Polarity issue?

[rcosta]

I have a new to me 2010 16' Larsen. As of last weekend it was operating 100%.

Last Sunday it appears I left the bilge pump running so yesterday when I went to start it there was nothing happening. I took the battery home to recharge it.

I attempted to hook it up today and was easily able to run the bilge pump (and Garmin) but nothing happens tilting the engine nor starting it. The tilt does not work from either the throttle or button on the engine so I don't think it is a wiring issue.

I am confused by the wiring to the engine. There is one wire with red tape at the end which I assumed was positive. The other wire has a fuse attached to it. I tried attaching each wire to both negative and positive but no result either way. (The bilge worked both ways which further confused me).

BTW this happened one other time this summer and it all went back together fine when I recharged the battery.

Any tips for figuring this out?

Thank you.

 

[dingbat]

I have a new to me 2010 16' Larsen. As of last weekend it was operating 100%.

Last Sunday it appears I left the bilge pump running so yesterday when I went to start it there was nothing happening. I took the battery home to recharge it.

I attempted to hook it up today and was easily able to run the bilge pump (and Garmin) but nothing happens tilting the engine nor starting it. The tilt does not work from either the throttle or button on the engine so I don't think it is a wiring issue.

I am confused by the wiring to the engine. There is one wire with red tape at the end which I assumed was positive. The other wire has a fuse attached to it. I tried attaching each wire to both negative and positive but no result either way. (The bilge worked both ways which further confused me).

BTW this happened one other time this summer and it all went back together fine when I recharged the battery.

Any tips for figuring this out?

Thank you.

What is your battery voltage.. preferably measured with a volt meter?

Starting batteries are very sensitive to deep discharge. Running one until dead twice in a season is typically a death sentence.

Reversing the wires on the bilge pump makes pump run backwards.

 

[rcosta]

What is your battery voltage.. preferably measured with a volt meter?

Starting batteries are very sensitive to deep discharge. Running one until dead twice in a season is typically a death sentence.

Reversing the wires on the bilge pump makes pump run backwards.

Thank you. Please excuse my ignorance with electrical issues, but are you saying my battery my be unable to start the boat or tilt the engine but have enough juice to run a Garmin and bilge pump?

Either way I will check the voltage. Thank you.

 

[dingbat]

are you saying my battery my be unable to start the boat or tilt the engine but have enough juice to run a Garmin and bilge pump?

Yes…,,
Put a voltmeter on your battery and record voltage.
Leave voltmeter connected to battery and watch it while trying to tilt the motor.

 

[rcosta]

Today I tried two fully charged batteries and still no tilt or start (but again the bilge works). I have tried the tilt from the switch on the engine itself and nothing. Makes me think there is something not connected but I am at a loss where to start diagnosing it.

Any ideas would be welcome. Thank you.