Multiple Gauge Issue

[NateW]

2006 Glastron 205 with a Volvo Penta 5.0 GXi and SX Outdrive.

I’m looking for advice and/or experience with multiple gauge malfunction. All of my gauges, with the exception of the speedometer display incorrect readings. Examples include: tach jumps all over at an idol, temp gauges shows 180 degrees upon a cold start, voltmeter reads 10v but I read 13v at both the alternator and across the battery terminals. The gauges are all individual and separately replaceable.

Given the multiple simultaneous errors I assume there is a common issue impacting them all. I ran through some basic troubleshooting but am open to suggestions. To date I have:

• Cleaned battery terminal connections.
• There appears to be a ground that runs from the battery to under the steering wheel / gauges. I removed the main ground there and removed the wire and ensured it was a good contact. It also looks like all the individual grounds use spade plugs off the main ground block. I removed and reseated all those.
• I checked all the fuses I could see and they all look good
• I checked connections at the back of the gauges and all looked good. I don’t think this is the issue though given all the gauges are problematic

Any ideas are greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Nathaniel

 

[dingbat]

2006 Glastron 205 with a Volvo Penta 5.0 GXi and SX Outdrive.

I’m looking for advice and/or experience with multiple gauge malfunction. All of my gauges, with the exception of the speedometer display incorrect readings. Examples include: tach jumps all over at an idol, temp gauges shows 180 degrees upon a cold start, voltmeter reads 10v but I read 13v at both the alternator and across the battery terminals. The gauges are all individual and separately replaceable.

Given the multiple simultaneous errors I assume there is a common issue impacting them all. I ran through some basic troubleshooting but am open to suggestions. To date I have:

• Cleaned battery terminal connections.
• There appears to be a ground that runs from the battery to under the steering wheel / gauges. I removed the main ground there and removed the wire and ensured it was a good contact. It also looks like all the individual grounds use spade plugs off the main ground block.

Boats wiring is notorious for having corrosion issues.

Put your meter on ohms. Put one probe on the battery connection and the other on one of the ground connections at the gauges. Ideally should be 0 ohms but up to 5 ohms is acceptable.

Now switch meter over to DC volts and measure between your now know good ground connection and various power points on the gauges. All should read battery voltage.

 

[Scott Danforth]

I would check the ground block and wiring for the gauges

The speedometer is 100% mechanical, the rest are all electric

 

[NateW]

Boats wiring is notorious for having corrosion issues.

Put your meter on ohms. Put one probe on the battery connection and the other on one of the ground connections at the gauges. Ideally should be 0 ohms but up to 5 ohms is acceptable.

Now switch meter over to DC volts and measure between your now know good ground connection and various power points on the gauges. All should read battery voltage.

Thanks. Unfortunately, I'm not able to spend time on the boat until this weekend. When I get there again I will move beyond visual inspection of the connections to a volt meter assisted measurement of them.