Yamaha VMAX 200hp ALARM ISSUES
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 9

Problems...
The boat starts, runs, etc....BUT, once i'm on plane making a short run to my next spot, an alarm sounds(it's a constant beeeeeeeeeeeep) and it shuts my motor down below 2000 rpm's causing me to take water due to the abrupt slowing. I shut the key off, the alarm shut off. If i try to restart immediately, the alarm is still sounding. After several attempt at turning on and off and in gear and out of gear(basically anything i can trick it to do), it finally goes away. I then take off, jump up on plane and it will allow me to run a couple minutes or so before it happens again.
My attempt to fix..I read up on some forums and was told to replace the water impeller/pump(in which I did), replace the thermostats( in which i did) and the problem still exist. I also ran the motor at the launch and it still happened. At that point I also removed the oil reservoir under the hood and messed with the float sensor(which did nothing). Alarm still sounded.
Conclusion...NEED HELP!! Problem Still Exist!!!
The boat starts, runs, etc....BUT, once i'm on plane making a short run to my next spot, an alarm sounds(it's a constant beeeeeeeeeeeep) and it shuts my motor down below 2000 rpm's causing me to take water due to the abrupt slowing. I shut the key off, the alarm shut off. If i try to restart immediately, the alarm is still sounding. After several attempt at turning on and off and in gear and out of gear(basically anything i can trick it to do), it finally goes away. I then take off, jump up on plane and it will allow me to run a couple minutes or so before it happens again.
My attempt to fix..I read up on some forums and was told to replace the water impeller/pump(in which I did), replace the thermostats( in which i did) and the problem still exist. I also ran the motor at the launch and it still happened. At that point I also removed the oil reservoir under the hood and messed with the float sensor(which did nothing). Alarm still sounded.
Conclusion...NEED HELP!! Problem Still Exist!!!
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SE Fla
Posts: 3,532

Digital or analog gauges ?
i would start by checking oil level on motor as soon as alarm kicks on
and change oil filter on remote tank
if it's an overheat, bring a handheld temp sensor to see if either side is overheating
i would start by checking oil level on motor as soon as alarm kicks on
and change oil filter on remote tank
if it's an overheat, bring a handheld temp sensor to see if either side is overheating
#4
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 20

I had a similar problem with a 99’ 150 VMax, similar story. Mine had a temp sensor that has corroded wires which was intermittently causing the motor to go into limp mode. I would suggest you check it out if you have already don’t the impeller and thermostat. It’s a $100 part that is very easy to install, but I would make sure it’s a temp issue and not a low oil alarm before throwing parts at it.
#5
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 9

Analog gauges work as well as it still spits water when this happens.
I just purchased the 2 temp sensor wires last night. Figured sense I replaced thermostats, I will replace those next.
question....I've been reading up on this and some people suggest the kill switch being faulty, but this alarm doesn't kill the motor, it puts it in a safe low rpm mode
I just purchased the 2 temp sensor wires last night. Figured sense I replaced thermostats, I will replace those next.
question....I've been reading up on this and some people suggest the kill switch being faulty, but this alarm doesn't kill the motor, it puts it in a safe low rpm mode
#6
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 9

Oil level is fine. It's full in the tank and the reserve as well. I even removed disconnected the float sensor when alarm was sounding. It still sounded.
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 393

CAREFULLY stick your hand in the pee stream when at normal temp and when alarm goes off to see if its hotter. I had a 150 merc do this with a brand new impeller and housing 1st trip out. It looked like the pee stream was good but sucked air or something. I had a shop do that and they used sierra parts. I bought merc stuff and all good.
#8
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 9

CAREFULLY stick your hand in the pee stream when at normal temp and when alarm goes off to see if its hotter. I had a 150 merc do this with a brand new impeller and housing 1st trip out. It looked like the pee stream was good but sucked air or something. I had a shop do that and they used sierra parts. I bought merc stuff and all good.
My boat did this before and after replacing the water impeller kit as well as the thermostats
#12
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 9

**UPDATE**
The weather has been really shitty in the PNW but I finally got it out on the water after just recently changing the sensor wires. Unfortunately, I still have the alarm. GRRRRR. I left the boat ramp and jumped up on plane and went down river about 5 miles. Ran like a raped ape!!. Then i idled for a few minutes checking out my side imaging on a spot I discovered. NO ALARM. I was thinking that I fixed it. Then about 35 minutes later, I decided to head back to launch. Jumped up on plan and ran it back, got about 2 miles into the 5 mile trip and it SOUNDED. rpm's dropped, took water over the back. I was pissed. I went ahead and shifted in and out of gear about 10 times and then it quick. I jumped on plane and headed back.
I was able to get back to the launch and when I slowed down, i heard a few knocks in the engine that didn't sound too pretty, so I shut it down. Started right back up and ran just fine. Need help. The F'n sucks!!
The weather has been really shitty in the PNW but I finally got it out on the water after just recently changing the sensor wires. Unfortunately, I still have the alarm. GRRRRR. I left the boat ramp and jumped up on plane and went down river about 5 miles. Ran like a raped ape!!. Then i idled for a few minutes checking out my side imaging on a spot I discovered. NO ALARM. I was thinking that I fixed it. Then about 35 minutes later, I decided to head back to launch. Jumped up on plan and ran it back, got about 2 miles into the 5 mile trip and it SOUNDED. rpm's dropped, took water over the back. I was pissed. I went ahead and shifted in and out of gear about 10 times and then it quick. I jumped on plane and headed back.
I was able to get back to the launch and when I slowed down, i heard a few knocks in the engine that didn't sound too pretty, so I shut it down. Started right back up and ran just fine. Need help. The F'n sucks!!
#13
Admirals Club 

Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 8

Did you drop foot and check impeller. Had this happen few weeks back, steady beeping, it was peeing fine. Checked my sensor wiring, even pulled them, ran fresh water through block thinking clogged channels, still beeped. Dropped the foot, the impeller was stiff. Popped in a new one, no issues.
#19
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 9