No power!!! Electrical problem

[Ingram84]

When I turn my ignition key to ON position I have no power to my dash gauges. On my ignition switch I have 3 wires. One is power one is for my dash instrument panel an the other goes to my starter. When this happens I still have power to everything else. Bilge pump, blower motor, lights, etc. so it's not a ground problem. I don't think. I thought I was blowing fuses bc I could replace the fuse going to the power wire an it would turn over. I checked what I thought were tge bad fuses last night ( a continuity test) an they were still good. Also this is only sometimes. Took the boat out on sat and ran perfect. Sunday no power. Got it back home and replaced what I thought was a bad fuse an it started right up on hosepipe. I'm confused. Help!!!! The motor is 1992 omc 5.0 with cobra out drive if that matters. Thanks for all your help.

 

[Don S]

Re: No power!!! Electrical problem

When this happens I still have power to everything else. Bilge pump, blower motor, lights, etc. so it's not a ground problem.

Your boat has basically 2 different electrical systems. Engine and House. Pumps blower, lights, etc. are considered house systems and and not connected to the engine systems

Do you have voltage at the B (Red/purple wire) terminal on the ignition switch? If you do, turn the key to the run position and see if you have voltage to the I (Purple wire) terminal of the switch.

If no power to the B terminal, check the fuse in that wire under the dash or the main fuse or breaker on the engine.

Loose or corroded contacts for fuses, and connections can make the problem intermittent.

 

[Ingram84]

Re: No power!!! Electrical problem

Thanks Don. When I had no power one time I did check the voltage from the power wire running to the ignition switch an I got nothing. I did have power running to my fuse panel though. Those wires all registered good voltage. I'm beginning to think it may be the prongs holding the fuse in. Everytime it didn't work I would pull the fuse out and put a new one in. Maybe they are corroded or its just not getting a good fit anymore and me pulling it out an replacing was getting a better fit.