CRUSADER 502 XLI SHUT DOWN

S

silverton260

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Oct 16, 2014
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33775
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1997 Silverton 360 Express twin 502 XLI. Cruising at 3500 rpm, port motor gets overtemp/oil pressure alarm and shuts engine down. However, temp and oil pressure were normal. Tried to restart and engine just turns over. When port key is turned to ignition/on, the momentary temp/oil alarm does not sound like it's supposed to. Put jumper wire straight from battery to positive wire on coil and engine started and ran, all parameters normal. As soon as I disconnected jumper, engine died. Any suggestions? Anyone know of a wiring diagram for this year/model boat?
 
You might try jumping the water and oil pressure sensors one at a time to see if you can pinpoint which sensor is killing the engine-my guess would be the oil sensor as it is normally open and closed only when running the engine. Water sensor, I believe would be normally open during engine operation-disconnecting this wire would be necessary to rule out. If both check out-which I suspect won't, tracing the wiring from the sensors back will be your only alternative. One last thought, a lot of boats have a transmission or Vee drive overheat sensor. You might need to check that too. Let us know what you find. Good luck.
 
I did change the oil pressure switch, but not the sender. I assume the sender is good since the oil pressure was at 55 psi when engine shut down. This engige set-up does not have an alarm for the tranny oil temp. The only thing the alarm is for on this boat is water temp and oil pressure.
 
So did you find the problem?

Otherwise, another component that can shut down an engine is the neutral safety switch. Can be on the tranny or throttle.
 
Hopefully somebody will have that wiring diagram! If that boat had Kill Switches, that's what I'd suspect. The Alarm not sounding like it usually should makes me think of a wiring problem. Our engine is a MerC of that vintage and isn't one of the intelligent alarm (SmartCraft) systems. But... It's only Alarm - Does NOT shut the engine down when it goes off.
I don't know Crusader models, so... Is this a Carbureted engine, or TBI/MPI?
 
if its manual23 i can burn it.even though its a merc manual the wiring might be the same
sounds like you lost the 12v from the ign switch to the motor. might check the main engine harness plug.
 
Chuck:

I suspect that most boats are set up lime mine: the oil pressure gauge and the oil pressure alarm have separate sending units. The same for the water temp. One can go bad and the other still function. Sounds to me, as previously stated, one of the two alarm sending (oil or temp) units has a problem.

By the way, my original engines had no alarms but "shut down" units. It is possible to have all three with the alarm sender also working a disconnect to prevent an engine destroying itself if the sender "sensed" no oil pressure or high temperature. I 'd suggest locating those alarm sensors (not the gauge sensors) and testing. You'll need to track down if they are normally "open" or normally "closed." More experienced minds can jump in on this one.

Gene
 
The oil press. sender should have no effect on ignition, just the gauge. As Charlie notes , Crusader generally daisy chains the oil pressure switch, coolant overtemp switch and transmission overtemp switch with the alarm. All of the transmissions available for that engine ( VD in-line, VD v-drive, VD 5000, and Hurth) had a "Temperature Sensor, Alarm"on them.

A bad neutral safety switch or escaped connection there could prevent the engine from starting, but shouldn't by itself activate the alarm. However, some older Crusaders would sound the alarm continuously anytime the engine shutdown with key On or until oil pressure developed sufficiently after the engine starts. (Newer ones just have the double buzz and the alarm stops with key just to On.)
 
According to the owners manual, the alarm on this boat is only for oil pressure and temp. The transmission is not part of it. Normally, and I know from experience with the starboard motor, when you get an overtemp or low oil pressure, the alarm sounds and the system automatically retards the affected engine to idle, not shut it off. For some reason, I have lost the 12v to the engine. I appreciate everyone's feedback and I will try all suggestions until I find the issue. I am able to ring out wires and was asking for help because without a wiring diagram, it is hard to know where everything runs and how systems are intertwined. This is my first cruiser and the PO didn't do a thing to it but party on it so I have learned a lot becuase everything was in such bad shape. The neutral safety switch could be an issue as I believe it would kill the voltage to the motor. Once again, thank you for all your seggestions. I will keep this post informed as I sift through it.
 
Comogene, you are right. The oil pressure sender and the oil pressure switch are backed up to each other. There is also a temp sensor and temp switch. However, I don't think these switches shut down electric to the motor, they retard to idle. This is what is driving me nuts. No initial alarm when key on, no power to ignition coil. Can jump coil off battery and engine runs like a kitten.
 
Since you've already determined that the problem is in the primary ignition circuit, the rest is tracking down the bad connection or component. I'd first go to the ignition switch and put a meter from the RED(+) wire to ground. If you don't get 12v, the problem is before the switch. While you're back there, do a jiggle test of all the wires behind the dash. If the problem is back there, you'll likely hear gauges or other components clicking OFF and ON. Jiggle the neutral safety switch as a loose switch or connection will interrupt the ignition circuit.
 
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