88 VIP w/ OMC 4.3L/ Won't Start, no Power at dashboard.

[Renee34]

The boat ran just fine until we had to pull the engine so that we could change the engine coupling that the drive shaft goes into. I believe they crossed some wires when reconnecting the wires, there was sparks and then nothing worked. My power trim wouldn't' even work. I have changed all 3 solenoids on the top. My trim works now yet I still have no power to the dashboard what so ever. Nothing works on the instrument panel at all. I have 2 wires, rather long that run from the solenoids that I'm' not sure where exactly they hook up. If anyone has any suggestions I open to listen. Could my circuit breakers be all blown? It's like a wire was broken or left off. Please help me figure this out.

 

[Rob454]

Re: 88 VIP w/ OMC 4.3L/ Won't Start, no Power at dashboard.

First make sure the battery is charged. Second you should bave a power distribution center where all the accessories and lights etc get power from.
Make sure all your wires are connected to the right sets. usually everything is color coded so unless someone went and jsut changed wiring without trying to follow the color codes you shoudl be simply connecting colored wires to each other. Make sure the key switch is working. They are pretty cheap and break sometimes. A simple continuity check shoudl do it
Rob

 

[Boatin Bob]

Re: 88 VIP w/ OMC 4.3L/ Won't Start, no Power at dashboard.

The Cobras have 2 big 50 amp glass fuses on top of the engine near the main wiring harness. One is strictly for trim/tilt and the other one pretty much handles everything else, you could have blown that one. They are inside black rubber inline fuse holders. You will see red 10 gauge? wire coming out of each end. The one end actually attaches to the assist solenoid.