My rib is beeping!

[Mugshot]

Hello, long time lurker first time caller. I'm hoping for some advice please. I've very recently bought myself my first rib after a few years with a sib. I was having a bounce around just off Milford Haven today when I noticed a loud continous beep, I stopped and turned all the instruments off and discovered it was coming from the throttle control. I checked the oil and the tell tail assuming it was a warning but all appeared fine, but headed for home just in case. As far as I can work out from the internet the Quicksilver throttle beeps continously to warn the engine is overheating, but even now, about six hours later its still doing it when the ignition key is turned. Any help would be appreciated, I'm hoping its just a wire shaken loose but despite my best efforts I cant seem to find anything out of place. Thanks in advance.

[stedj]

it may be a trim alarm try turning the ignition on and off while triming the engine[goes without saying dont start it]

[Mugshot]

Thanks for the reply stedj, just went out and tried what you suggested, it didnt make any difference

[BogMonster]

My guess would be some sort of sensor or sensor wiring fault if there is nothing that seems to be wrong. Outboard motors probably follow the tried and tested standard set by cars in that the main function of a warning light/sounder is to indicate that the sensor isn't working rather than any actual fault

Mine (I think) beeps for overheat, low oil level and low oil pressure, and maybe something else too (there are four lights but I can't remember what the other one is.... and its dark outside) - clearly it can't be overheat if the engine has been off for a few hours! - and if the oil is fine then it may be just a glitch? Mine beeps as a test when you first switch the ignition on each time, it beeps and all the warning lights come on as a check, but it has never squawked about anything else (famous last words, clutching for bit of wood as I speak...!)

[Polwart]

if its autolube (not premix) 2 stroke the alarm may be set at a surpisingly high level of oil in the tank. mine goes off at least 1 hour before you get to the bottom of the tank. (I guess so you have time to head for shore).

but as stephen says it could be a faulty sensor rather than an actual fault.

[Mugshot]

Thank you for the suggestions. It is an autolube, the oil level was about half full when the alarm went off, but I topped it up anyway whilst I was out. Unfortunately the thing kept screaming at me. As far as I can work out from searching around online the oil warning is an intermittant beep and the over heating is a continuous one, and this noise is definitely continuous. As Stephen said I'm leaning towards a sensor problem (and I'm praying its not just wishful thinking!) as there didnt appear to be any difference in response etc. Obviously its too dark and far too late to be getting dirty now, but would I be right in saying that the problem is going to be at the engine rather than the throttle, just so I dont take the wrong thing apart.

[Polwart]

Originally Posted by Mugshot

but would I be right in saying that the problem is going to be at the engine rather than the throttle, just so I dont take the wrong thing apart.

More likely -but it could be a wiring fault or a connection at the "big connector" between the engine anf the controls.

First thing is to find out when the engine overheats if the sensor should close the circuit (short) OR open it (break) and test the situation with a multimeter.

[Nos4r2]

Look on the block/head water jacket area. There's a sensor that's clamped to the block with a single wire going to it-the wire's stripey blue/brown from memory and has what looks like a bit of black heatshrink on it at the sensor end . The sensor is about the size of an old 1/2p and looks a bit like a watch battery.

Unplug it and see if the alarm stops going off. It shorts (closes circuit) when you overheat and it goes off when the outside of the water jacket gets too hot so you can't unfortunately test it in boiling water-it's not hot enough.


just looking for a part number for you-I think I've got one here somewhere that I bought on ebay a while back.

[Mugshot]

Thanks Polwart . I'll have a nose around again tomorrow, as I said I'm hoping its just a wire come loose, its was pretty lumpy today, so things would have been shaken about a little.

[Mugshot]

Nos !! That was a fantastic and totally accurate description, I just had to go and try it, I pulled it out and the beeping stopped I put it back in and the beeping was back, if only I knew what to do next