2012 GXi 5.0 270 HP faint alarm tone at engine.

[Chuck Mojo]

Good morning........

I have a 2012 Cobalt WSS 220 with a GXi 270 HP duo prop stern drive. I live in the Ft Lauderdale, FL area, and finding someone who can service Volvo Penta engines is impossible, or impossible to have it serviced in less than a month or more. Service techs are the issue, apparently. With that said, I launched my boat last weekend and headed out from the launch ramp in the no-wake zone. The water temperature was 79 degrees, and the ambient temperature was 83 degrees.

Here is the sequence of events that took place.

While idling for two minutes out to the ICW from the ramp at 1000 RPM, a check engine warning scrolled once on the digital screen insert on the tach. Never came on again. When I throttled up, the engine was limited to 2500 RPM. I stopped and raised the engine cover and heard a faint steady alarm tone. It almost seemed like it was part of the engine "hum" if that makes sense. I had never heard the tone before, so I headed back to the ramp to load and leave. During this time on the water, the oil pressure was at 45-50, the engine temp was 145-150 and there were no additional alarms going off on the engine or the dash. I also had purchased new batteries and changed them out the day before. When I flushed the engine at the house, the faint alarm tone was still going off and the oil pressure and engine temp were slightly lower that on the water.

Right now I am thinking one of the sensors is causing the issue. The engine has 700 hours on it and has never been touched except for oil changes and winterization when the boat lived in a cooler climate. The engine has been nothing but perfect and never had an alarm triggered.

I could not find a similar issue on this forum and if I did miss it, please let me know.

I know there could be many reasons for the alarm tone, I am just trying to DIY this since there is such a long wait time to get it looked at.

Thanks for your help!

[bruceb58]

Time to get the engine scanned. You have a sender/sensor measuring low oil pressure or an over temp. The ECU limits RPM to 2500 in this case.

This is also the reason I own a Rinda Diacom scanner. They are expensive but worth it if you can't get into a dealer right away.

https://www.rinda.com/marine/marine.htm ... accurately.

[Chuck Mojo]

Do you use the handheld scanner or the software version for PC?

[bruceb58]

Software version for PC.

I used to have the handheld but it wasn't compatible for my newer engine. I used the handheld for my 2006 Mercury 90HP outboard. I caught a low temp condition on it when the thermostat stuck open.

[AsLan7]

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Hey CM. So glad you found us.

Like Bruce said a tech with a good computer and scan program is worth the diagnosis time.

Any pics?

And welcome aboard mate!

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[Chuck Mojo]

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[AsLan7]

Classic color combo. Timeless!

[Krob1114]

Welcome and good luck.
I was in Broward County from 1978 to 1993, but it was before I got into boating.
Just golf, beach, bars, and basketball.
Best advice is already what Bruce told you.