Electrical problem?

[honkytonker26]

I put in down at the River last night and I went to start my motor and it wouldn't hit a lick. I tried and tried. Almost running the battery down. Then all the sudden my depth finder went off and back on (RESET) while I was turning the motor over. When that happened it fired right up. It started up every time the rest of the night. Any ideas? I am going to look at the wiring today.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Electrical problem?

you are obviously using a single battery. all accessories off when starting cold. there should be nothing connected to the motor wiring harness, but the motor, everything else should run on a separate circuit, connected to the battery.

 

[JB]

Re: Electrical problem?

Sounds like it might be a faulty key switch or neutral safety switch to me. The SONAR came back on when the ignition came back on. Before that you might have had starter power but no ignition.

Agree with Daddy. Keep accessories off while starting.

 

[honkytonker26]

Re: Electrical problem?

I was thinking it might be the kill switch going bad and me almost running the battery down cause the depth finder to cut off and on. The DF is not wired into the motor harness. It's hooked strait to the battery.

 

[JB]

Re: Electrical problem?

Well, that shoots my theory in the foot. Yes, if the battery voltage drops below a certain level most SONARs shut off.

I still think that you lacked ignition but had starter voltage. Something made ignition voltage come back.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Electrical problem?

It sounds like you have either a failing battery or a shorted starter. The battery voltage should not drop below about 8.5V while cranking the motor with the starter. I would think that your DF would operate on 8.5VDC. You should put a voltmeter on the battery terminals and crank the motor. If the voltage drops below 8.5VDC, either your starter is using more amperage than is normal (~500Amps versus the 300Amps it should), or the battery is marginal. You can have the battery tested at an auto parts place. You can swap in a known good battery and repeat the test to see if it is the starter.