Tach lights wont work!!

[skillman]

When i start my boat the tach lights come on for about a second or two then go out,any ideas what might be causing this?

 

[Don S]

Re: Tach lights wont work!!

Moving to electrical/electronics forum

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Tach lights wont work!!

Do the other instrument lights work?. If not, you lost the +12V feed from the light switch to the instrument lights. If they work ok but only the tach doesn't, either the bulb is loose or you have an intermittent +12V light feed to the tach.

 

[skillman]

Re: Tach lights wont work!!

All my other lights work. I dont think it's a loose bulb,just seems like when i first turn the key on they work for a second or two then go out.Being i'm not an electrician how can i fix this?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Tach lights wont work!!

You don't need to be an electrician but you do need to stick your head under the console and see what you have. We can't do that for you. There are four wires on the tach. Each of the terminals will be marked. "+" = +12V when the key is on. You know that's not the problem since the tach works. "-" = ground and you know that's not the problem either because if it was bad the tach would not work. "S" = sense and you know that's not bac because -- you guessed it, the tach works. That leaves the "L" = light terminal. Check the "L" connection to make sure it's tight. If it is, follow it back to where the other end connects. If that's tight then it would appear to be the bulb or socket. And yes, the light may come on initially but once the engine starts, vibration can make it go out. Replace the bulb. If all the checks and the bulb prove ok, I give up.