263 with VP 8.1 Gi-B, alarm beeps

[fletch8527]

Today I helped my dad get his 263 in the water. Started the engine and it started beeping from the engine bay. The pattern was beep, pause, beep beep. From what I was reading on the issue it doesnt seem that the pattern means much. Oil pressure was good (40psi) we only idled down the river to his hoist because we didnt want to push it. My reading seems to say its either oil pressure, gear lube, exhaust temp or coolant temp. It started happening right as we were underway so I dont think it would be actual high exhaust temp or coolant temp but it could just be a failed sensor. The ride was ~30 minutes of idling. During that drive the oil pressure was at 40 psi the whole time but the coolant temp gauge never moved (indicated cold). When we got back to the hoist we checked the engine and gear oil and both were good. So it seems that its not the oil pressure but it could be one of the other 3 sensors.

I read that the sensors are Normally Open and that disconnecting the sensors until the alarm stops is the easiest way to trace down the issue. I know that the oil pressure sending unit will cause the alarm until the engine is actually running. I did find the oil pressure sensor, its in a tough spot but I can reach it. Anyone know what size the nut is that holds the sensor wire on it? Assume its metric? Also does anyone happen to have a service manual for the 8.1 Gi-B they could share? Finally could anyone assist with locating the harnesses/connectors for the other sensors? I found some part diagrams but the ones I found never gave any context as to where the sensors are located.

[Big Block Power]

Note sure if this will help you but it might. It only really comes on for 3 things.
That nut not sure but prob a 3/8 or 10mm

https://forums.iboats.com/forum/engine- ... larm-issue

[AsLan7]

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Hey F8527. Welcome to the Cobaltchat forum. So glad you found us!

Sorry to hear about your 263 engine woes. What year and what engine?

Confused about temperature gauge. You said it never moved? It should read around 150-165.

Definitely not the depth finder alarm correct?

Did you read ECU for codes?

Btw Any pics?

Again welcome aboard mate.

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[fletch8527]

Note sure if this will help you but it might. It only really comes on for 3 things.
That nut not sure but prob a 3/8 or 10mm

https://forums.iboats.com/forum/engine- ... larm-issue

Thanks, That forum post was one that I was reading, just struggling on the location of the sensors. Also thanks for the workshop manual ill check it out.

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Hey F8527. Welcome to the Cobaltchat forum. So glad you found us!

Sorry to hear about your 263 engine woes. What year and what engine?

Confused about temperature gauge. You said it never moved? It should read around 150-165.

Definitely not the depth finder alarm correct?

Did you read ECU for codes?

Btw Any pics?

Again welcome aboard mate.

Thanks! Sorry, I forgot to mention that its a 2002 263, it has the VP 8.1 Gi-B engine

My dad said that it always ran cold but I dont think I ever noticed. But after this beeping started I took notice that the temp gauge never moved from the far left (cold). My guess is that it could be the temp sensor causing the issue if the gauge isnt working, but it could be the gauge too. For the life of me I cant remember what the gauge range was, ill be back over there in a few hours. Not sure if it matters, but we are in the Great Lakes and its freshwater cooled.

Its not the depth sounder, that thing has never really worked and always alarms, we are in the habit of silencing it as soon at the boat starts. It was definitely coming from the engine bay.

Sorry for my ignorance, but whats the process to read the ECU? I have a reader for my car, is it compatible with the VP? Im used to working on car issues, boats are a little foreign to me.

I have just some basic pics of the boat in the hoist or water, but nothing for the engine.

[Big Block Power]

No your car reader won't work. You need one for mefi4 to read it. Or get one of these. Also Volvo put some 140 tstats in there engines and put out a bulletin to change them to a 160. Mostly just because the oil never got warm enough. I still have the 140 in mine.

https://fox-marine.com/index.php?route= ... ation_id=7

https://obd2allinone.com/mefiscan.asp

[fletch8527]

Sorry about the delay but he got the issue resolved. Turns out he has a boat mechanic a few doors down the street. He came over last night to look at it. Found the issue in minutes... My dad had taken (what we now know is) the Flame Arrestor off to clean and didnt realize there was a sensor connected to it. Once reconnected the beeping stopped. He also connected to the ECU and could read the temps from there so it seems that his temp gauge is either bad or has a loose wire.
Thankfully it was something simple!

[AsLan7]

Sorry about the delay but he got the issue resolved. Turns out he has a boat mechanic a few doors down the street. He came over last night to look at it. Found the issue in minutes... My dad had taken (what we now know is) the Flame Arrestor off to clean and didnt realize there was a sensor connected to it. Once reconnected the beeping stopped. He also connected to the ECU and could read the temps from there so it seems that his temp gauge is either bad or has a loose wire.
Thankfully it was something simple!

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Thanks for the update.

Enjoy the time on the water!

Pics when you get a chance.

[fletch8527]

Pics as requested

Boat1.png

Boat2.png

Boat3.png

[AsLan7]

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Nice Fletch!

[AsLan7]

Btw what this...

[fletch8527]

Btw what this...

Its a GPS antenna. My dad's friend had gotten a newer chartplotter setup and gave the old stuff to my dad. We got it installed but the maps were pretty dated then I found it was a pain to get it updated and would be cheaper to get a new unit. So that antenna isnt doing anything now.

[AsLan7]

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Roger that.
Never seen one mounted there before.