Battery Smoking - Boat won't start

[Rileyshiloh]

Thanks for any help in advance!<br />We own a 1998 Four Winns with a Volvo Penta engine. This past summer our boat died, I think the radio was left on. anyway jumped her and she started fine. Since then every time we'd go to start the boat the battery was low. So we changed the battery. Again, after 2 days in the battery was low again and the boat wouldn't start. We also noticed the negative terminal had melted a little. Got another new battery, cleaned up the connections and it died again! Any ideas. Could this be an altenator problem? We know the terminals are not mixed. Is it dangerous to run the boat if you jump start it? Thanks again! Somehow my husband designated me the mechanic!

 

[Solittle]

Re: Battery Smoking - Boat won't start

Jay I'm a bit surprised that you haven't seen or smelled smoke from somewhere. Sure sounds like you have a major short.<br /><br />No danger in running a boat that has been jump started. I wouldn't though until you get the problem solved cause if it quits you might not be able to restart it. No problem if you are right by the ramp but if you are 5 miles away - - -- - - --

 

[cpasseno03]

Re: Battery Smoking - Boat won't start

How long does it take for the battery to die? Turn everything off and disconnect the negative lead on the battery, then hook a voltmeter up in series with the battery and it's unhooked negative cable. If you get a reading this indicates a draw, what we call a parasitic load in the biz Most likely this is something we already know is happening, but next is to find it. That may be a little more tricky, perhaps befriending someone with some electrical experiance would be to your advantage (assuming you are not, no offense or anything..) It could be many, many things. An alternator usually would only kill the battery while running if it was problematic. But if it smokes and melts something is really shorting and it should be checked out before going more then arm's length from the dock <br />hope this helps<br />Craig

 

[Rileyshiloh]

Re: Battery Smoking - Boat won't start

Thank you for the suggestion. Our neighbor has a voltmeter so we'll hook it up. It usually takes about 2 days for the battery to completely die and not start up the boat. For the first day or so it starts harder and harder each time. If I do take it in to be looked at what should I expect them to do and would anyone know how long it would take to find a problem like this? Again thank you for helping - I love this site! For us girlies it sure helps...(someone told me though we were just suppose to be hood ornaments...not mechanics!!)

 

[moderator1]

Re: Battery Smoking - Boat won't start

Moving to I/O's