Livewell switch stopped working! Keeps filling up!

[Garynyc]

Hi all;

I have a 2002 Starcraft Starcaster 1900 with 2 livewells. The forward livewell started filling up when I activated the three-way switch (one position activates the aeration/one activates the pump to fill/one switches off the pump). When I tried to turn the switch off, the livewell pump kept on filling up. I had to disconnect the switch leads from the console, all six of them in order to stop the pump from continuously filling the livewell.

Does this sound like a dead switch or could it indicate a more serious problem? Also now that I disconnected the leads Im not sure how they re-connect. Should I buy a new switch? The marina mechanics are incompetent so thats currently not an option to have them fix it. I would like to try and address this issue myself before taking it to another marina.

Thank you all

PS sorry no pics of the console wiring. Just an image of the console enclosed.

 

[boat127]

Re: Livewell switch stopped working! Keeps filling up!

quite possible the switch is corroroded internally on the contacts.

heres what i would do.

1 find the wires that opertate each pump. hook it to a 12 volt power source and find a ground and put it to ground. i would try that with each pump. sorry im not spacifiic not sure how many pumps you have.

if only one pump operates when you do that with each wire then you know its your switch

if more then one pump operates when you do each wire i would suspect wiring.

check your grounds and all connections and look at wiring that goes around shape edges i hope this helps

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Livewell switch stopped working! Keeps filling up!

Although this advice is a little late -- don't you think pulling the fuse would have been an easier and less troublesome task. You now have two problems and very likely without a diagram you will need to experiment. However the switch can be checked with an ohm meter. If you don't have one or know how to use one you need as a minimum, a test light that has an internal battery. All tests are done with no wires connected to the switch. A six terminal switch is essentially two switches built into one housing. The three terminals on the left side of the switch are separate from those on the right. With the switch in the middle position, none of the terminals should show continuity (laymans term = connection). If so, the switch it bad. You test from the center terminal to the top, then center to the bottom, then top to bottom. Repeat for the other side.

Then you set the switch in the up position. The center terminal to the bottom will show continuity. Center to top should not. Then switch to lower position. Center to top should show continuity, center to bottom should not. Repeat for the other side.

 

[Garynyc]

Re: Livewell switch stopped working! Keeps filling up!

Thank you both for the advice. I will be up this weekend and will try my best to implement these fixes!

Oh G-D the fuse...I should have removed the fuse!

Noon here--panicked!

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Livewell switch stopped working! Keeps filling up!

These aren't "fixes". They are diagnostic tests. The fix is to correct what you find is incorrect.

 

[Garynyc]

Re: Livewell switch stopped working! Keeps filling up!

Thank you for the semantics lesson