Shallow Water Alarm!! Please Help

[Proud Dad]

Good Morning, Was wondering if someone can help me out, I have a Yamaha 50 Hp, yesterday I drifted in shallow water, and my Alarm went off, and wouldnt shout off, I could not throotle up so I had to ideal back to launch, Can I disconnect that, or where do I even start to check what the heck is wrong?? Appreciate any help???

[Jordan]

Water pump clogged with mud. When it happens, goose it in reverse, most of the time it will clean it out. I'm sure some other guys on here will give you more information

Sent from my HTC Wildfire using Tapatalk

[meaux fishing]

dont disconnect it for sure... the alarm is there for a reason

[Finfeatherfur]

Not being able to power up is a safety check to keep from burning your motor. Sometimes, even though the alarm goes off, the damage is already done. I have mine go off on a regular basis if I am chasing reds in the marsh and the water pick up screen becomes clogged. As stated, put your motor in reverse to wash the screen of debris, then go back to forward.

Now, common sense must prevail and the operator must figure out how to get water flowing through the engine again to cool it. Sometimes, this requires shutting the engine down and trolling or push polling to deeper water. Other times, it's a matter of killing the engine so the computer will reset, then cranking back up, and getting on step to get water running through the water pump to cool the engine. I have seen plenty of people burn up an engine because they ran it just a little too long and it cracked the head/s.

I would put your engine on a water hose today and crank her up. If the alarm goes off on the hose, you have a problem. If you are not familiar w/ dropping your lower unit, then I suggest you get it to a boat shop for a professional.

[Proud Dad]

The water pumping through engine is working fine, Its just that Alarm won't shut off, But I will hook the hose up to it this afternoon, and try to run it in rev!! Thanks for the info and help!!!

[jldsc]

was the pump still pissing water with the alarm still on?? Ive got the same motor but a 40hp and when I get mud in mine I trim it up check the screen, then crank it and let it idle till it starts pissing again. If it doesnt piss at all dont run it..

[Insidiator]

I have a 60 Yam, and find it is very sensitive, which is good. But if you can clean your water intake, let it cool for 5 -10 minutes, pole out to clean water, and then try it lots of times the alarm will clear up. If not, at least make sure your pisser is a strong stream when throttled up in neutral for a second-no more. If it is, you're probably OK, it just hasn't cooled down yet. I've kicked it in gear and run farther out in such an alarm condition with a strong piss stream and the alarm went off about 15 seconds later, indicating the cooling kicked in and the blockage was gone, but I don't recommend it if you know the water pump may be old, or there is a weak or no piss stream. Patience. I like to fish while I wait for the cooling, takes my mind off the prospect of calling for help.

[Finfeatherfur]

If it does't again after insuring you have water flow (not just the tattletale), I would disconnect the battery for a few minutes to see if the ECU needs to be reset.

[SULPHITE]

Is it premixed for oil or injected?

[Dink]

If it was oil, it wouldn't be a solid tone.

[wtretrievers]

I've seen the alarm contacts stick before, had to take a screwdriver handle & thump it a time or 2 to break contacts loose. Just like old relay contacts will do.

[Proud Dad]

The Motor has less than 100 hrs on it, Tattletail is strong, Oil stays full, I will try to disconnect battery this afternoon and see if it resets! I pulled up last sunday to the LaBerge Beach Party Engine must having taking in a lil sand and alarm went off, I backed up in deeper water and alarm shut off , It ran fine the rest of the day!! Yesterday I launched at Prien Lake and it came on when I cranked engine, I turned off engine then restarted and Alarm stopped!!! Ran it to Civic Center, Ran fine and smooth for about 20 min then alarm came back on and would not shut off , I had to ideal 1 1/2 hr back to prien lake lastnight... First Boat I ever Had so new to all this, Really appricate all help, and really like being apart of Salty Cajun.com!!!

[Dink]

Do those engines have a thermo bypass to the tattletail? Could be stuck or broke thermos

[Jordan]

My boat had a "bare wire" and was rubbing against another wire which was causing the alarm to go off constantly. Might want to trace back to make sure this is not the problem.

[Feesherman]

Thermostats might be clogged wit trash. Easy to pull and check.

[Proud Dad]

Can you give me a lil info on location and , How to pull and Check? Thanks

[2ndamendment]

May need to look at changing out the temp sensor and as Feesherman said trouble shoot the thermostat.

[Finfeatherfur]

Originally Posted by Proud Dad

Can you give me a lil info on location and , How to pull and Check? Thanks

What year is your engine, I will try to locate a picture of it. They are easy to locate usually on the block. Also, look for your temp sensor which will have some wires coming off of it.

[Proud Dad]

Its a 2007 2 Stroke...Thanks

[Gerald]

Here is a picture of the thermostate on a 40 hp Force. Second picture is a very dirty thermostate from running in a shallow bayou that has lots of floating trash.