not my year...

[lawdog]

OK another weird boat problem, this time with my fishing boat, a 1991 Alumacraft Classic Deluxe 16 ft with a Merc Classic 40 hp motor. Today, the little beep that tells you you have power when you turn the key on, turned into a steady tone that doesn't shut off until the key if turned off again. Motor ran fine, but this noise is obviously not right and I couldn't make it quit????

Ideas?

[LMITOUT]

When I had a 60 Merc, the steady tone meant high engine temp. Maybe the thermocouple went bad?

[3pronghook]

I had it happen to me one time too. The constant alarm but motor ran fine. Found a bare spot in the wire was shorting out. It was pinching where the tiller handle hinged. Taped it up and that took care of it.

[harvey lee]

Jeff, it looks like this has not been your week. My boat is back at the shop again for the 7th time. Dont feel bad as you are not the lone ranger.

[JohnMickish]

Tom, what's wrong with your boat? Didn't you get a new one this year?

[harvey lee]

Motor,motor,motor. Several small problems that dont seem to go away.

[JohnMickish]

do you dare say what motor it is? Is it the motor with problems or a dealer that can't seem to fix it?

[harvey lee]

I dont really wan to get into the name thing. I believe its not the motor companies fault and just a mess from the start.

[JohnMickish]

Fair enough.

[lawdog]

Did you have to take the handle apart to find the bad wire? I looked over all the external wires and couldn't see anything as soon as it started.

I also know its not hot as this was as soon as it started, but I suppose it could be getting a false hot signal???

[marine_man]

It could be that the over temp sender is shorted out - you would need to look in the rear of the block or around the head area for a sensor embedded in the block with one wire coming out of it - follow that wire until you find a spot where you can disconnect it. Disconnect it and turn the key on - if the alarm went away you've isolated the problem. If not keep looking - I would guess it's as others have said then, a grounded out wire.

marine_man