Engine Warning Light?

[lbz99smp]

Hi guys, weve recently bought a 2003 SANTE.

Having a few problems with the engine at the moment, hopefully someone can shed some light on.

We have 2 lights on the dash as per the pic attached.

When we bought the boat the previous owner said that the small red light would flicker on and off for probably the first 10-15mins of operation untill eveything has warmed up properly. Is this correct? or should the light go off after the boat goes above 1200RPM straight away? Is this small red light specifically for the vdrive?

The large red light from memory has not remained on after startup previously. However yesterday the light remained on and the boat would not run above 2500RPM. (limp mode has activated i assume) the tacho would then flash the message 'reduce RPM see dealer.'

Does this large red light only relate to the engine only(not vdrive)?
Our engine temp was approx 160deg and our oil pressure was approx 40-50psi. as per the display on the tacho and analoge gauges.

After further inspection out of the water we have discovered that the v-drive oil was low. We have now topped up the vdrive and idled the engine on the trailer but the large red light is still on.

Has anyone any ideas or suggestions.

Cheers.

[Flux]

RE: Engine Warning Light?

TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE:

Please take this with a grain of salt and understand that there are folks here who are completely knowledgable, i am just trying to get you going here, and it's a bit different on my 02' SAN, but there are two lights as well.

The small red light is the V-Drive oil pressure sensor. It should remain on until the boat hits 1200 RPM and puts a few PSI into the system. It will flicker sometimes when you are in and around 1200 RPM. It will only go off when the boat is in gear, because it's the V-drive.

The large red light should sense temperature and engine oil pressure and will go off if either is bad. I have heard of the "oil sending unit???" (I thin that's what it is) going bad and the sensor will trip. This is second hand from stuff I have read. I cannot say if the light will stay on once it has been tripped and gone into limp mode, I don't know if it needs to be reset or not.

Wish I could be of more help on this and hopefully someone will chime in with better info. Good luck.

[NautiqueJeff]

RE: Engine Warning Light?

I'd say that topping off your V-Drive oil will probably solve your V-Drive oil pressure issue, but keep an eye on the level to make sure you don't have a leak. That light should go off at about 1200 RPM, and there shouldn't be any need for the unit to warm up for the light to go off.

There are two things that can cause the big red light to come on (and your boat to go into limp mode). One is the engine oil pressure, and the other is engine temperature. I don't know of anything else that can cause that light to come on. One of the sensors must be bad.

[NautiqueJeff]

RE: Engine Warning Light?

By the way, your boat isn't a 2003. It is a 2004. The XMD-3 remote and the curved tower give it away.

[lbz99smp]

Hey thanks for the advice guys.

Jeff, the boat in the pic isnt actually our boat...... its a boat we looked a before buying the current one(dont have any pics of ours yet).

Its a 04 like you said.

I guess the next step is to check those sensors.

If we determine that one of the sensors is faulty through disconnecting it.
Can we run the boat as normal with the sensor disconnected until we get a replacement?

We're in Australia and im not sure how readily avaliable parts will be :x

Do you guys know of any international parts supplies?

Thanks for all the help.

[NautiqueJeff]

I have heard of people running with the sensors disconnected, but I would be very careful if you do that.

Mid-Ohio Watersports ships PCM and CC parts internationally. Give them a call or send them an e-mail and let them know that you're a PlanetNautique member. They'll give you 15% off of your total. If you were in the US, they'd even ship for free.

[lbz99smp]

Cool,

Thanks Jeff. Well check it out tommorow and see what the verdict is.

Would you have any idea if the sensor would be a typical GM sensor or PCM/Correct craft specific? We have GM dealers locally here, would be nice if we could just go down the road and pic one up. :grin:

If not i'll contact the guys you suggested.

Cheers

[nms1991]

On the 03 excalibur engine more than likely it is the oil presssure switch and it is located on the starboard side on the engine near the bellhousing for the trans low and it has a slotted screw head on it. There is two holes in the sides that one is sealed and one is open and the open one should point down ward to prevent water from getting in the sensor and tripping a false limp mode. You might be able to locate a sensor locally at the auto parts store because it is not a GM or PCM exclusive part only. It is only a pressure switch that closes a low pressure, I think at like 5 to 7 psi. It has 1/8"npt threads on the one end of the sensor.

[ag4ever]

I have an '02, and just recently had the oil pressure switch go out. There are two sensors for the oil pressure. One is a large sensor where the round dimension's diameter is about 2 inches, and the rectangular dimension is about 3 inches. (Dimensions for a cylinder where viewed one direction it looks like a circle, and when viewed from the other it looks like a rectangle.) This sensor is a variable pressure sensor that delivers the real pressure reading to the oil pressure gauge. It should have a wire attached to it via a nut on a stud that is part of the sensor. The other sensor (actually a switch) is MUCH smaller or about 1 inch diameter for the round portion, and about 2 inches long for the rectangular dimension. It has a tab that sticks out from it where the wire is attached via a screw. By removing the wire from the SWITCH you can run the boat at full throtle, but you MUST keep a close eye on the oil pressure gauge. I would not do this long term, but just untill a new switch can be sourced.

The PCM part number is R020015A called a "Oil Pressure Switch"

The other item that might be bad is the water temp switch, but i would bet on the oil switch first.

[lbz99smp]

Hey guys,

Thanks for all you suggestions and comments about the problem. We had a look at it on saturday and you guys were spot on. Turns out it is a faulty oil pressure switch. We disconnected the switch and ran the boat cautiosly for the first 10-15mins. The oil presure stayed within recommended ranges. As soon as the switch was reconnected the light came on again, so we have disconnected it until a replacement is sorced. We ran for approx 4 hrs without any problems. :grin:

Topping up the vdrive oil has stopped the small light coming on or flickering over 1200rpm (hope no damage has been caused from the previous owners who believed this was normal).

Anyway thanks allot for all your suggestions and advice. Bit of a learning curve for the first week of ownership. :grin:

cheers.