2001 speedster oil alarm

[Sea Dudes]

I have a 2001 speedster with a Merc 240. I have been getting an intermittent oil level light which is getting progressively more frequent. At idle, the light flickers and the alarm is intermittent but when it hit the throttle, the light is on constantly along with the light. When I go back to idle, the light almost goes away along with the alarm.

The oil tank has plenty of oil and the auxiliary take is always almost completely full. I figured it was the auxiliary tank oil level sensor and ordered another one but for the heck of it I decided to disconnect the leads to the auxiliary tank oil level sensor and the alarm and light are still doing the exact same thing.

Any ideas?

 

[Dr Honda]

This belongs in the Merc forum... so I'll move it for you.


But... the Water alarm is tied into the oil alarm. I'm thinking there is water in your main filter. (the big spin on filter on the starboard side)

Either drain it... or put on a new filter.

 

[Sea Dudes]

Good Dr,

Thanks. Did not see that answer coming. Never thought of that. I will pull it tomorrow and look.

 

[Dr Honda]

It's a goofy system. The fuel gauge is "seadoo", and they normally just use the light for a low oil alarm. So, basically, the indicator is labeled wrong. A mercury gauge would have a bell icon next to the light. (just means warning) As I recall... the warning beeps are different, and that's how to tell.

A quick check is to just pull the wire off the sender, on the bottom of the filter. If it stops beeping... that's your issue.

 

[Sea Dudes]

Dr Honda,

Took the fuel filter off (i assume that is the filter you were referring to), emptied it out, dryer it out and replaced. Light and buzzer still on. Removed wire from bottom of filter and alarm and buzzer still on. Disconnected wires from auxiliary tank oil level and wires to fuel filter and light and buzzer still on. Auxiliary oil tank level still full. Both the light and buzzer seem to be connected to rpm; the more throttle I give it the more steady the light and more more constant the buzzer.

Any other ideas? Also, I can shut off the light by disconnecting the wire harness to the fuel gauge but would love to kill that annoying buzzer till I figure out what's wrong but I can't find it.

Any help would be great.

 

[Dr Honda]

OK....


check the float switch in the oil tank... and make sure it's working. It's not common, but I guess the warning unit could have gone bad.


I do not recommend bypassing the system. (other than for testing) Fix it properly, because it could save your engine later.

 

[Sea Dudes]

Dr. Honda,

Are you talking about the float in the auxiliary tank or the main tank? I am looking at the service manual and don't see one for the main tank so I am assuming you are talking about the auxiliary tank.

If so, I understand that float to have no connectivity when oil level is high but that it does form a connection when the oil level is low. Consequently, if I disconnect the leads, there should not be connectivity and therefore the electrical system would think the oil level in the auxiliary tank is high and not sound the alarm or turn on the light. Regardless, there is no change in the status of the light and horn when I have the leads connected or when they are disconnected. At idle, both light and horn are off. As I apply throttle, the light and horn get more intense with or without the leads connected.

It appears to be directly linked to the amount of throttle/RPM. More throttle = more light and buzzer.

I guess if I knew which inputs were linked to that alarm, I could eliminate them one by one. On my end, I've disconnected both the fuel filter lead and the auxiliary oil tank leads and there is no effect on the light and alarm; they both are off or may flicker at idle and then go full on as I advance the throttle.

Open to any other suggestions.