Mercury warning tone?!?!

[clam man]

I was trolling with my 1999 2 stroke oil injected 40hp today and a loud steady warning tone went off. I throttled down, and shut the motor down thinking I might have overheated it.

What is the tone?

I also could not get the motor to start again. I had compression, but it wouldn't turn over. This has happened to me once in the past, and I just let it sit for about 20 minutes and it started up...so

Did I flood it?


Any advice is welcome.

Thank god I threw my minkota in my boat as an afterthought today and the current wasn't strong. I need to get a decent kicker motor.

[swedefish4life1]

Was water still streaming out the water jacket when this took place?#-o

[wolverine]

The usual reason for the warning tone is overheating. If anything obstructs the water pickup (plastic bags are the worst) no water gets in and the engine over heats. Bad old gas can separate and the engine won't get lubed properly. You could also have a bad impeller that needs to be replaced. Not turning over is not good. Put it in neutral, ignition off, grab the prop and see if you can turn it over manually, then put it in fwd (again ignition off and battery disconnected). If it won't move you probably have a big problem that you aren't going to like.

[hewesfisher]

Ever change the impeller since you've had the motor? Do you know if it's ever been done? It would be the first thing I'd check!

[clam man]

Water pumps good, first thing I check when it turns over. But, I wasn't watching it when the tone went off, and I didn't look before I shut it off...it might have gotten clogged.

I have not changed the impeller, but had the motor "looked over" when I bought it two years ago...don't know how great a job they did though.

I will attempt to play around with the prop etc. It did have plenty of oil in the oil feed tank.

The gas has been stored for a few months, but I always put fuel stabilizer in it. I should just run new stuff anyways.

When I put it in gear (key out) and turn the prop, should I hear some compression? and if I don't, what does that mean?

I really should learn more about my engine!

[Anglinarcher]

I see that you checked the oil feed tank, that was my first thought. If all is OK and you can get it started again, place a mark on your oil feed tank with a magic marker to see if it is feeding oil. Next, to make sure you are getting oil, mix the proper amount of oil into the gas before you start it. YES, with the oil in the tank and in the oil feed, it will smoke like a smoke stack, but one partial tank of high smoke is better then a destroyed engine.

I know that my Merc (90 horse 2002) will only give the tone when the engine is not getting oil from the feed tank. I once had the water intake plug and it did not warn me - my fishing partner noticed the water was not coming out of the spray hole. OK, maybe we caught it before it got hot. Man, I hope you can find the problem before it harms the engine.

[Anglinarcher]

The gas has been stored for a few months, but I always put fuel stabilizer in it. I should just run new stuff anyways.

If you put fuel stabilizer in it, it is fine. I use my engine all winter long, but if I need to leave it for a couple of months without use, I put in both the enzyme and the fuel stabilizer and I have no problems at all.

When I put it in gear (key out) and turn the prop, should I hear some compression? and if I don't, what does that mean?

In this case, you are more concerned about will the prop turn? If the prop will turn, it means the engine did not cease up due to either lack of oil or lack of water flow. If it will turn, that is a good thing.

I really should learn more about my engine!

We all should, and I only know what I know because I have had similar problems.

[Anonymous]

Water pumps good, first thing I check when it turns over. But, I wasn't watching it when the tone went off, and I didn't look before I shut it off...it might have gotten clogged.

I have not changed the impeller, but had the motor "looked over" when I bought it two years ago...don't know how great a job they did though.

I will attempt to play around with the prop etc. It did have plenty of oil in the oil feed tank.

The gas has been stored for a few months, but I always put fuel stabilizer in it. I should just run new stuff anyways.

When I put it in gear (key out) and turn the prop, should I hear some compression? and if I don't, what does that mean?

I really should learn more about my engine!

Sometimes you will pick something up your lower unit that will cover the water intake. For example; plastic bags, seaweed, a tree limb with leaves, etc. I have had that happen more than once. Your sensor that shuts off the engine will need time to cool and reset itself.

[Bodofish]

If it's oil injection the loud tone is most assuredly low oil or low oil pressure. If you can't turn it over, you probably sezied the piston (s). Sometimes they'll let go When it cools depending on how bad it is. Get some oil on the cylinders and turn it over with you hands on the flywheel and a wrench if you have to. If she moves pull the bottom end and the topend, pull the pistons and check them and the bores for damage. If everything is ok, it's a perfect time for a hone and some new rings. Check the oil pump and feed. 2 Strokes are easy.....

[clam man]

Bodo,

thanks, but anything that detailed and I will support the local economy! I am getting my house ready to sell, and can't have a stripped motor in my garage.


I don't think I siezed anything....I will take another look at the oil system.