engine alarm upon turning key

[livbysea]

for those in the know- any idea why our brand new (electronic) yanmar warning alarm goes off even before starting the engine.
and of course this does not happen in a totally consistent manner - esp when the marina guys check it.

as directed - we turn the key, then push the power button, wait 4 seconds and push start - often it works like a charm. BUT just as often it triggers an alarm.

Oil pressure seems fine, stop cock is open - wondering if it could be a fault in the alarm.... welcome your insights. have left a message at Yanmar - but would love to get off the mooring today......

seems the electronic engines need to go thru some sort of cycle before pushing start - and timing matters - but we tried many permutations

frustratingly yours!
thanks!
livbysea

[tkeithlu]

Do you mean before the engine has run a few seconds? It's likely you oil pressure alarm, there being no oil pressure until the oil pump gets going.

[tkeithlu]

Did I miss something? I apologize if my interpretation of your question was wrong. Could you restate it as a situation in which the alarm keeps going after the oil pressure alarm should have turned off with rising oil pressure?

[a64pilot]

This is some kind of electronic controlled likely common rail, and not our regular simple oil pressure alarm. My guess is it throws some kind of code, maybe a flashing light?
Anyway I think it’s going to take the manual or a Yanmar tech, or maybe someone that has this engine.
Posting which engine may help.

[livbysea]

Originally Posted by tkeithlu

Did I miss something? I apologize if my interpretation of your question was wrong. Could you restate it as a situation in which the alarm keeps going after the oil pressure alarm should have turned off with rising oil pressure?

hi

thanks
we have checked oil level - it is fine.

the "rules" for starting this engine are:
1. turn key on
2. push power button; let panel cycle lights come on and off on readouts- which takes approximately 4 seconds
3. push start after the four seconds
4. go sailing....

our alarm is now going off after we push the power button - and does not turn off if start the engine. we have tried pushing start both before and after the lights in readouts go out - (from 3-5 seconds after pushing power button. thinking maybe the oil pressure sensor has malfunctioned???

Hesitant to run engine with the alarm - in case there really is a problem. the engine is brand new - fewer than 10 hours on it -

wish we had a mechanical only engine........

very bummed out

thanks

livbysea

[livbysea]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

This is some kind of electronic controlled likely common rail, and not our regular simple oil pressure alarm. My guess is it throws some kind of code, maybe a flashing light?
Anyway I think it’s going to take the manual or a Yanmar tech, or maybe someone that has this engine.
Posting which engine may help.

sadly, we agree. manual has been pretty useless - just sad we can't sail - being conservative with regard to engine as we dont' want to do something stupid (though the alarm may be going off b/c we already did something stupid!)

thanks

[livbysea]

engine is

YANMAR 4JH110

[SV__Grace]

Could it be an alternator alarm?

Every marine diesel engine I've had (yanmar, volvo, ford, beta) has an alarm that goes off when you turn the key and goes off when the engine starts, which is the oil pressure alarm.

My new Beta engine had a period where the alternator alarm was going off after the engine started and at random intervals afterwards. Tightening the alternator belt often helps that. In our case the fancy programmable Balmar voltage regulator needed adjustment for the second alternator.

[hlev00]

Are there any lights on?

Can you get behind the panel? You might get lucky and find a loose connector or wire.

I would also check the alternator. Maybe the warning light is busted. Is voltage between 13 and 15V when the engine is running?

Also just because you have oil doesn’t mean you have oil pressure. It could be a problem with the oil pressure sender or a wire in between and hopefully not the oil pump itself.

Harry

[livbysea]

Originally Posted by SV__Grace

Could it be an alternator alarm?

Every marine diesel engine I've had (yanmar, volvo, ford, beta) has an alarm that goes off when you turn the key and goes off when the engine starts, which is the oil pressure alarm.

My new Beta engine had a period where the alternator alarm was going off after the engine started and at random intervals afterwards. Tightening the alternator belt often helps that. In our case the fancy programmable Balmar voltage regulator needed adjustment for the second alternator.

INTERESTING - WE HAVE HAD ALARMS AS WELL - BUT THEY USUALLY TURN OFF ONCE OIL COMES UP TO PROPER PRESSURE. GAUGES SHOW PROPER PRESSURE, BUT ALARM REMAINS ON. - UNFORTUNATELY, THE WARNING MESSAGE IS JUST "CHECK ENGINE" NOT SPECIFIC ENOUGH TO BE REALLY HELPFUL.... THANKS!!

[livbysea]

Originally Posted by hlev00

Are there any lights on?

Can you get behind the panel? You might get lucky and find a loose connector or wire.

I would also check the alternator. Maybe the warning light is busted. Is voltage between 13 and 15V when the engine is running?

Also just because you have oil doesn’t mean you have oil pressure. It could be a problem with the oil pressure sender or a wire in between and hopefully not the oil pump itself.

Harry

GOOD SUGGESTIONS - VOLTAGE IS RUNNING AT 14 - OIL GAUGE SAYS IT HAS PRESSURE - AND IT IS NOT OVERHEATING - HOPING FOR WIRE OR BAD SENSOR.....THANKS

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by livbysea

GOOD SUGGESTIONS - VOLTAGE IS RUNNING AT 14 - OIL GAUGE SAYS IT HAS PRESSURE - AND IT IS NOT OVERHEATING - HOPING FOR WIRE OR BAD SENSOR.....THANKS

The gauge is usually fed from a sender, the alarm from a switch.

[livbysea]

Originally Posted by Sailmonkey

The gauge is usually fed from a sender, the alarm from a switch.

sorry - i am a luddite - what is the implication of the sender vs switch for this situation?

THANKS!!

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by livbysea

INTERESTING - WE HAVE HAD ALARMS AS WELL - BUT THEY USUALLY TURN OFF ONCE OIL COMES UP TO PROPER PRESSURE. GAUGES SHOW PROPER PRESSURE, BUT ALARM REMAINS ON. - UNFORTUNATELY, THE WARNING MESSAGE IS JUST "CHECK ENGINE" NOT SPECIFIC ENOUGH TO BE REALLY HELPFUL.... THANKS!!

It could be anything, Common rails often have a lot of sensors, like manifold pressure and air temp, mine even knew fuel temp, RPM of course, throttle position sensor and mass air flow, all could trip a MIL.
Automobiles of course were mandated long ago to have OBD or onboard diagnostics, often times an inexpensive reader can be purchased that will tell you the fault codes.
Sometimes manufacturers are extremely protective of their software as of course that’s how others can sell programming chips etc, John Deere is I think excessively protective.
GM and a few others freely publish it.
I have heard Volvo is like John Deere, I don’t know about Yanmar, but if an OBD type of reader is available, I’d buy one.

[livbysea]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

It could be anything, Common rails often have a lot of sensors, like manifold pressure and air temp, mine even knew fuel temp, RPM of course, throttle position sensor and mass air flow, all could trip a MIL.
Automobiles of course were mandated long ago to have OBD or onboard diagnostics, often times an inexpensive reader can be purchased that will tell you the fault codes.
Sometimes manufacturers are extremely protective of their software as of course that’s how others can sell programming chips etc, John Deere is I think excessively protective.
GM and a few others freely publish it.
I have heard Volvo is like John Deere, I don’t know about Yanmar, but if an OBD type of reader is available, I’d buy one.

thanks! we are just learning about this new fangled engine - it sure is more complicated than its predecessor! appreciate your response
livbysea