Optimax 200hp Warning Horns and Manual- Questions

[jeff7599]

Hello,
Just bought my first Sea Doo boat. A 2003 Utopia 185 with the 200hp Optimax. Great condition and a good deal but it does have what I hope is only a bad sensor or two. This engine is the Optimax with the pressurized oil tanks. Ive done a lot of digging, and did find a lot of useful information on here, but much information is not specific to the Optimax. The EFI seems to be a whole different animal when it comes sub systems like the warning system, fuel system, and oil system compared to the DFI Optimax.

What manual are you Optimax Owners using? I found the M2 manual on this website, but that seems to be for the 210 carb model, not the Optimax. I did find this manual on a different website that seems perfect, but I cant download without paying them t0o. If its the correct one, I will.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/93986834/8369382-Mercury-Mariner-200hp-Optimax-Jet-Drive-Service-Manual

200hp Optimax Warning Horns. Does anyone have a good list of the warning horns for the Optimax? Im getting the four beeps a minute horn before I start the engine... and the long steady horn after its been running at high rpm. Im going to top off the small oil tank today to ensure it has no air pockets, and make sure both oil caps are tight since it is pressurized. I do see the oil sensor on the small tank and hope that is it. I will also drain the water/fuel separator on the lower port side.

I also put 163 F thermostick marks on the cylinder heads to check for high temperatures, so far they have not melted.

Thank you and have a safe weekend.
S/F
Jeff

 

[Dr Honda]

Since you are a premium member... the 250 engine is also a DI engine. (you can D/L that) The warnings will be the same, although... it's a 3.0L engine.

Unfortunately... from my limited DFI experience... there really aren't too many "Beeps" available. The over-temp alarm is a consent beep. And... as far as I know... any other error is 4 beeps, and a pause. (about 1~2 min) So... it's really a beep so you know to look at your gauges.

I think the beeps possible are: Oil error; TPS out of range; temp out of range; and a few other senders.

If you had a smartcraft monitor installed... you would be able to read the code. But, SeaDoo didn't install that. So... to truly be able to figure out what the beep is from... you may need to go to a Merc dealer (not a seadoo dealer) to read the codes.


As far as the manual you found... as long as the S/N range falls into your engine number... then it's the right one. If you pay the $9 to D/L it... please let me know. I'll split it with you, so I can also have that manual. The owners of this web site may want to pay for it too.

PM me if you decide to get it, and I can paypal you a few $$$, and you can email it to me.

 

[jeff7599]

Ok.. I think Im starting to figure this out. 200hp Optimax has a common problem with the oil tank float. Found some good discussions on Iboats forum
http://forums.iboats.com/mercury-mariner-outboards/optimax-225-oil-reserve-alarm-223487.html

So I was getting 4 beeps every two minutes even before I started the engine. Its a bad float sensor in the oil tank. You cannot simply disconnect the sensor, you must jump it. I built a jumper cable and the horn doesnt beep. This is temporary until I get the sensor replaced. I also noticed I had to turn off the battery switch to reset the warning. I think thats what happened. Battery off. ran the jumper to close the circuit, battery back on. The pictures show the jumper and where it goes. I tucked away the wires with a zip ties after I took the photo. You can see the two leads from the sensor at the top of the picture.

Im having trouble uploading the photos. Will try again after a few beers.

 

[AirSniper]

Let me know if this helps... ...

I had the 4 beeps to when i bought mine - checked oil, drained fuel/water separator & still had it. I replaced the fuel filter/water separator and that fixed it. I had continuity on the sensor to the filter. I might suggest disconnecting the single wire on the bottom of the filter/separator to see if the 4 beep cycle goes away - or just replace the whole thing for ~ $25.

try this link, see if it helps too:

http://boatinfo.no/lib/mercury/manuals/250_optimax_jetdrive.html#/68

 

[jeff7599]

Thank you AirSniper. Especially for the link to the manual. My horn did go away after draining the fuel water separator, and bypassing the oil level sensor. I am going to test the sensor with a magnet to see if the problem is the float, or the sensor on top of the reservoir. I hear either can go bad, so replacing just the sensor may not solve the problem. I had the boat out yesterday for an hour and the kids had a blast. I was happy too since I had no warning horns after just buying the boat 3 days ago.

How do you flush your engine? Do you run the engine or just run the hose on the optimax? Im going through the manuals now. I notice if I run my engine with the hose, I dont get the p stream and the engine overheats. The water coming from the engine isnt warm either. The p stream does flow if Im in the lake at idle.

 

[AirSniper]

There is a hose connection for flushing on the upper port side of the engine compartment. Turn on water before starting (rotax engines are opposite). I remember reading a warning to limit the time & RPM of running the engine while flushing. Never go above idle. Most of the water will run out the jet pump, not much if any out the p hole. I run in the great lakes, so I don't need to flush as often as salt-water boats.

I highly recommend installing the mercury monitor. There are some good links on the forum on install. Cost under $300 for the monitor & the cable. It gives live engine data-rpm, temp, pressure, hours, fuel usage, warnings...etc.

I also installed a Place diverter trim tab - there are differing opinions on what make works best, but whatever the make, the trim tab makes a huge difference.