Johnson 70-HP SystemCheck Alarm Interpretation

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Author Topic:   Johnson 70-HP SystemCheck Alarm Interpretation

monroep posted 06-15-2015 09:52 AM ET (US)
Hi All. I've had good success with [the oil mixing pump of a Johnson 70-HP outboard engine] for the past couple years. [The oil mixing pump of a Johnson 70-HP outboard engine] has been very trusty. Recently at about 5,000-RPM engine speed, the [aural alarm] gave a quick beep and the [warning] lights [on the SystemCheck gauge] flashed. About 30 seconds later, the aural alarm and warning light flash occured again. I slowed down to engine idle speed. The engine's cooling water stream, [oil reservoir] level, and the fuel hose [were OK]. Then I proceeded on my way again at 5,000-RPM engine speed with no [further alarms]. No [warning] lights stayed on. [The warning lights] counted down across the four [lamps]. The beep was very short, one-second or less. [Do you have] any thoughts [to explain the cause of the short beep and series of warining lamps flashing]? I'm thinking [the cause] could have been as simple as wires crossed?
Thank you.
contender posted 06-15-2015 11:27 PM ET (US)
You have to read up on your engine, I think different beeps mean different things. I had a carburetor go bad one time and the alarm started going off, could not figure it out. [The purpose of warning lights and alarms sounding] is not just about the water pump. Other things are connected to the alarm. Good luck
jimh posted 06-16-2015 08:31 AM ET (US)
In the circumstances described in the narrative above, I do not believe the aural alarm and warning lamp annunciators are trying to give an indication of an actual alarm condition in the engine
In the OMC SystemCheck alarm indicator and aural alert, the aural alert horn is operated by the System Check gauge. Generally the aural alert sounds in the same manner for all types of alarm indications. It is not necessary to interpret the meaning of the aural alert horn by analysis of its cadence of sounding. The annunciator lamps of the SystemCheck gauge give the meaning of the alarm.
Based on your narrative describing the manner in which the aural alert sounded and the four warning lamps of the SystemCheck gauge came on and illuminated in a stepping sequence across the display, the more reasonable explanation for this behavior is a momentary interruption in the power being supplied to the SystemCheck gauge. The events you describe as occurring are the same events that occur when power is first applied to the SystemCheck gauge. On that basis, my inference is there is an intermittent connection to the SystemCheck gauge.
The SystemCheck gauge is typically connected to the Johnson or Evinrude engine using a multi-pin connector that is part of the MWS wiring harness. Check the connections of the MWS harness, both at the SystemCheck gauge and at the engine, under the cowling, where the harness connectors to the engine wiring harness.
To check the electrical connections of any multi-pin electrical connector, follow this procedure
--disconnect the two electrical connectors from each other;
--make a close visual inspection of the connectors, looking for any indications of ingress of water that may have cause corrosion, any mechanical problems such as a bent pin or an enlarged socket, or poor latching of the mechanical tabs that retain the connectors;
--do not, under any circumstances, apply any sort of grease to any of the actual electrical contacts, no matter how often you read advice on the internet to do this;
--if there are any indications of corrosion, dirt, oxidation, or other signs the electrical connectors have been compromised, spray the electrical contacts with WD-40. WD-40 is a special solvent that has been designed to restore electrical connections. After spraying, shake the connectors to dislodge any surplus WD-40 that may remain on them.
--re-connect the electrical connectors of the MWS wiring harness to the SystemCheck gauge and the engine wiring harness; apply a very light coating of grease only to the rubber bellows of the front seal of the Deutsch multi-pin connector; do not apply any grease to the actual electrical contact pins or sockets or to the connector body.
Please perform the procedure I recommended above and reply with any observations and results.
jimh posted 06-16-2015 09:11 AM ET (US)
Also, check the MWS wiring harness for any damage to the insulation of the conductors in the harness that may have occurred due to abrasion.
seahorse posted 06-16-2015 09:15 AM ET (US)
Jim is correct.
You have an intermittent voltage problem, either a momentary open circuit or a drop below 9 volts causing the gauge to reboot and self-test.
Loose terminals and corroded connections are the most common culprits and sometimes require much sleuthing to find. Corrosion inside the key switch may also duplicate the symptoms.
monroep posted 06-16-2015 01:25 PM ET (US)
Thank you very much for the review. It makes sense, because it is a similar sound and count down to start-up.
I'll perform the steps listed above and post my findings. Thank you very much for the replies and help!

