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BF50D start inhibit & intermitent buzzer.

L

Leftofcentre

New member
I have this intermitent fault with my 2009 BF50D.

Engine usualy starts on the key but when its been run a while and i shut it down, it wont restart and there is a beeping/buzzer going on and off.

Ive read the manual and done some research which suggested the Tilt Sensor. So ive tried unplugging the sensor but it makes no difference.

Apart from that the engine has been serviced this winter.

Any suggestions?
 
Didn't know tilt sensor causing a no start was even a thing.

It won't start? Or it won't crank? As in.... the starter turns the engine over but it won't fire?

I don't know but this sort of sounds like the old "hot soak" issue where you drive to the liquor store for a six pack, run in and, when you come out five minutes later and try to start the car it turns over but won't fire. But wait 20 minutes for things to cool down and it starts like nothing happened.

If it's acting like that then it's definitely temperature related but what it is exactly can be tough to figure out.

Could simply be not cooling efficiently. It's running "on the edge" and, when you shut it down and water stops flowing, the heat trapped in the engine puts it in the overheat zone. Should log a code and turn on the warning though.

Sometimes it's a faulty temperature sensor....but, again, that should probably set a code.

Doesn't happen so much these days with the newer fuel systems but I still hear about vapor lock causing problems like this. Can be hard to diagnose.

And the one that would worry me the most is a problem inside the ECM, like a cracked circuit board or component causing heat related shut down. Hard to pinpoint even with the high tech equipment and usually an expensive proposition.
 
It doesnt crank.

Like something is inhibiting the starting circuit.

Is there a neutral switch inside the remotes? To prevent engine start whilst its in gear/open throttle for example? Does that sound a buzzer?

The warning beep/buzzer is a continuous series of long beeps
 
I don't have SI for that outboard but pretty much all of them have a neutral safety switch and need to be in neutral to crank. I believe that the switch will be mounted under the engine cover, not in the remote control box. I'm assuming that you've tried jockeying the shift lever around with no luck so you're probably going to need to get out a multimeter and test that.

I hadn't heard of the tilt switch inhibiting the starter before but I'm old now and things change.
So, if that's a possibility, then you're going to need better information than I can give you.

Service manuals are expensive but waaaay cheaper than any shop fee and you will then always have it.

The "real deal" Honda one can be found here:

Honda Marine | Shop Manuals Publications | Honda Power Products Support Publications

publications.powerequipment.honda.com publications.powerequipment.honda.com

Good luck.
 
Ok great thank you for your advice.

Does the start inhibit sound and long on/off buzzer that you are aware of?

The red crank/engine light flashes on the Remotes aswel during these episodes.
 
Yeah, that buzzer and light thing confuses me too. Honestly, I don't know why that would happen if this were just a simple neutral start switch problem. But, you have to start looking somewhere so that might just be a first step to solving the mystery. You have to see if the signal is getting to the neutral switch from the ignition switch and then verify that the signal is being relayed through the neutral switch to the starter solenoid.
Without the service manual troubleshooting guide or wiring diagrams, I have no way of knowing if there is, say, a starter inhibit circuit included in the ECM. If there is, then, yes, it could be accompanied by the warnings when activated.
That basic info might also be included with the operators manual.
 
Thinking about this further, you might try cleaning the connections for the main battery cables at the battery AND the engine. Often a problem like this can be as simple as bad contact in a connection. Many times it's a bad/dirty ground connection.

The battery cable ends are easy to access at the battery and the positive cable end at the starter is usually not too hard to get at.
But, the negative battery cable end, where it grounds to the engine or case, can be a chore to access and will likely take the most time and work. But it's important that it's a good connection and can be well worth the effort to get in there and get things CLEAN, SHINY and TIGHT.
 
I have a similar issue, but not with starting. My BF40A starts just fine, but once in gear, either forward or reverse, with even moderate throttle, the tilt alarm - 1 second buzzer, 1 second silent, repeating - sounds as soon as any throttle is applied. Actual tilt position is normal, and indicated correctly on the remote gage. I suspect the tilt sensor, but there's a tilt controller between it and the remote control buzzer. Now the strange part...if I advance throttle to 3/4 to Full, the tilt alarm stops beeping!

Idle, neutral, no beeps.
Idle, in gear, no beeps.
Minimal throttle in gear, beeps.
Maxum throttle in gear, no more beeps.

I don't know how the sensor is supposed to work, or what the tilt controller does. I think it does both sensor and the tilt motor.

I've temporarily disconnected the alarm buzzer so I can run the boat, but clearly, that's not a good long-term idea.

Thanks for your thoughts!
 
Hi,
First off.....I have absolutely no idea what I'm talking about here when it comes to what will cause this...so just keep that in mind.

But, I lurk and learn and try to help when I can.

My first GUESS is that there's a wire inside your remote control that may be rubbing and possibly grounding out on something.

If not that, notice the grounding/electrical bonding wire for the trim unit. See item 60 in the link below and notice the reference to page F-10 just below it.


Here is a link to page F-10 and note item 30


My thought is that a loose or corroded connection there could be setting up some sort of transient current situation when you are moving....but....just another GUESS.

AND here's a couple more:

The trim angle switch/sensor (item 2 in link for stern bracket) looks to be mounted low enough that water could enter it. Especially if the stern is low due to gear/load distribution. You might try unplugging it there to see what happens.

Lastly, I go back to a ground/bonding problem.
Note the bonding wire on the extension case (item 11 in the link below)


Many people ignore or even "pooh-pooh" that little cable but I assure you that it's connection and integrity is CRUCIAL for preventing stray electrical current and galvanic corrosion from occurring. If it is loose or has parted it WILL eventually lead to unnecessary damage. Particularly if you operate in salt water.

Just some ideas.
Hope you find it.
 
jaddie said:
I have a similar issue, but not with starting. My BF40A starts just fine, but once in gear, either forward or reverse, with even moderate throttle, the tilt alarm - 1 second buzzer, 1 second silent, repeating - sounds as soon as any throttle is applied. Actual tilt position is normal, and indicated correctly on the remote gage. I suspect the tilt sensor, but there's a tilt controller between it and the remote control buzzer. Now the strange part...if I advance throttle to 3/4 to Full, the tilt alarm stops beeping!

Idle, neutral, no beeps.
Idle, in gear, no beeps.
Minimal throttle in gear, beeps.
Maxum throttle in gear, no more beeps.

I don't know how the sensor is supposed to work, or what the tilt controller does. I think it does both sensor and the tilt motor.

I've temporarily disconnected the alarm buzzer so I can run the boat, but clearly, that's not a good long-term idea.

Thanks for your thoughts!
Click to expand...
You can either replace the trim sender or you can bypass it. To bypass it, there is a three pin connector going to a trim module , this is a little black box close to the cowl mounted trim switch, unplug it and on the engine side of the harness, bridge the orange and black wires, you will then no longer have the alarm
 
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