[ShabahZ280]

I fixed my alarm earlier this year by replacing the piezo that had gone bad. For those who need to replace theirs, the manufacturer is Floyd Bell out of Columbus Ohio. The model number is the M80, and it retails for around $10. It's the same one Mercruiser uses in their alarm kit, only with a Mercruiser sticker and about a $30 higher price tag!

Anyway, once I got it functioning right, I would run the boat, and it would beep every 4 seconds while underway, which got VERY annoying VERY quickly. Engine Temperature was normal, Oil Pressure was normal, Gear Lube was full, and everything else checked out.

Took it into service and mentioned the problem. They couldn't replicate it, as they never turned the engine on. Second trip back, I insisted on a diagnostic check, which they still couldn't get to show any codes. They told me it was low on gear lube, which it wasn't. Third trip, I insisted they run the boat and a diagnostic check. Sure enough it beeped every 4 seconds, and the diagnostic software told them it was the gear lube warning. However the reservoir was full. Turns out, the float switch in the gear lube reservoir had gone bad. It was a $76 part, which ended up costing over $400 in multiple service visits to resolve.

SO, if it's beeping every 4 seconds, and your temp, oil pressure and gear lube levels are good, it's most likely your float switch in the gear lube reservoir.

I had to post this just in case anyone else needs it!!! I searched ALL OVER the net for info, even called Mercury Marine technical support to find an answer. So here it is for all to enjoy!!!

[indykoch]

Thanks Chris! Sorry you had to be the guinea pig, but that's good info to know!

Thinking back to when my reservoir actually was low, I believe it was an intermittent beep as well. Is there a "code" for the number of beeps/duration? Maybe high temp and low oil pressure it's constant... low drive lube is intermittent???

[WetWilly]

Hi indykoch,

I don't think there is a difference with the beeping for the different sensors. If I remember correctly, the last time I looked at the Merc Manual for our 96 I/O, the low gear lube, low oil pressure and over temp sensors were all on the same circuit. It appeared that they all provide a ground path for the one warning buzzer.

But considering how my memory's been lately, I could be wrong...

WetWilly

[John Morgan]

I hear ya Willy, my memomry is worse than a... What were we talking about?

[John Morgan]

See, I can't even remeber how to spell memory!

[WetWilly]

[Cj7]

Somebody told me if that alarm is going off, the beep every 4 seconds. That means jump shes going to blow!

[ShabahZ280]

I was concerned at first, but after monitoring the gauges constantly, and fluid levels, I started worrying less and less. It just became a general annoyance factor, which is what leads me to believe is why the original owner had cut the wire for the alarm in the first place.

At any rate, it's fixed now.

[dudders]

Something to check if your alarm goes off, and all normal checks fail to silence it.

One day while just cruising along slowly in an 8 kt area, my alarm started to beep, I stopped, checked all the fluids,gauges etc, but nothing wrong. So I headed off again. A few minutes later it went off again for a second or 2, then it would stop, then 10 - 20 seconds later beep again.
All the qauges were fine, and I knew the fluids were good so I headed for a beach and lifted the engine cover to cool the motor (I had the blower running all the time by the way). Half an hour later we headed back to the dock which only took 20 to 30 minutes going at about 20kts, with no alarm.
When I got home I pulled the air filter off and noticed it was quite dirty, so cleaned it out, checked all fluids again on flat ground (all good).
Since cleaning the air filter I havent had the alarm go off again doing exactly the same sort of driving.
Just something to check that usually goes missed in general maintenance.