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Author	Topic: Johnson 70-HP SystemCheck Alarm Interpretation
monroep	posted 06-15-2015 09:52 AM ET (US) Hi All. I've had good success with [the oil mixing pump of a Johnson 70-HP outboard engine] for the past couple years. [The oil mixing pump of a Johnson 70-HP outboard engine] has been very trusty. Recently at about 5,000-RPM engine speed, the [aural alarm] gave a quick beep and the [warning] lights [on the SystemCheck gauge] flashed. About 30 seconds later, the aural alarm and warning light flash occured again. I slowed down to engine idle speed. The engine's cooling water stream, [oil reservoir] level, and the fuel hose [were OK]. Then I proceeded on my way again at 5,000-RPM engine speed with no [further alarms]. No [warning] lights stayed on. [The warning lights] counted down across the four [lamps]. The beep was very short, one-second or less. [Do you have] any thoughts [to explain the cause of the short beep and series of warining lamps flashing]? I'm thinking [the cause] could have been as simple as wires crossed? Thank you.
contender	posted 06-15-2015 11:27 PM ET (US) You have to read up on your engine, I think different beeps mean different things. I had a carburetor go bad one time and the alarm started going off, could not figure it out. [The purpose of warning lights and alarms sounding] is not just about the water pump. Other things are connected to the alarm. Good luck
jimh	posted 06-16-2015 08:31 AM ET (US) In the circumstances described in the narrative above, I do not believe the aural alarm and warning lamp annunciators are trying to give an indication of an actual alarm condition in the engine In the OMC SystemCheck alarm indicator and aural alert, the aural alert horn is operated by the System Check gauge. Generally the aural alert sounds in the same manner for all types of alarm indications. It is not necessary to interpret the meaning of the aural alert horn by analysis of its cadence of sounding. The annunciator lamps of the SystemCheck gauge give the meaning of the alarm. Based on your narrative describing the manner in which the aural alert sounded and the four warning lamps of the SystemCheck gauge came on and illuminated in a stepping sequence across the display, the more reasonable explanation for this behavior is a momentary interruption in the power being supplied to the SystemCheck gauge. The events you describe as occurring are the same events that occur when power is first applied to the SystemCheck gauge. On that basis, my inference is there is an intermittent connection to the SystemCheck gauge. The SystemCheck gauge is typically connected to the Johnson or Evinrude engine using a multi-pin connector that is part of the MWS wiring harness. Check the connections of the MWS harness, both at the SystemCheck gauge and at the engine, under the cowling, where the harness connectors to the engine wiring harness. To check the electrical connections of any multi-pin electrical connector, follow this procedure --disconnect the two electrical connectors from each other; --make a close visual inspection of the connectors, looking for any indications of ingress of water that may have cause corrosion, any mechanical problems such as a bent pin or an enlarged socket, or poor latching of the mechanical tabs that retain the connectors; --do not, under any circumstances, apply any sort of grease to any of the actual electrical contacts, no matter how often you read advice on the internet to do this; --if there are any indications of corrosion, dirt, oxidation, or other signs the electrical connectors have been compromised, spray the electrical contacts with WD-40. WD-40 is a special solvent that has been designed to restore electrical connections. After spraying, shake the connectors to dislodge any surplus WD-40 that may remain on them. --re-connect the electrical connectors of the MWS wiring harness to the SystemCheck gauge and the engine wiring harness; apply a very light coating of grease only to the rubber bellows of the front seal of the Deutsch multi-pin connector; do not apply any grease to the actual electrical contact pins or sockets or to the connector body. Please perform the procedure I recommended above and reply with any observations and results.
jimh	posted 06-16-2015 09:11 AM ET (US) Also, check the MWS wiring harness for any damage to the insulation of the conductors in the harness that may have occurred due to abrasion.
seahorse	posted 06-16-2015 09:15 AM ET (US) Jim is correct. You have an intermittent voltage problem, either a momentary open circuit or a drop below 9 volts causing the gauge to reboot and self-test. Loose terminals and corroded connections are the most common culprits and sometimes require much sleuthing to find. Corrosion inside the key switch may also duplicate the symptoms.
monroep	posted 06-16-2015 01:25 PM ET (US) Thank you very much for the review. It makes sense, because it is a similar sound and count down to start-up. I'll perform the steps listed above and post my findings. Thank you very much for the replies and help!