2001 Utopia 185 - 200 Optimax keeps dying

[2001Utopia]

This has been a great forum for learning about these boats.

I have never owned a jet boat before and I went out for the first time last weekend with some trepidation. When I got about 100yds out the alarm beeper went off and the engine crapped out shortly thereafter. It would start and run for about a minute before repeating the problem. After spending a few moments feeling silly, saying choice words, and bobbing around like a cork in a bathtub, I was finally rescued by a kind gentleman in an ancient runabout who towed me back to the ramp.

Later that day, I hooked up the hose to the flush bypass and started it up. It ran fine for about 5 minutes before the same thing happened again. I shut it off and it wouldn't start after that.

I have seen several posts about faulty temp sensors - which I will be checking. What other conditions will set off the alarm?

 

[Double07]

The warning beeps can be continuous or intermitent. The warning beeps can mean different things depending on the number of beeps and how often it is repeated.
One quick and easy check you can do before proceeding with diagnosis is the oil system.
check to see if the engine-mounted oil reservoir is full. Low oil/no oil in the reservoir will trigger a warning alarm. Faulty oil pump (electrical) will also trigger a warning alarm. Overheat will also trigger an alarm.
Check and report back.

 

[Double07]

I think water in the fuel/water seperator will trigger an allarm as well...

 

[2001Utopia]

I had just put oil in the reservoir the day before so there was plenty. I'll be replacing the water separator anyway so I'll do that and see if that does it.

 

[2001Utopia]

Is there a secret decoder ring for what all the different beeps mean? Is all this in the service manual or the M2 operators guide?

 

[Double07]

The mercury service manual has some information on the warning beeps. I recommend you get one if you dont already.
Regarding the oil reservoir, the small tank mounted on the motor needs to be completely full without air pocket. That small tank gets filled up by the bigger tank. The big oil tank needs to be air tight in order for this to happen. It is presurized by crankcase, and the pressure forces the oil into the smaller tank. If the big oil tank is not properly sealed (maybe after refilling), it will not tranfer oil into the small tank.
As long as the smaller tank is completely full, then its ok.

 

[2001Utopia]

Update....

I replaced the water separator and sensor and checked the oil reservoir - no problems. I still get a constant beep after the engine is running for about 5-10 minutes. I shut it off at that point and it didn't want to start again. I'm short on patience and long on ignorance right now so I'm taking it to the marine mechanic down the street while I wait for the manuals to arrive. I'll suffer the financial fleecing this time around and will hopefully be better informed for the next time.

 

[Double07]

I still get a constant beep after the engine is running for about 5-10 minutes. I shut it off at that point and it didn't want to start again.

Constant allarm sounds like an overheating issue. Maybe a blockage in youir cooling system.
Let us know once you get it diagnosed and fixed by the pros. The info could save someone else here some headache and $$ down the line.
Good luck.

 

[2001Utopia]

It turned out to be a bad temp sensor in the cylinder head. As a side note, here's all the alarms as listed in the M2 Operator's manual:

4 beeps every 2 minutes:
- Low oil reserve
- water in fuel

continuous beep:
- Cooling system problem; engine may reduce RPMs depending upon temp
- Oil level is critically low; RPMs limited to fast idle
- Oil pump failure; RPMs limited to fast idle
- Engine guardian system sensor is out of range; power limit may activate at WOT

Intermittent beep:
- Engine guardian system sensor is activated; power limit may activate at WOT