www.iFourWinns.com

On my Mercruiser v8 6.2l, the alarm has started beeping twice. It only does it occassionally and often more so at slow speed. It's becoming more frequent though.

I guess it could be a few things, but any quick wins that I can check off? Or will I need to take it to a dealer to put on the computer?

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2005 Four Winns Horizon 230 - Mercruiser 320hp 6.2L V8 Bravo

Having a tech hook up a computer is probably the quickest solution. This situation could be caused by any number of sensors that may or may not be going bad. I just had a friend who couldn't get his boat to plane out without alarms going off and motor going into safe mode. After jacking around with fuel pumps, filters, and several other possibilities, he finally had a tech hook up a computer and found his oil pressure sending unit was bad. A relatively cheap & quick fix. He wasn't upset at the costs of the false repairs, but more so the time it took him being off the water as this occurred while on vacation.

If you want to tackle it yourself and it happens more frequently at idle speeds, I would first guess oil pressure sending unit. Are you seeing any pressure changes on your dashboard guage? Same question for other guages (water temp, voltage, etc)?

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2005 FW Horizon 250
8.1L VP DP

Yup, that's where I would start... another easy one is the drive oil. Mine did that for a day before I figured it out (remote resevior). Check your temperature too. Could be the impeller starting to go on you.

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Walt B
"Debt-Charged"
Black '07 H210SS
6.2L Bravo One turning a 21P HIFive
Wakeboard Tower with Perfect Pass Stargazer version
Missouri River; Kansas City, Mo.

Maybe the idle air control (IAC)? See this thread which includes a link to another site discussing problems with the IAC as well as how to replace it: http://www.smwebhead.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=9386

Mine did this at slow speed and it turned out to be the IAC valve.

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2004 248 Vista "Amante"
MC 5.0MPI/B3

Any chance it's a shallow-water alarm from your depth gauge?

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2002 Funship 214
VP 5.7 GX Si
2003 Tahoe

LOL That is what I thought it was at first. Always a possibility.

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2004 248 Vista "Amante"
MC 5.0MPI/B3

Yeah.. my initial thoughts are that it's the IAC - which I think is pretty much an Idle Control Valve. I used to have issues wtih the one on my old Mk2 Golf GTI 8v! - great motor that - so I know the niggling problems these things can cause on fuel injected engines.
I'll have a look around on the forum to see what needs to be done, but anyone got any pics of where the IAC is located? Or tips on what I need to do with it? Is it just a case of cleaning the thing, by soaking it in some solvent such as white spirit, or gasolene?

I spoke to a few Mercruiser dealers down my way in Australia (Northern Beaches of Sydney if anyone's nearby ) and one of them seemed pretty sure it'd be the block pressure sensor. Not sure what gave him such certainty..
I'd prefer to check off the things I can rectify myself before taking it in, and coming out with a hefty old bill (if only us Aussies could get the same value of you guys do in the US!)

I recogn I'll check the IAC valve and if it's not that, will take her in for a hook-up to the computer

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2005 Four Winns Horizon 230 - Mercruiser 320hp 6.2L V8 Bravo

Thinking back now, and reading that thread on the IAC replacement, I'm pretty sure the co-owner of the boat went through the exact same process - both symptoms, diagnosis and solution through replacing the IAC. And that was only about 6 months ago!

If that is it, I won't be particularly happy that the IAC has failed within 6mths of it being replaced. However, it does show different symptoms this time (ie it starts without having to rev the engine).
Although it doesn't fire on the first turn of the engine like it used to, so my gut feel is that it is "idle" related..

It's like solving a Poirot Murder this.. I feel we're getting nearer

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2005 Four Winns Horizon 230 - Mercruiser 320hp 6.2L V8 Bravo