Engine Alarms

[Stu Jackson]

This was just posted on the sailnet board, which has seen some small increase in volume, like six posts in two weeks.

I thought it was important enough to post here, to see if this board can respond to David's question, too.

Thanks,

Stu

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Subj: [C34] Engine Alarm Problems
Date: 5/23/2003 9:07:33 PM Pacific Daylight Time
From:    holderdm@kreative.net (David and Marcia Holder)
Reply-to: c34-list@sailnet.net
To:    c34-list@sailnet.net (C34)
 


I'm having difficulty understanding the engine alarm (buzzer) on my 1990
C34 with the M25XP Universal engine.  We bought the boat three years
ago.  Neither the manual that came with the boat nor the shop manual
talk about the engine alarm.  It sounds when you turn the ignition key
on and usually stops after the engine is started. As near as I can tell,
it calls attention to three problems: overheating, low oil pressure, and
low or no voltage from the alternator. I came to that conclusion after
thinking I might have an oil pressure problem.  Oil pressure tested
fine; but the buzzer continued to sound off at times depending on how we
wiggled wires on the printed circuit board attached  to the back of the
temperature gauge.  Thinking the buzzer was faulty we wired the oil
pressure switch to an indicator light.  All was quite and beautiful as
the light went out soon after the engine started and oil pressure built
up. But the next day the buzzer began sounding again when the ignition
is turned on and the buzzer seems to come on at random.  Now we notice
that our alternator is not charging the batteries.  I'm thinking that
low alternator output has been the problem all along.  Can anyone shine
some light on these mysteries and how to solve them?

David Holder
Morning Star
#1096