Looks to me like the horn for the boat itself (like a car horn). Not the
alarm for the engine. What is it wired to. I would assume the horn
switch/button. The warning alarm for the engine is usually a small black
round device about the size of a 1/2 dollar. Some are wired under the dash
and others are wired inside the control box. The alarm should operate when
the key is turned to the ignition position but prior to cranking the engine.
If it does not, have it checked or replaced.

--
Tony
my boats and autos - http://t.thomas.home.mchsi.com


"tcoop" wrote in message
. ..
Can someone tell me if this is a warning horn, and if so, is there a way I
can test it?
http://coopscorner.com/takealook/warninghorn.htm
This is on a Hydra pontoon boat, which they don't make any more.
Thanks,
Tom

After looking a little closer, I think your right about it maybe being the
actual boat horn. I read that the warning horn maybe under the dash on some
boats and I was hoping that was it. I was told that going into some of the
control boxes can be a tricky job due to all the wires. I really couldn't
tell where the wires for that horn go, but i feel like it is indeed the boat
horn.
You said the alarm should work when the ignition is in the on position,
prior to the cranking position. I don't quite understand what you are
talking about. Wouldn't it sound off when the engine was started? Did i
mention that I was new to boating and this is my first boat? So sorry for
maybe not understanding everything that I should, but I will learn it...:-)
Thanks for your time and your help.
Tom


"Tony Thomas" wrote in message
news:47%mb.38895$e01.85121@attbi_s02...
Looks to me like the horn for the boat itself (like a car horn). Not the
alarm for the engine. What is it wired to. I would assume the horn
switch/button. The warning alarm for the engine is usually a small black
round device about the size of a 1/2 dollar. Some are wired under the
dash
and others are wired inside the control box. The alarm should operate
when
the key is turned to the ignition position but prior to cranking the
engine.
If it does not, have it checked or replaced.

--
Tony
my boats and autos - http://t.thomas.home.mchsi.com


"tcoop" wrote in message
. ..
Can someone tell me if this is a warning horn, and if so, is there a way
I
can test it?
http://coopscorner.com/takealook/warninghorn.htm
This is on a Hydra pontoon boat, which they don't make any more.
Thanks,
Tom

Some outboards just had a "hot horn". That *could* be a hot horn.
It seems easy enough to trace the wire colors and see where they go.

-W

"tcoop" wrote in message
. ..
After looking a little closer, I think your right about it maybe being the
actual boat horn. I read that the warning horn maybe under the dash on
some
boats and I was hoping that was it. I was told that going into some of the
control boxes can be a tricky job due to all the wires. I really couldn't
tell where the wires for that horn go, but i feel like it is indeed the
boat
horn.
You said the alarm should work when the ignition is in the on position,
prior to the cranking position. I don't quite understand what you are
talking about. Wouldn't it sound off when the engine was started? Did i
mention that I was new to boating and this is my first boat? So sorry for
maybe not understanding everything that I should, but I will learn
it...:-)
Thanks for your time and your help.
Tom


"Tony Thomas" wrote in message
news:47%mb.38895$e01.85121@attbi_s02...
Looks to me like the horn for the boat itself (like a car horn). Not
the
alarm for the engine. What is it wired to. I would assume the horn
switch/button. The warning alarm for the engine is usually a small
black
round device about the size of a 1/2 dollar. Some are wired under the
dash
and others are wired inside the control box. The alarm should operate
when
the key is turned to the ignition position but prior to cranking the
engine.
If it does not, have it checked or replaced.

--
Tony
my boats and autos - http://t.thomas.home.mchsi.com


"tcoop" wrote in message
. ..
Can someone tell me if this is a warning horn, and if so, is there a
way
I
can test it?
http://coopscorner.com/takealook/warninghorn.htm
This is on a Hydra pontoon boat, which they don't make any more.
Thanks,
Tom

When you first turn the ignition on, the engine warning horn should sound to
indicate it is working properly. If not, then it may not be working. What
engine do you have and what year.

--
Tony
My boats and autos - http://t.thomas.home.mchsi.com



"tcoop" wrote in message
. ..
After looking a little closer, I think your right about it maybe being the
actual boat horn. I read that the warning horn maybe under the dash on
some
boats and I was hoping that was it. I was told that going into some of the
control boxes can be a tricky job due to all the wires. I really couldn't
tell where the wires for that horn go, but i feel like it is indeed the
boat
horn.
You said the alarm should work when the ignition is in the on position,
prior to the cranking position. I don't quite understand what you are
talking about. Wouldn't it sound off when the engine was started? Did i
mention that I was new to boating and this is my first boat? So sorry for
maybe not understanding everything that I should, but I will learn
it...:-)
Thanks for your time and your help.
Tom


"Tony Thomas" wrote in message
news:47%mb.38895$e01.85121@attbi_s02...
Looks to me like the horn for the boat itself (like a car horn). Not
the
alarm for the engine. What is it wired to. I would assume the horn
switch/button. The warning alarm for the engine is usually a small
black
round device about the size of a 1/2 dollar. Some are wired under the
dash
and others are wired inside the control box. The alarm should operate
when
the key is turned to the ignition position but prior to cranking the
engine.
If it does not, have it checked or replaced.

