Bad Outboard Impeller?
 

The warning alarm is going off on my '97 150 HP Mercury outboard. I was
ready to change the impeller since water doesn't come out the pee hole
for about 30 seconds after a cold start, and the stream doesn't seem as
strong as usual. What didn't make sense is that the alarm goes off as
soon as the engine is started. It seems to idle around 160 F with ear
muffs on.

I tried switching the garden hose back and forth between the ear muffs
and the fitting next to the pee hole to try to flush any junk out.
After about three repetitions the alarm stopped going off but came back
on after I started the motor a few more times.

Thanks for any help,
Jim

On 17 May 2005 22:36:46 -0700, "mjb920" wrote:

The warning alarm is going off on my '97 150 HP Mercury outboard. I was
ready to change the impeller since water doesn't come out the pee hole
for about 30 seconds after a cold start, and the stream doesn't seem as
strong as usual. What didn't make sense is that the alarm goes off as
soon as the engine is started. It seems to idle around 160 F with ear
muffs on.

I tried switching the garden hose back and forth between the ear muffs
and the fitting next to the pee hole to try to flush any junk out.
After about three repetitions the alarm stopped going off but came back
on after I started the motor a few more times.

There are some strong Merc guys here who might have some specific
information, but I would guess that it's the impeller.

Later,

Tom

In article .com,
says...

The warning alarm is going off on my '97 150 HP Mercury outboard. I was
ready to change the impeller since water doesn't come out the pee hole
for about 30 seconds after a cold start, and the stream doesn't seem as
strong as usual. What didn't make sense is that the alarm goes off as
soon as the engine is started. It seems to idle around 160 F with ear
muffs on.

I tried switching the garden hose back and forth between the ear muffs
and the fitting next to the pee hole to try to flush any junk out.
After about three repetitions the alarm stopped going off but came back
on after I started the motor a few more times.

Thanks for any help,
Jim


I am not sure without checking the book, but you may have both a water
pressure, and water temperature alarm sensor. If you don't have a tach
with the individual warning lights, then all of your alarm sensors will
beep through the same beeper, and it is hard to know which sensor is
actually causing the alarm. The strangest impeller malfunction I ever
saw was where the bronze keyed bushing was spinning inside the impeller,
and like your case, there was slow water flow, and the motor would
overheat above 1/2 throttle.

It sound like your impeller is shot, but I would also check the
thermostat and find the back flush screw and back flush the system to
clear any crud. But I would bet that the motor is clean and its the
impeller.

Good Luck

Dave

Make sure it is not your low oil warning horn you are hearing. If not -
change the water pump.

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

-
"mjb920" wrote in message
oups.com...
The warning alarm is going off on my '97 150 HP Mercury outboard. I was
ready to change the impeller since water doesn't come out the pee hole
for about 30 seconds after a cold start, and the stream doesn't seem as
strong as usual. What didn't make sense is that the alarm goes off as
soon as the engine is started. It seems to idle around 160 F with ear
muffs on.

I tried switching the garden hose back and forth between the ear muffs
and the fitting next to the pee hole to try to flush any junk out.
After about three repetitions the alarm stopped going off but came back
on after I started the motor a few more times.

Thanks for any help,
Jim

On 17 May 2005 22:36:46 -0700, "mjb920" wrote:

The warning alarm is going off on my '97 150 HP Mercury outboard. I was
ready to change the impeller since water doesn't come out the pee hole
for about 30 seconds after a cold start, and the stream doesn't seem as
strong as usual. What didn't make sense is that the alarm goes off as
soon as the engine is started. It seems to idle around 160 F with ear
muffs on.

Outboards are for wimps. Get a real boat.

Me and the wife
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/harkra...bum?.dir=/1323

Harry.Krause wrote:
On 17 May 2005 22:36:46 -0700, "mjb920" wrote:

The warning alarm is going off on my '97 150 HP Mercury outboard. I
was
ready to change the impeller since water doesn't come out the pee
hole
for about 30 seconds after a cold start, and the stream doesn't seem
as
strong as usual. What didn't make sense is that the alarm goes off
as
soon as the engine is started. It seems to idle around 160 F with
ear
muffs on.

Outboards are for wimps. Get a real boat.

Me and the wife
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/harkra...bum?.dir=/1323

Guess that's a fake Merc in your boat photo, obviously to conceal the
actual inboard or I/O.

"mjb920" wrote in message
oups.com...
The warning alarm is going off on my '97 150 HP Mercury outboard.

Which one?

--
-Netsock

"It's just about going fast...that's all..."
http://home.columbus.rr.com/ckg/