I’m pretty sure my port transmission is not pumping fluid as it should. This is a 2000 406 with 7.4 MPIs and Velvet Drive Model 30-01-005 trannies with 2.5:1 ratios. I got a warning tone while cruising at 3200 rpm the other day (about a half second beep every 2 seconds). Retarded the throttles but the warning continued. Oil pressure and engine temp were perfect on both engines. Got it to quit by turning off the port engine, but it came back on as soon as I turned the key back on and waited out the normal test beeps. The warning was similar to, but not quite the same pitch as the test beeps that come with turning on the key. After checking the engine compartment and finding nothing obvious, I headed to port with the port engine shut down. On arrival, 15 minutes later, I cranked it up to see if the problem remained and the warning was gone. Ran the engine at idle and in gear for about 10 more minutes to see if the warning would recur and it did not.

Today I decided to change tranny fluid to see if that might help. The old fluid (2 years and 70 hours run time) looked and smelled normal - not burnt. I added 1.8 quarts to the port engine and checked the level as prescribed (run at 1500 rpm for 2 minutes, shut down and check it quickly). It showed over-filled. On the starboard side, I added 1.8 quarts, ran it and checked and the quantity was low - needed another .2 quarts for a total of 2.0.

In light of the warning, no engine anomalies, and the fluid showing over-full after running, the only conclusion I can arrive at is that the pump is not working to push fluid into the cooler and other parts of the tranny.

1. Is that a logical conclusion?
2. If so, can a pump be replaced in that model Velvet Drive?
3. I didn’t see any hose crimps, but could there be blockages in the fluid system that I could clear to correct the problem?