For Fun: Diagnose THIS One!

[Mark Hofman]

I finally got a nagging problem fixed. Just for fun, I'll give you the symptoms and you can guess what the problem was and how it was fixed.



You go to start the outboard and the low oil warning horn gives it's normal single *Beep*. Everything is fine until the hole shot. As the boat climbs on plane, and you begin trimming the motor, every time you release the trim button, you get a single *beep* identical to the low-oil warning horn. At 3500 rpms, the warning horn begins a rapid series of short beeps, sounding almost like clicks rather than beeps. At 4000 rpms, the clicks/beeps stop, but the beep is still heard whenever the trim button is used.



Any guesses? What was my problem and how much did it cost me to get it fixed?

 

[Mark Hofman]

Here's a clue:



The voltmeter would drop to almost zero whenever the beep occurred while using the trim button.

 

[David Sailer]

My guess would be a broblem with the trim motor pulling high amps for some reason. When you push the button, current drops, when you release current comes back up. Horn thinks you just turned on the ignition and beeps.



SWAG but it could be my lucky day.

 

[Adam Murray]

This should be a regular game! Everday, someone describes their symptoms and we have to diagnose the problem/solution...kinda like when they do rounds on ER!



Have a similiar, yet different, kind of electrical prob. Everytime bilge turns on everything else turns off. SM at BPS here in Dallas said they are gonna rewire with higher guage and should remedy the situation.

 

[Rich D]

That's not the trim button! That's the horn! LOL!!



Corroded or crossed terminal.

 

[SCOTT GARDNER]

$68.OO Far a battery cable Man let me kmow if u need any more.I would love to sell a few a weak at the price.lol Must be more to it then just a cable end.

 

[Mark Hofman]

No, the $68 was for an hour of diagnostics (probably more like 30 minutes), and a good pair of pliers probably crimped that connector down. All I can say is "OUCH!"



When the horn started sounding regularly, I called my dealership (Springfield BPS). Their repair shop said, "Its an oil warning horn. Stop using the boat and get it in for repairs." I said, "Great, I'm in Branson. Can I bring it up today?" They said, "No, we won't be able to get to it for a couple of weeks, but there are authorized Mercury dealers all over down there. Try one of them." So I found a shop with a helpful service manager, who told me to leave the boat overnight and they could get it checked out in 24 hours.



This was my vacation, and my parents were in from Colorado, so 24 hours sounded great. It also sounded like a potential Mercury warranty repair. Nope, it was a Tracker warranty repair. But since the shop wasn't a Tracker dealership, I paid for this repair out of my own wallet. Oh, well. There's money, and then there's VACATION money.



I'm just glad it's fixed.

 

[Adam Murray]

MO...try to turn it in to Tracker anyway. It's possible they would cover due to being so minor and the fact you were on vacation. Doesn't hurt to look into...they can only say no!

 

[Bill McElroy]

And they probably will!!!...LOL