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Reconnecting VRO

bill_w

bill_w

Advanced Contributor
I bought a 89 Johnson 150 hp crossflow last year, that had been freshly rebuilt. The VRO system was disconnected when I bought it. I tried reconnecting the VRO last week, and I'm having a problem. I filled the oil tank, primed the oil line until all of the air was out, hooked up the oil line to the motor, connected the wiring, and tried running it on muffs for a while. I get all 4 of the warning lights on the tach coming on, and about a 30 second beep from the warning horn. The warning lights do not go out, but the horn stops. I also get the same warning (all 4 lights, 30 sec. beep) when I test the overheat temperature senders. So, what could the problem be? Something in the tach itself? I'm confused by getting all 4 lights on for the hot engine check.
 
Boobie.. I have no idea what a 'system check' system is or does. I bought the motor as it sits of the boat, with the controls/gauges as installed. How would I know if it has a system check installed? When I first turn the key on, I get a short beep from the warning horn, and each of the 4 red lights on the tach come on, then shut off one by one in a few seconds. Dockside.. that's what I'm wondering. I can get another warning light gauge (without tach) for a reasonable price (about $50) Think it's worth the investment??
 
Just did some checking.. from what I can see, the system check didn't come into use until about 1996. So it looks like I have the wrong instrument on the dash for this motor. Wonder if that's why the VRO was disconnected to start with, the alarm lights stayed on?? So, what would the solution be? I really can't afford to change the whole control wiring and gauge system.
 
They did make wiring harness adapters back in those days so you could add system check to older mtrs. Maybe that's what you have.
 
I have no idea what's on it. I have 4 warning lights inside my tach. Low Oil, Engine Overheat, Check Engine, and No Oil. As I said, all 4 lights are on with the VRO wiring connected, and when I short out the temp switches. I have 2 wires from the remote oil tank that connect to the harness, plus the 3 wire plug for the pump wiring itself. I'd really like to hook the VRO back up.
 
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