Starting Issues - Stereo Problem. Related???

[keifermj]

It wouldn't be a summer of boating if there weren't any issues with the boat. Here are my two problems. I'm not sure they are related or not.

#1 - It seems that if my boat sits without any use for a day or more that when I go to start it I have problems. When I turn the key the only thing that happens is that I hear a "click". If I do this enough times the boat will eventually start up. After that initial process she seems to be fine the rest of the day.

#2 - My stereo system consists of 4 speakers and an amplifier. I installed it early in the season and everything worked fine. I could sit on the boat for hours and listen to music powered by the battery. My problem now when I do that is that when I listen to the stereo with the engine off the speakers sound distorted. When I turn the boat on the battery gauge shows the battery is low and the music still sounds distorted. However, as soon as I increase the RPMS the batter gauge goes up and the music sounds awesome. If I run the boat for awhile and shut it off the music sounds good for awhile, but then distorts after 15 minutes or so.

At first I thought the obvious problem was the battery. I have two batteries on the boat connected to a battery switch. I tried moving the second battery over to the one where my amplifier is wired to, but had the same problem. I took both batteries in to be tested and they are both fine. Still believing that was the problem I bought a new battery to try. Same thing. I'm very confused.

I should also mention that prior to this I had a leak on the boat and the bildge filled about halfway with water. It seems like after that is when both problems started.

Any thoughts? Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[keifermj]

Re: Starting Issues - Stereo Problem. Related???

I'm not sure if it matters in this case, but I forgot to mention what I have. It's a 1999 Four Winns Sundowner with a 5.7 engine. I have checked the battery terminals and cables at the battery and all looks good. Could the issue be my ground cable connected to the engine block? It's at the bottom of the engine so it's not very convenient to get to. Again, any help would be appreciated. This is driving me crazy!

 

[Star]

Re: Starting Issues - Stereo Problem. Related???

I will guess that you are using starting batteries rather than Deep cycle!! A stereo with a seperate 4 channel amp draws quite a bit of juice at high levels. Once you drain down a battery the boats charging system will not bring them back to full charge with one our of motor operation. It takes Amps and time, you may see 12 volts but you need to know that a battery is almost dead at 12.0 volts. How do you charge them? I also think that you have conection or switch problems. What is the voltage at the battery terminals when it just clicks on start. what is the voltage at starter terminals and selinoid terminals? Get a DVM at Wally world for $19.00 in automotive section they are great!!!

 

[keifermj]

Re: Starting Issues - Stereo Problem. Related???

They are deep cycle batteries. As mentioned, I used to be able to sit on the lake all day and listen to music and then the boat would start right back up with no problem. When I took the batteries to Autozone they were just fine and had 80%+ charge. Also, when I put a brand new deep cycle battery in I had the same problem right away when I turned the stereo on in the driveway. Once I started the boat up the music was perfect.

I do need to get a voltage meter so I can do some testing.

 

[Don S]

Re: Starting Issues - Stereo Problem. Related???

Battery cables need to be tight (with a wrench and a nut, not wingnuts and you fingers), and in good condition and clean. They also have 2 ends on each cable.

Might also want to have the batteries load tested. Do you ever check the water in them?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Starting Issues - Stereo Problem. Related???

You said battery cables "looked good". That is not a test. Remove them, make them shiny bright and reconnect securely. Since each cable has two ends (the battery end and engine end) cleaning one end does no good if the problem is at the other end. The symptoms you describe sound very much like a cable issue. You also have a battery switch so the cables going to and from it are also suspect as is the wiring on the COM terminal of the switch. Current cannot get through a high resistance connection. Those high current connections need to be clean and tight.

 

[keifermj]

Re: Starting Issues - Stereo Problem. Related???

Ok, so I took the boat in to get it looked at. The starting issue is due the starter and solenoid. Those will be replaced.

As far as the stereo goes he said that the battery I have isn't enough to power my setup. This is still very strange as I was running it fine earlier in the year. He said he tested the voltage and saw it drop drastically when the stereo was turned on. My question now is how do I fix it. I'm assuming I need to add another battery in parallel or in series. I should also mention that I currently have two batteries on the boat and one I would like to leave dedicated as a starting battery. Both are connected to a battery switch. Can someone please tell me which one and how to do it? Thanks again!!

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Starting Issues - Stereo Problem. Related???

What's the use of having a battery switch if you wire thiings directly to one battery or the other? a dual battery switch "generally" has ALL of the accessories wired to the COM terminal on the switch. Exceptions would be a very high powered stereo system, a trolling motor, or an automatic bilge pump. The switch then works as follows:
OFF = everything on the boat is off except anything wired directly to a battery.
BAT1 = BAT 1 starts the engine, operates the accessories and is charged by the engine.
BAT2 = BAT 2 starts the engine, operates the accessories and is charged by the engine.
BOTH = BOTH batteries start the engine operate the accessories and are charged by the engine.

Batteries are like buckets of electricity -- the battery capacity expressed in RESERVE CAPACITY (discharge time in minutes normally at a 23 or 25 amp rate). You typically want the bigger (higher capacity) battery as the house battery (BAT 2). Both batteries do not have to be the same with a switch but they should both be the same technology (AGM, lead acid, etc).

Use the switch to your advantage -- that's what it is for and it doesn't get more versatile. And by the way -- you do not wire 12 volt accessories to two 12 volt batteries wired in series because that makes 24 volts and your 12 volt stuff will be toasted.

 

[glenn property of pam]

Re: Starting Issues - Stereo Problem. Related???

the battery isnt enoght to power the stereo...... where was he measuring the voltage at the battery or the stereo? if he measured at the stereo you might have voltage drop if the power wire is to small or if the contacts are dirty