No power to gauges or ignition, but blower, bilge work.

[spunkyman]

Hi All
I have a 2008 Tahoe Q4 with a 3.0L Mercruiser that ran on the lake for the first trip out, died 100 meters after that and then when trying to restart, power to the ignition and gauges disappeared.

I've switched the 90 amp fuse at the starter, checked power and it's there, have power at the fuse box (under dash) and blower, bilge, lights, horn all work. I've checked with my light meter at the ignition and red doesn't have power. I've also checked a the only other fuses I can find at the engine end (small 15, 20 amp fuses) that are fine.... what else is there??? Geez. I have my light meter and I'm checking everywhere, but can't seem to find where the power stops. What am I missing?

ER.. Frustrating !! I've really tried to fix this before posting, but I'm at the end of my rope.
Ideas??

many thanks in advance for the smarty pants out there who can help.

 

[Don S]

Re: No power to gauges or ignition, but blower, bilge work.

There should be a 15 amp fuse in the red/purple wire going to the ignition switch.

 

[spunkyman]

Re: No power to gauges or ignition, but blower, bilge work.

Hi Don
All fuses are fine, none blown and I assume you are referring to the one at the engine with the cap on it. I've used the light meter on everything and have power to only one terminal on the main 50 amp breaker (the one closest to the transom) I just can't for the life of me sort out why there is still no power to the gauges or ignition. It's a 2008 and I've done everything I can think of. Maybe it's the relay? There's no power going to that either. Can't find a 2007-08 schematic of it anywhere... nothing that recent. I cringe at the thought of taking it in !But I may be defeated on this one... unless you have any other suggestions.

total. bummer.

 

[Don S]

Re: No power to gauges or ignition, but blower, bilge work.

All fuses are fine, none blown and I assume you are referring to the one at the engine with the cap on it.

No, I was referring to the one near the ignition switch, under the helm.

I've used the light meter on everything and have power to only one terminal on the main 50 amp breaker (the one closest to the transom)

You should have power on both terminals. Reset it or replace it.

 

[LX Kid]

Re: No power to gauges or ignition, but blower, bilge work.

I'm not familiar with your particular ignition system but I'd offer this quick check. (Overly simplified for ease of explanation.) The ignition switch is wired to the starter solenoid and the coil is also fed from the starter solenoid. Check the wires and connections on the starter solenoid and see if your problem "might" be in that area. If not, well you can rule that out.

Do you have points in your distributor or other? What kind of ignition system is it?

 

[Don S]

Re: No power to gauges or ignition, but blower, bilge work.

He has electronic ignition, but that doesn't matter. He doesn't have power to the ignition switch, and obviously from his last post the circuit breaker is where the power stops.

I've used the light meter on everything and have power to only one terminal on the main 50 amp breaker (the one closest to the transom)

 

[spunkyman]

Re: No power to gauges or ignition, but blower, bilge work.

Hey Guys... I took both wires (red and red/pur) off the 50A breaker and put em together and BAM ! power to the ignition !
I've ordered a new 50A breaker and hopefully that will be the end of it !!
MANY MANY THANKS DON AND LX KID!!!!

 

[LX Kid]

Re: No power to gauges or ignition, but blower, bilge work.

Good job "Don S." When the Oracle speaks we listen. Glad you found your problem "spunkyman."

 

[spunkyman]

Re: No power to gauges or ignition, but blower, bilge work.

OH NO. I SPOKE TOO SOON. REPLACED THE MAIN 50A BREAKER AND SAME PROBLEM.
Oops.. sorry about the caps !
I can get power when I bridge the main red lead and the red/pur lead together from the breaker - and I get power to my ignition, but when I hook them up separately to the breaker, the red/pur is dead and nothing gets through... what the heck could it be now? I thought we had it licked ... bummer, again.
Probably something only Don can sort out !
Again, all fuses look to be good, also tested relay and nothing. I can't even find a schematic of the path of electronics - too new.

Any help would save my weekend !

 

[Don S]

Re: No power to gauges or ignition, but blower, bilge work.

Do you know how to reset that type of a breaker? Post a picture of your breaker so I know we are talking about the same kind.

 

[spunkyman]

Re: No power to gauges or ignition, but blower, bilge work.

Her is the breaker... when I put the red/purple wire straight to the red it's fine, but with the breaker, nothing. Yes, I've pushed the red button !
PICTURE

 

[spunkyman]

Re: No power to gauges or ignition, but blower, bilge work.

I suppose when I put the red/purple and the red together, it was bridging something, and getting the power from red to give the red/pur juice, but I'm not even sure what to check next in line of where the power travels.

 

[Ryanlewis2010]

Re: No power to gauges or ignition, but blower, bilge work.

if its not working with the fuse inline then something tells me that either you got a dude fuse or your grounding something out or added and accessory to the starting circuit causing and over load

 

[Don S]

Re: No power to gauges or ignition, but blower, bilge work.

Her is the breaker... when I put the red/purple wire straight to the red it's fine, but with the breaker, nothing. Yes, I've pushed the red button !
PICTURE
View attachment 148546

If you pushed the red button, you manually tripped the breaker, and a little are dropped down. Push the little arm back up to reset the breaker.

 

[spunkyman]

Re: No power to gauges or ignition, but blower, bilge work.

YOU ARE A SAINT. AND A GENIUS...UH..AND I FEEL STUPID !
Lifted the yellow arm and it did reset and now there is power to gauges and ignition. We have take off. Hopefully this thread will help others !! DON'T PUSH THE RED BUTTON !!!!
I also changed the 90A fuse at the starter. It was also blown.
But you saved me Don. You should run for president. If I lived out west I would buy you several holiday beers.
You are a good man sir. Happy Long Weekend !!!!!!!!

Yours,
Marty

 

[dmoss8928]

Re: No power to gauges or ignition, but blower, bilge work.

spunkyman---- I am having a problem kinda like yours.. I think i have checked all fuses but you refer to one at the engine with the cap on it. Can you tell me where this one is at? I have a 2008 q4 4.3 so it should be very close to your set up. and this post as really helped me out thanks guys!!

 

[spunkyman]

Re: No power to gauges or ignition, but blower, bilge work.

Check the 50 amp breaker and see if the little yellow bar is hanging down. If it is, push it up and that will reset your breaker. Do NOT push the red button as that would trip it. Also, take a light meter and test the 90 amp fuse at the starter.

 

[Don S]

Re: No power to gauges or ignition, but blower, bilge work.

He has his own thread on this spunkyman, not sure why he is posting here too. All he has to do is look for his fuse under the dash and be able to ID it as a fuse http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=554420

 

[dmoss8928]

Re: No power to gauges or ignition, but blower, bilge work.

I was just trying to get some insight on what spunkyman was talking about when he said he checked the fuses at the engine because I haven't found any fuses at mine and I wanted to see if mine where okay...

Don I found a pic of the Electrical Components on my boat there is a 15 fuse in the picture can you tell me where this guy might be?

Sorry for the post of different threads....

 

[Don S]

Re: No power to gauges or ignition, but blower, bilge work.

Post questions on your thread, not this one.