money pit...Whats the deal

[howle]

First boats seem to be a money pit.<br /><br />Here is my problem and I hope one of you guys can lend a hand.<br /><br />My boat has the 1989 260 (350) alpha drive.<br />I have noticed lately my gauges (all) go blank. Tach, oil press, trim, and engine temp (voltage meter goes to 10volts when this happens). I have checked all the grounds and they look good and test good. Last week I noticed all gauges go to zero (no Power). I turned the ignition on and off with no luck. Everything else runs fine though. The lights, bilge, trim, horn, starter, and blower. One my way back in, all just started working. I have looked at the terminal board several times and all looks good. I have noticed the ignition switch has three wires, which a purple one goes to all the gauges. Is it possible for the switch to go bad only on the purple wire leg?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: money pit...Whats the deal

Obviously a loose or corroded power or ground lead to the gauge panel. Looking doesn't cut it. Remove, clean, and reassemble is the fix.

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: money pit...Whats the deal

Check the main connector on your engine then check the other end that connects under your dash and check ignition switch - make sure it is functioning properly and all the connections are clean and tight. If you lost your purple (ignition) at the switch it would kill the engine too, although since they are often daisy chained at the gauges, it's possible where it connects to the first gauge is loose or corroded and your engine would still run.

 

[willamettejeff]

Re: money pit...Whats the deal

There is an old phrase: "A boat is just a hole in the water you pour your money into." And with that this correlary: "The bigger the hole the faster the money flows in, but you can never fill the hole no matter the size." Or something like that.<br /><br />Welcome to the wonderful world of boating.

 

[jlinder]

Re: money pit...Whats the deal

Originally posted by howle:<br /> First boats seem to be a money pit.<br />

And your point?<br /><br />But seriously, you should probably take this as a sign to go through all you connections to make sure they are tight and not corroded. Losing guages is a real annoyance. Losing the engine is a lot bigger.<br /><br />Any suspicions, take the connection off, clean and retighten. This goes especially for the battery connections, or any major power feed.<br /><br />A little time now will make your boating much more enjoyable.

 

[howle]

Re: money pit...Whats the deal

Thanks fellas. I will regroup and keep let you know the results.

 

[cpj]

Re: money pit...Whats the deal

This is what boat stands for:<br />Break<br />Out<br />Another<br />Thousand

 

[howle]

Re: money pit...Whats the deal

Well, I have checked all the connections and cleaned again. Went to the lake once more and the gauges worked excellent until I throttled down and they started jumping (only the gauges) volt, oil press, temp, and tach. Eventually the all went off scale high. I left the engine running and checked the power going to the gauges which are wired in parallel. It checked good. I turned power off the circuit and ohmed the ground out and all was well. The rest of the afternoon I witnessed the gauge going off/on and sometimes moving half increment in any direction. Well going back to the harbor the all went off scale high and stayed there. I got home and did the usual cleaning and thought I try it one more time since "Murphy's Law" is my middle name and it was still hard broke (off scale high). Well I started to turn on everything except crank the engine. I started with horn, blower, bilge, port wiper, starboard wiper, nav lights, inst light and when I hit the port wiper switch, the gauges read correctly. <br /><br />Here is the deal, I have no darn wipers. <br /><br />Anyways, next I will look at what the switch is connected to. I believe it is the sink, (no kidding). <br /><br />I will keep you updated because this is kicking my butt.

 

[MSmith3615]

Re: money pit...Whats the deal

I was having the exact same problem with my guages, when I would turn key on. The first couple of times they went off and now when it does it they go off scale high. I replaced all guages last winter for cosmetic reasons and had no problems all summer. Mine is a merc 260/alpha 1, I do think I found the problem or at least it seems like I did. Found some bad connections from motor and replaced, the problem has not happend again.

 

[Buttanic]

Re: money pit...Whats the deal

You may have a alternator with a bad regulator that is swing the voltage. Gauges are sentive to voltage changes.

 

[jlinder]

Re: money pit...Whats the deal

If the voltage is swinging you have either too low (not charging) or too high (over charging).<br /><br />If that is suspected you should check the voltage with an independent DVM. Connect it up and take readings.<br /><br />Let us know what you find.

 

[howle]

Re: money pit...Whats the deal

Found the problem.<br /><br />After inviting somew friends over that are very good with electrics, (thats their regular job), a few beers we found the problem.<br /><br />

 

[howle]

Re: money pit...Whats the deal

Found the problem.<br /><br />After inviting somew friends over that are very good with electrics, (thats their regular job), a few beers we found the problem.<br /><br /><br />Let’s start with what we did. <br /><br />Checked voltage to all gauges and they were 12v<br />Next we ohmed out the circuit and it read good. 0.1-0.3ohms<br />We were lost. Finally listen to my wife who doesn’t know a darn thing about electricity "said it’s by the engine". Since we ware all lost for solutions we checked it once again and the main wiring bundle on the engine was loose at the connection. We found it by accident but I had to ask for forgiveness due to her comment.<br /><br />

 

[malagaoth]

Re: money pit...Whats the deal

do you think he should solder or crimp the joints?

 

[trebor0301]

Re: money pit...Whats the deal

I think he should ask his wife that question and let her decide.Let the guys stick to the beer!!!