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Hi guys,

Well, after a season sitting in dry dock in the back yard, the Menemsha, sporting some further renovations, hit the water last weekend. I'm pleased to say that other than a minor choke repair, the engine ran great and the new Vance jack plate is going to let me get the engine up to the correct height in short order. It's a pain to adjust, but doable. Once it's set, that's where its gonna stay.

Anyway, the engine ran great, but my old nemesis was waiting for me - the over heat warning horn began to "chirp" erratically again soon after sliding off the trailer.

I know the horn is working properly. The VRO is disconnected and the oil line capped. So, now I'm thinking it's a bad sensor sending an intermittent signal. (I hope I'm wrong, as I discovered that these sensors are now unavailable!!!

Can anyone tell me how to test these? Also, are they only removable with removal of the heads? I'm not sure how the mount.

The engine in question is a 1984 VRO 90.

The only other thing I can think it maybe the ignition switch is bad, causing the horn to chirp like it would on start up. Just a thought.

It's pumping water well, the tell tale stream is strong and not very hot.

Thanks for any ideas

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A chirping is not an overheat situation.

I can't help you much with a disconnected VRO system but take a look at what it should be if the VRO was connected properly.
http://www.whalercentral.com/articles...ticle_id=9

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Is the oil tank still in the boat? If so, remove the wires from it to the motor. Often the electronics inside the oil pickup will give off crazy types of horn signals.

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Thanks Joe,

I've done the test of the horn. It is working fine, and is a new unit.

I agree that the motor is not overheating, I've checked the water temp coming out of it often, and it is never more than warm/hot.

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Seahorse,

The tank is long gone. It was not with the boat when I bought it. The wiring is gone too, and a connector on the engine, which I assume is the VRO warning circuit is disconnected. It's located high up on the port side of the engine - same side as the fuel/oil pump.

The sound that I'm hearing really sounds a lot like the chirp at start up at irregular intervals. I've poked around at the connections to the ignition switch in hopes of recreating it, but no luck there. Same with the wiring coming off the sensors. Where else should I look?

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No more takers?

Hmmm...

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does the warning horn have a black wire on it, or just a purple and a tan wire?

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UPDATE: Okay, I had the boat out on the water today to test the setting on the new jack plate and guess what? No "chirping".

The only things I did between last outing and this one - regarding the horn sounding - were to reseal the end of the oil line to be sure no air was leaking in.

Then, I noticed the tilt/trim was working erratically, so I went looking for a bad connection, and found one in the plug where the switch wires from the remote connect to the wiring harness. I wonder if this could have been affecting the warning horn?

At any rate - for today at least - no more warning horn, and for the first time ever the engine is set up at the correct height! (Plate skimming the surface at cruise speed) so, all in all a good run.

Fingers crossed.

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Thank you, Seahorse.

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Note the older style horn here with the Purple and Tan wires as Seahorse mentions above.
http://www.whalercentral.com/images/a...arness.jpg

The newer horn has a black wire and sounds when you turn the key on as mentioned in my link in post #2 above.