Mercury Blackmax 2.0 Not Peeing at idle / No Tell Tale at Idle is this normal?

[msn26753]

Sorry, I do not have a model number nor a year.. Shame on me. But I have a Mercury Blackmax 2.0 later 1980's maybe 88 model. The guy I bought it from says he just replaced water pump less then a month ago. Everything runs good except there is no pee at idle. As soon as I throttle up it starts peeing. I asked him and he said that was normal, it had something to do with the thermatstat not opening yet. But temperature gauge does not work. The buzzer doesnt seem to work either. It does not chirp or buzz when I turn power on. In the motor there is a tan wire on bottom that goes no where. Looks like it got disconnected. There is a tan and blue wire (assuming temperature gauge) and a tan wire that is connected to a screw at the top of the motor. I do not know where this other Tan wire is comming from. Both Tan wires are going into a bunch other wires in sleeve and I can not see where they go, assuming to the gauges. Anyhow, Bigest question, I gotta make sure I dont burn this thing up. Is not Tell Tale or peeing at Idle really normal? I ran it off of the muffs for a good 10-15 minutes, and kept touching the block to see how hot it was getting. I could always touch it, but it did get hot enough to not want to leave your hand on there too long. Also, when you rev it up, it starts peeing and the block seems to cool down... Any info would be awesome... thanks..

[luvdmymerc]

That is NOT normal......The thermostats should open when your motor reaches 143*. If they do, and your water pump is working correctly, you'll have water peeing out the tale tell like its supposed to. If its not peeing, then that would indicate that the thermostats are not opening all the way or the guy did not install the water pump correctly. There should be a steady. possibly weak stream, as soon as the motor reaches the normal running temperature. The tan, and the tan and blue wires are from the heat sensors for the hot horn and for the temperature guage. I recommend getting them hooked up correctly immediately and that the water pump be serviced again by a professional. If the oil injection system has been removed, you will no longer get the quick "bee,bee,beep" when you turn the key on as that was your indicator that your oil injection system was in working order. If the injection system is intact and you are not getting the beeps, then that system needs to be serviced immediately too. Do not run your motor without the heat warning and oil warning systems working correctly, doing so could result in catastrophic power head failure.

[rgsauger]

+1 good advice above

[EuropeanAM]

To better clarify the information provided above:

This engine's TELLTALE comes from the Thermostats. Hence, there will be LITTLE (or no) telltale UNTIL (or UNLESS) the thermostats are open.

AND- the telltale may COME AND GO as the thermostats open and close. This IS NORMAL.

Additionally- if the water pump (entire pump) was recently replaced, this MAY affect the telltale. Really need to know what your WATER PRESSURE is at idle.

On the temp wires, there are a few critical items to know/determine:

-IS THE ENGINE STILL OIL INJECTED? If NOT, there will be NO TEST BEEP of the warning horn (as the oil warning module is REMOVED when oil injection is removed).

-TAN WIRE: Ignore. No temp sensor that ACCURATE on this engine (nor can one that will BE accurate be added).

-Tan w/blue stripe wire: Should connect at a junction block on starboard/top area of engine, tying the Starboard-side temp sensor to the engine wiring harness (both wires are tan w/blue stripe).

-To TEST warning horn: With the KEY ON- provide a GROUND to the junction block post for the tan w/blue stripe wires above noted. Horn should sound a STEADY BEEEEEEEP.

[msn26753]

Thanks everyone so far.. what do you ground out to test buzzer.. I tried to post a pic but couldnt figure out how.. the tan wire with blue line is connected to a screw on starboard side engine with 1 tan wire. The other end of the tan blue wire is connected between the cylinders.where and what do I griund out.. Also the water that pees when I rev up is real warm.. the cylinder hwads get hot but I can touch them, should the thermastats be opening by then?

[msn26753]

if this attachment shows up.. 1) is where tan and blue wire connect to screw with tan wire. 2) is where a tan wire is just dangleing. 3) is where tan and blue wire connect to motor with 2 bolts.

[EuropeanAM]

Thermostats don't open until (approximately) 143 degrees. That's hotter than you'll put your hand ON, or IN.

See the upper arrow in your picture- this junction (for tan w/blue stripe wire) is where you GROUND to test warning horn function.

[RiverRatMD]

another suggestion....If in doubt of temp - use a lazer temp gun and point the dot in the center of the t-stat housing to get a reading. You can observe the temps climb. Sometimes it can take 15 minutes of running (or more at idle) to get up to 143 degrees (especially in cold water).

[msn26753]

Ok.. I ran jumper from negative to screw. I have to touch both screws and alarm will sound..does that sound right, that negative wire has to touch both screws? Also, if I wanted to hook my temp gauge back up, where does that wire connect to?
I just want to be able to run it to see if starts peeing at idle without overheating it..

[EuropeanAM]

Can you possibly post a FULL-SIZE picture (rather than a "thumbnail")?

I suspect there's something wrong in the way the wires are connected there... you should only need to touch ONE end of the wire to GROUND, and the other end to the TAN w/BLUE STRIPE TERMINAL.

[msn26753]

2014-03-25 19.02.58.jpg This Tan Wire is hanging out bottom of wire harness. If I ground it then my temp gauge pegs out. Where does it hook up so my temp gauge works?

[msn26753]

Im trying to post bigger pics, but they are to large...

[msn26753]

I took heat sensor out annd touched edge of wire thats connected to sensor to ground and buzzer went off.. so Im assuming sensor to buzzer is good..

[EuropeanAM]

That would be correct.

[msn26753]

How do you test this overheat sensor? The wire to the sensor will ground and set off alarm, but how do you teset the actual round part?

[msn26753]

20140326_085105.jpg

[EuropeanAM]

To test this sensor, you would need to immerse in it very hot water (and test continuity between the sensor lead, and the metal button on the end of the sensor).

Sensor should close somewhere between 185-194 degrees F.