Electrical Problem or dead battery?

[plato]

All of a sudden my Force 120 won't start, no kick at all even the tilt control on the motor won't go(either at engine switch or on hand control). Checked other electrics on boat and marine radio won't go, nav lights won't go BUT bilge pump works and cabin lights work. Checked fuse at battery and changed it (just to be sure). Should I go and buy a new battery but all was working OK yesterday. Any ideas?

 

[plato]

Re: Electrical Problem or dead battery?

Also, yes checked the dead man switch and it is OK... not tripped. Thought if it is a dead battery why are cabin lights and bilge pump woking ok and other stuff not?

 

[WillyBWright]

Re: Electrical Problem or dead battery?

Clean your battery connections with a wire brush and snug the wingnuts back down with a pliers. Start with the heaviest wire first and the lightest wire last. The best connection is against the battery, not the wingnut.<br /><br />Does your boat have multiple batteries or a battery switch? Sometimes motor functions are separate from boat functions either by using a second battery and/or a battery switch.

 

[eurolarva]

Re: Electrical Problem or dead battery?

How old is the battery? Marine batteries tend to only get about 3 years. Check the water supply in the batteries. If the plates are not completely below the water level you have a bad battery. Most auto stores will load test these for you. Your bilge pump and cabin lights draw very little power compared to the motor starter and the tilt and trim. This is why they work and the rest does not.

 

[JB]

Re: Electrical Problem or dead battery?

In addition to the battery terminals, check the ground cable attachment to the engine block.

 

[plato]

Re: Electrical Problem or dead battery?

Thanks guys. Yes water level is OK and yes cleaned the terminals. No only 1 battery and no battery switch.. not sure of age of battery as not long bought the boat but it seems fairly new. The funny thing was that it was going no problems the day before, kicked motor over with no signs of sounding weak. The boat was only put in the water that day. I will buy a new heavy duty battery and try it ( I need one for the new electric winch I put on the trailer anyway). Will keep you posted.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Electrical Problem or dead battery?

Fuse on the motor itself? <br />Should be 20 amp.<br /><br />Don't know what to tell you about the radio though.

 

[plato]

Re: Electrical Problem or dead battery?

I haven't taken the cover off the motor as boat is moored at present so haven't checked any fuse on motor. Just checked and changed the 10 amp fuse on positive small wire on battery. Yes the radio and nav lights not working has thrown me also when bilge and cabin lights work OK. Roscoe can you tell me were the fuse in the motor is located, that will probably be my next check if a new battery doesn't solve the problem.

 

[plato]

Re: Electrical Problem or dead battery?

What's the chances of a short in the power tilt since it's under water... could this have drained the battery overnight since it was OK when on the trailer the day before? Just a thought.

 

[plato]

Re: Electrical Problem or dead battery?

ANSWER: The problem was a flat battery and dirty terminals. The reason that some electrics worked and others didn't was because there are 2 small leads to the battery terminals as well as the heavy leads to the motor. So some electrics worked (bilge and cabin lights) while others didn't (nav lights and radio). Filed all the connections put in a new battery with new brass leads and away it all went. Load tested the old battery and down to 400ma instead of the 600 it should be. Thanks for all the advice guys, buy you all a beer when you come downunder.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Electrical Problem or dead battery?

For future reference, the motor fuse should be on the starboard side, between the voltage rectifier and the coils, or in that general area. It is a typical blade type automotive fuse that plugs into a socket.