www.iFourWinns.com

I have a weird one here. Crushing along on plane and I get a two beep alarm, same sound as when you turn the key on at startup. Temp was perfect, oil pressure perfect, motors running perfect. I take it off plane as we were almost at the anchorage anyway. Two minutes later I get another two beep alarm all gauges still show everything is fine so I keep going to set-up. As I get down to idle speed the port engine shuts off and won't restart, just turns over, so I finish setting up with the starboard so I can check everything out.
Once I have a chance to go over everything I see, oil levels on port engine is fine, drive oil level fine and I can't see any signs of anything wrong. After playing around I figure out that I can start the engine if I depress the gear override and give it a touch of gas, motor starts and runs perfect, but it won't start in neutral, just turns over and won't catch.
Since I could get it going again for the way home yesterday, I started the port engine this way and could quickly snick it into gear and drove home, gauges showed perfect the whole way back, but every 2 minutes the alarm would beep twice. If I go down to idle on the port engine dies! Other then that it seems to run perfect and makes normal power.

Anyone have this happen? I'm kind of stumped where to investigate.

_________________
2004 Four Winns 298 Vista
"Last Minute"

I have not, but a guy I know had similar symptoms on the starting, he did not have the alarm that Im aware of. He changed the IAC valve and it aolved the issue.

hopfully its that easy

_________________
Jeff

'14 Cruisers 380 Express "Simon Sez"
Merc 8.2 Mag MPI 380
DTS B3X, (x2) Axius Premier


(SOLD)
'08 V318
Merc 350 Mag MPI 300
DTS Seacore, B3 (x2)

My "two beep" problem was eventually solved by replacing the water pressure sensor on the power steering cooler (top and back of engine). About 2011 Mercruiser improved the design of the sensor. Apparently it was installed in the raw water pump area on older models. A malfunction of this sensor would not have any connection with engine problems.

_________________
John
2006 Four Winns Vista 278 (sold)

Jeff, what / where is the IAC valve, not heard of it before. Just wondering its purpose to see if it makes sense with my symptoms, thanks!

_________________
2004 Four Winns 298 Vista
"Last Minute"

This is worth a read:

http://www.boatingwinnebago.com/forums/ ... ry-minute/

_________________
John
2006 Four Winns Vista 278 (sold)

Wow, thanks as this explains my problem exactly and I'm sure it's the issue. I'll order this and let everyone know how it goes next weekend after I change it out. Looks like a very easy fix, thanks again for the info.

_________________
2004 Four Winns 298 Vista
"Last Minute"

Make sure the carb cleaner you get is oxygen sensor safe.

_________________
07 Azure AZ200,
Previous boat,
95 278 Vista,
And a lot of others.

Ontario, Canada

Success!! IAC valve confirmed, changed it out and it started right up, idled perfectly. Very easy to do, took me 20 minutes tops. Thanks for the help to diagnose the problem!

Cheers

_________________
2004 Four Winns 298 Vista
"Last Minute"