--
Tony
my boats and autos - http://t.thomas.home.mchsi.com


"tcoop" wrote in message
. ..
Can someone tell me if this is a warning horn, and if so, is there a
way
I
can test it?
http://coopscorner.com/takealook/warninghorn.htm
This is on a Hydra pontoon boat, which they don't make any more.
Thanks,
Tom

The warning horns on my last three boats would go on only after the
ignition switch was on (engine not started) for 20-45 seconds or so.
Not right away.

Hmmm. If you lost all oil pressure, would it take 20-45 seconds for suich a
system to sound off? I think you'd be stopped dead in the water by or about
then.

Hmmm, I guess in this case, the warning horn would be sounding to let
you know why your engine is now hosed. :^)

-JimL


Gould 0738 wrote:

Hmmm. If you lost all oil pressure, would it take 20-45 seconds for suich a
system to sound off? I think you'd be stopped dead in the water by or about
then.

Mine have the same delay and that's as per the manual. I just figured it was
the "Mercruiser way", circa 1989.

My understanding is that it is the test circuit that has the delay built in.
I *assume* that the alarm would go off right away during a fault with the
engine running.

"Gould 0738" wrote in message
...
The warning horns on my last three boats would go on only after the
ignition switch was on (engine not started) for 20-45 seconds or so.
Not right away.

Hmmm. If you lost all oil pressure, would it take 20-45 seconds for suich
a
system to sound off? I think you'd be stopped dead in the water by or
about
then.

Let's all hope your assumption is correct and we won't ever need to find
out.

Back when my engine used to run :-(,
the warning buzzer for low oil pressure (and overheat) would come on as soon as
the key was turned. It would remain on for a second after the start button was
activated until the oil pressure climbed to about 40 pounds (enroute to 60-70)
and then shut off. I think this is a better system, only because it
demonstrates that it is working every time the engine starts.

Who waits 30-45 seconds after turning the key part way to crank an engine?
Probably nobody. The entire system could be gunny sack and you wouldn't know
it.

I have a 40 hp 1995 Force on a pontoon. I know, the engine isn't much worth
anything, but I got it and have to make the best of it. It has been raining
here and I haven't had the chance to check out the horn. However, I don't
recall hearing anytjhing when I turned the ignition key.
Thanks for the help.
Tom

"Tony Thomas" wrote in message
news:Pqinb.44787$e01.105545@attbi_s02...
When you first turn the ignition on, the engine warning horn should sound
to
indicate it is working properly. If not, then it may not be working.
What
engine do you have and what year.

--
Tony
My boats and autos - http://t.thomas.home.mchsi.com



"tcoop" wrote in message
. ..
After looking a little closer, I think your right about it maybe being
the
actual boat horn. I read that the warning horn maybe under the dash on
some
boats and I was hoping that was it. I was told that going into some of
the
control boxes can be a tricky job due to all the wires. I really
couldn't
tell where the wires for that horn go, but i feel like it is indeed the
boat
horn.
You said the alarm should work when the ignition is in the on position,
prior to the cranking position. I don't quite understand what you are
talking about. Wouldn't it sound off when the engine was started? Did i
mention that I was new to boating and this is my first boat? So sorry
for
maybe not understanding everything that I should, but I will learn
it...:-)
Thanks for your time and your help.
Tom


"Tony Thomas" wrote in message
news:47%mb.38895$e01.85121@attbi_s02...
Looks to me like the horn for the boat itself (like a car horn). Not
the
alarm for the engine. What is it wired to. I would assume the horn
switch/button. The warning alarm for the engine is usually a small
black
round device about the size of a 1/2 dollar. Some are wired under the
dash
and others are wired inside the control box. The alarm should operate
when
the key is turned to the ignition position but prior to cranking the
engine.
If it does not, have it checked or replaced.

--
Tony
my boats and autos - http://t.thomas.home.mchsi.com


"tcoop" wrote in message
. ..
Can someone tell me if this is a warning horn, and if so, is there a
way
I
can test it?
http://coopscorner.com/takealook/warninghorn.htm
This is on a Hydra pontoon boat, which they don't make any more.
Thanks,
Tom

"Tony Thomas" wrote in message news:47%mb.38895$e01.85121@attbi_s02...
Looks to me like the horn for the boat itself (like a car horn).

this may sound stupid, but why not put your ear there and blow your
horn and see if that is where the sound is comming from. that way you
can eliminate or confirm that it is the boat horn.
my experience with hot horns (and it is not worth much) is that on
some boats they go off for a second when you start the boat, like the
lights on your car dashboard to show that they still work, and on some
boats the hot horn only goes off when your engine is overheating.
my other question is, if you can not trace a colored wire back to it's
source, why do you want to know what it is? remember murphy's law
about if it ain't broke, don't fix it. you must be like me, I can't
help myself, always wanting to learn about things, but not really
there yet. good luck and enjoy boating along with the rest of us.