep continuously after a few minutes on my way back. I put in a litre of oil and went back out but the buzzer didn't stop. It stayed on just about all the time. I checked the oil again and also the engine which didn't feel hot. The buzzer continued on and checking with a partner he said his buzzer would be on continous is there was some sort of fuel problem. I left it sit for a while than went back out and refastened the cap of the fuel tank, open and closed the valve on the tank and squeezed the fuel ball. It went away when I had the valve closed on the fuel tank (which way is it supposed to be?). I went back to shore left it sit for a while and went back out thinking it was fixed but it continued on beeping steady. I don't believe that it was overheating as I left it sit at one point for 2 hours and when I fired it back up it was doing it. It doesn't do it all the time once in a while you can fire it up and it won't be on until you get half throttle and the next time it will be on right away. I have a manual but it only describes the buzzer as a warning for low oil. Help a Canuck.

 

[mcbass]

Re: Warning buzzer stays on

I had the same issue with my 200 150 efi. I ran the oil resevoir in the hull dry, and so was down the the "on the engine" resevoir. There is a float in that resevoir (if you have one on the 70) that will set off the alarm if that resevoir is not full..so basically, I topped off the "on the engine" resevoir and the alarm stopped sounding.<br />On another note..it could be that you are getting the "water in the fuel" alarm. Until I heard them both, the manual's description of the sound could have described either the oil or the fuel/water alarm..so if you have a water/fuel seperator filter, try emptying that.<br /><br />Hope this helps, I'm no boat tech. If not, stay tuned, there are some knowledgeable folk that will probably reply.<br /><br />mcbass

 

[KCLOST]

Re: Warning buzzer stays on

A continuous BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP, is the overheat warning... A BEEP,BEEP,BEEP,BEEP, signal is an indication that there is something wrong with the oil pump, tank level, etc....<br /><br />The tank on the engine needs to be completely full, and all air should exit the tank... <br /><br />Fill it almost to the top.. Then fill the onboard tank in the boat full (or at least close to it). <br />Run the engine with the cap from the engine oil tank off until it fills up to overflow and all air is purge from any oil lines...and then re-install the cap... <br /><br />Retest....

 

[SKYDIVER]

Re: Warning buzzer stays on

I had the same problem with my 70 Merc. The float inside the oil tank has a magnet on the bottom, which causes the buzzer to sound at a low level. The magnet had come loose and fallen to the bottom of the oil tank. I simply pulled off the tank and epoxied the magnet back to the float, no more buzzer.

 

[Philom]

Re: Warning buzzer stays on

I'll start with those tips. I don't have an external oil resovoir just the one mounted on the engine itself. I was concerned about overheating and felt by the plugs but it did not seem hot. I also had it shut off for 2 hours and when I fired it back up the buzzer was on right away. As far a water/fuel seperator I don't think I have one but I am not sure. Where would it be located and what would it look like??<br /><br />Thanks for your advice so far this is great help.