Expert: Jeff Grigg - 9/14/2006

Question
The beeping is coming from under the dash. There is also a slight clicking noise heard if I put my head under the opening in front of the dash area. The beeping continues when the motor is running unless you turn the battery switch to off. The motor is a mercury tracker 40 horse. I think the make is 1998. The volt meter on the dash is showing 12 or so volts, but the boat will not start unless you use the battery charger.
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Followup To

Question -
I have a Tracker 21 Party Barge pontoon boat. When I turn the key, the Perko ignition protected battery selector switch beeps. The only way to get it to stop beeping is to turn the selector switch to off. I have a new battery and it will not crank the boat without a charge.

Answer -
Steve, I don't know of a switch that beeps! Are you sure the switch is beeping or is there another horn nearby?
I understand the battery will not crank the boat without a charge but am unsure of just what is going on.
Does the beeping happen when the motor is running? What kind, brand and model motor?
Is the battery discharging somehow?
Please get back to me with further information so I can try to help.
Jeff


Answer
Steve you have a real problem. The beeping is coming from the warning system. A solid tone is overheating, fast beeping is out of oil.
The motor runs off of the electricity generated by the stator, under the flywheel. It both charges the battery like an alternator and supplies voltage for the ignition system.
If the battery is fully charged and shows 12.5 volts then it should start the motor by itself. If it drops to under 10 volts while cranking chances are the battery is bad. This can cause a drain on the alternator, and screw with the warning module.
Have your battery checked by a good service shop, have it charged, then load tested.
If the battery is good and still will not crank the motor have the motor checked by a marine service shop. The starter could be bad. However if there was a short on the electrical system it could interfere with the warning module and cause the beeping.
The key to me of a bad battery is one having to use a charger to start the motor and two the warning module needs 12 volts to operate properly. You can turn it off by turning off the battery switch, which only disconnects the battery from the system. It is not good to turn the battery switch off when the motor is running, nor is it good to run with it in the off position, both of which can damage the charging system.
Check the battery and get back to me.
Jeff