I'm going to try to explain this the best I can, but I'm a total newbie.
I have a newly acquired 1988 Yamaha 200 ETLG. It has worked fine for about 2 months, no problems.
However the last two times I've had the boat out, I get an alarm after I've been idling or moving at very low speed for 2 minutes or so. When I tried to accelerate (thinking that perhaps it was needing more water), the engine ran very rough, almost as if it was not on all 6 cylinders, and I had very little power or acceleration, as if the lower unit was not receiving full power.
The first time this happened, it just suddenly stopped on its own - the alarm stopped and the engine began running normally all at once.
The last time this happened, on a whim, I put the engine in reverse, and the alarm stopped, and when I put it back in forward gear, the alarm and the rough-running were both gone.
Water intake is clear, and both oil tanks are full.
I do not yet have an owners manual, but definitely plan on getting one.
Any help? Please? And if you can, make it good news, K?
Modified by Paul From Minnesota at 8:39 AM 8/21/2008