de-winterizing headache!!!

lukeb83

Seaman
Joined
Feb 19, 2012
Messages
73
hey guys, i got my boat out yesterday and dewinterized her, but when i turn the key to halfway to fire up the blower, i get nothing. the bilge isnt kicking on either when i flip the switch. even the battery gauge isnt showing that its connected. the trim is working fine so i know the battery has enough juice to run the blower and pump. (i charged it to full before i started). there is a red button that says "circuit breaker push to rest" and it is popped out. i cant push it in though. its stuck out and wont depress. so where should i start my trouble shooting??? thanks.
 

Georgesalmon

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Apr 14, 2012
Messages
1,793
Re: de-winterizing headache!!!

new circuit breaker? You should have 12v to ground at both sides of the breaker if its closed. if not closed 12v one side 0v other 12v test light works to if no multimeter.

Can't find a breaker if bad? Go to local autoparts store and get an in-line fuse the same size. Get a covered sealed kind. DON"T jump over the breaker without a fuse unless you want to check out your new fire extinguesher.
 

Bob_VT

Moderator & Unofficial iBoats Historian
Staff member
Joined
May 19, 2001
Messages
26,065
Re: de-winterizing headache!!!

You need to remove and sand your electrical connections ...... I would do all of them since it sounds like you might be fighting corrosion on the wires/contacts.
 

TerryMSU

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jul 31, 2007
Messages
743
Re: de-winterizing headache!!!

hey guys, i got my boat out yesterday and dewinterized her, but when i turn the key to halfway to fire up the blower, i get nothing. the bilge isnt kicking on either when i flip the switch. even the battery gauge isnt showing that its connected. the trim is working fine so i know the battery has enough juice to run the blower and pump. (i charged it to full before i started). there is a red button that says "circuit breaker push to rest" and it is popped out. i cant push it in though. its stuck out and wont depress. so where should i start my trouble shooting??? thanks.

Sounds like your breaker is toast. As George said, do not just jump over the breaker. If you have 12 volts on the battery side (with respect to ground) and approximately zero volts on the other side, I would almost certainly plan on replacing the breaker. Take it out and check for continuity through the breaker. No continuity? Replace it.

TerryMSU
 

Don S

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Aug 31, 2004
Messages
62,321
Re: de-winterizing headache!!!

Time to get your meter out and do some voltage tests. The circuit breaker button always sticks out, so that may not even be your problem. With your meter, check for voltage on both sides of the circuit breaker to verify if it works, or even if there is power to it.
If that checks out, check at the red, or red/purple wire on the ignition switch. There should be a fuse in that wire coming from the engine.

but when i turn the key to halfway to fire up the blower, i get nothing.
I would also have to ask why your blower is hooked to your ignition circuit. That needs to change and get it on a separate switch and off the ignition switch.
 

lukeb83

Seaman
Joined
Feb 19, 2012
Messages
73
Re: de-winterizing headache!!!

its on a separate switch don. i meant when i turn the key halfway and flip it on, i get nothing. ill test both sides of the breaker friday and get back to you guys. i realize its supposed to stick out but it wont let me push it in to reset it, its stuck. the connections to the battery are fine, i cleaned them up when the problem started. i dont understand what u mean by "with respect to ground"?
 

NYBo

Admiral
Joined
Oct 23, 2008
Messages
7,107
Re: de-winterizing headache!!!

Your description still indicates your blower is wired to work through the ignition switch, which is incorrect. It should be wired to the fuse block, which is then wired to the battery totally separate from the igniton switch.
 

Don S

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Aug 31, 2004
Messages
62,321
Re: de-winterizing headache!!!

i realize its supposed to stick out but it wont let me push it in to reset it, its stuck.

If it won't push in, then it probably doesn't need to be reset. Did you check things with a meter as I suggested? Sometimes things take more than pushing a button to fix.
 

Georgesalmon

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Apr 14, 2012
Messages
1,793
Re: de-winterizing headache!!!

with respect to ground just means you need to test from the breaker terminals to any ground you can find close.. Usually a black wire.
 

lukeb83

Seaman
Joined
Feb 19, 2012
Messages
73
Re: de-winterizing headache!!!

got it all figured out guys. the breaker was bad, and the ground connection (off of the battery) was corroded. thanks again for the help guys, i appreciate it. i took her out today for the first time and she ran great!
 
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