All Gauges Pegged

[gwaidman]

Hi All,
Just purchased a 1992 Maxum 1900SC with the 4.3LX Mercruiser in it. 340 hours and really in great shape. Mechanical inspection came back fine and sea trial was flawless. Done deal. Go to launch today, and prior to leaving home, I proceed with the 'just in case shakedown'... Turn the key, all guages are pegged to the max. All switched (blower, horn, accessories, ect) do nothing. The boat starts and runs, and the trim works but I have an electrical gremlin somewhere!! I am assuming that I have a poor ground that is causing the current to backfeed thru the guages (hence pegging them) and will start down that road, but I thought I would post and see if anyone had similar instances and how they were resolved. Hows that for a first post?Cheers!

 

[Wotknot]

Re: All Gauges Pegged

Just a shot in the dark, but a battery beginning to go south will cause weird stuff with gauges.

 

[Barnacle_Bill]

Re: All Gauges Pegged

If they worked properly before check for a bad ground. If not the power leads to the gauges could be reversed.

 

[gwaidman]

Re: All Gauges Pegged

Thanks guys,
The problem is periodic. Sometimes things are fine. Must be a short from the switch panel to ground, or a failing ground somewhere down the line. Battery is good, by the way. The more I read into this, the more it looks like Im going to be crawling around with a wrench and some sandpaper.

 

[tommays]

Re: All Gauges Pegged

At the motor there is a round 10 pin CANNON PLUG with a hose clamp holding it toghter

It is out of sight out of mind loosen hose clamp unplug it spray contact cleaner on pins plug it back and tighten hose clamp


All the power , ground and gauge wires go through this plug

Tommays

 

[gwaidman]

Re: All Gauges Pegged

Tommays,
Yes, I know the plug. Out of sight, out of mind for sure. I will check and spray down. Thank you.

 

[gwaidman]

Re: All Gauges Pegged

BTW would WD 40 be an acceptable contact cleaner or should I look for something more specific?

 

[bruceb58]

Re: All Gauges Pegged

I wouldn't use WD40. Use real contact cleaner or some isopropyl alcohol(not rubbing alcohol),

 

[gwaidman]

Re: All Gauges Pegged

Roger that. I picked up some proper contact cleaner. Went through all systems and checked everthing for tightness as well as cleaned out that 'canon' connector. Went out today and all was well. Hope that was the last of it, but... time will tell. Thanks all!