I need HELP. *UPDATE*

[BigPoppaG]

I got the boat ready today to start her up for the first time. Been charging the battery during the winter months. Hooked it up. Raised the lower unit so I can move her to the driveway. Lowered it back down. Checked all the fluids. Everything looked good. Put the muffs on and turned on the water. Turned the Key and nothing. Nothing at all worked. Radio doesn't come on and the horn doesn't even work. Any ideas would be appreciated. Had to walk away and get on the computer before the temper took over.<br />Thanks!

 

[Volare]

Re: I need HELP. *UPDATE*

Did you charge the battery in the boat with everything connected? If not, make sure you hooked the battery up. <br /><br />If you left the battery connected over the winter with the charger connected to it, check for corrosion on the battery connections. Pull the cables off the battery and give them a good cleaning.<br /><br />Even though you may show a full charge on the battery, if the battery has gone bad it may not be holding any usable charge, thus no power.<br /><br />Also to check- fuses- battery selector switch?

 

[Jdeagro]

Re: I need HELP. *UPDATE*

Put a volt meter on the battery, and if it is less that 12.4 standing voltage then it is low. Since you just charged it the battery may be sulfated and no good. As a side note, if you have a new battery, discharge it, and leave it site for two weeks or so, it's done. Go get another one.

 

[BigPoppaG]

Re: I need HELP. *UPDATE*

I put my wifes battery from her car in the boat. I know it works, but had the same problem as the boat battery. Only thing it seems to run is the trim motor.

 

[CalicoKid]

Re: I need HELP. *UPDATE*

Get out the VOM and start checking for voltage along the harness. Check your grounds too!

 

[KCook]

Re: I need HELP. *UPDATE*

I had a similar problem with my Chris-Craft bowrider. There was enough to the electical system that I had to let a tech do this work.<br /><br />Kelly Cook

 

[BigPoppaG]

Re: I need HELP. *UPDATE*

Thanks for the help all. If you think of anything else I appreciate it. I will be going over it with a fine tooth comb tomorrow......instead of going out on the water.

 

[tommays]

Re: I need HELP. *UPDATE*

just work on the battery wires going to the starter and the block the trim pump should have its own set of cables which is why its working<br /><br />the + and ground cables are BOTH inportant and a bad connection at eather end of both cables can cause the problem<br /><br />dont try to repiar the connections with the battery conected its to easy for a wrench on a + to arc to ground and thats just no fun at all<br /><br /><br />tommays

 

[snapperbait]

Re: I need HELP. *UPDATE*

Maybe the shift lever is in gear (as in, the neutral safety switch is doing it's job)?... <br /><br />I know it seems like a dumb thing, but it happens...

 

[lingcod]

Re: I need HELP. *UPDATE*

do you have a battery selector switch? had the same issue. turned key nothing turned the selector switch to battery #1 fired right up. oops i guess the should have been posted under stupid human tricks.<br /><br />lingcod

 

[mercrewser]

Re: I need HELP. *UPDATE*

Is the main circutbreaker on the engine tripped?

 

[Twidget]

Re: I need HELP. *UPDATE*

Maybe the kill switch is engaged? I know its not likely, but worth checking.

 

[BigPoppaG]

Re: I need HELP. *UPDATE*

Checked the kill switch first. Made that mistake too many times for it to happen again. Thanks for all the info. If any of it is the problem I'll let you know.

 

[BigPoppaG]

Re: I need HELP. *UPDATE*

Battery is fine, fuses are fine, kill switch is not engaged.

 

[rattana]

Re: I need HELP. *UPDATE*

I have heard some people mention the cannon plug in the wiring harness. Undo the clamp and separate the connection, clean any corrosion and reconnect.

 

[BigPoppaG]

Re: I need HELP. *UPDATE*

cannon plug? Were do I find this? I have found power going to the starter. When I follow the line out of the starter It leads into a part that I can't find in the manuals electrical layout. It is right next to the battery.Seems to end there.

 

[waterone1@aol.com]

Re: I need HELP. *UPDATE*

since you said that nothing but the trim motor is running, we can rule out the battery (even a weak battery will light a bulb or get static out of a radio). The above post about the main breaker is very possible. Are you sure that ALL of the battery cables are connected ? Unplug and replug the main multi pin connector on the engine wiring harness. Check all connections on the starter for any signs of corosion. If none of this gets it, it is time to get out the multi meter and do some voltage tracing.

 

[BigPoppaG]

Re: I need HELP. *UPDATE*

Started on the tracing but gave up for today. Frustration will only cause mistakes. I traced from the battery to the starter and out.

 

[BigPoppaG]

Re: I need HELP. *UPDATE*

This is driving me crazy!

 

[rattana]

Re: I need HELP. *UPDATE*

Check for +12VDC on one of the terminals on the key switch. Remember to have a good ground so you can read your meter. <br />The cannon plug is the multipin connector waterone1 mentioned. If you have no voltage at your dash panel, I would suspect the breaker is tripped or there is a loose conection.<br />Don S has posted wiring diagrams quite a few times and most of them are standard. If you can do a search on this site you may find a schematic that is very similar to yours.