Electrical problem

[activpop]

I have a 2004 NR Mariner with an outboard jet. My GPS/fishfinder go out when I turn the running lights on, and now I find I don't have any power to the wiper, interior lights, bilge pump and horn.

I checked all connections and fuses that I could find, and everything seems right. All wiring was done by the dealer, and everything has been working fine until about a month ago. The condition seemed to clear up for a while, then today everything described above lost power. Engine starts and runs fine, just not the stuff on the dash.

I will call dealer tomorrow, but wondering if anybody has a clue?

Thanks,
George

[dbuechler]

Are you running 1 or 2 batteries? Do ytou have a power switch selector? Take a #8 wire from the NEGATIVE side of the battery to your dash and see it anything works. Sounds like you lost a GROUND toyour dash. I live here in Van. Wa and I have testers to check it out. Also maybe check your wires on your battery for connections and around the coil? Sounds like a loose wire or connection went bad. If I can help let me know

[Okie]

If the items you mention fail to operate when you turn on the running lights, it indicates your running lights are drawing all the current available and doesn't leave enough for the other item. This would indicate that your feed cable is to small to handle the load. Double the gauge of your feed cable to the fuse panel from the battery. This should solve your problem. This is often a problem with 12volt dc wiring. You need much heavyier gauge cables between the battery and fuse panel.

Good Luck;-

[activpop]

Thanks guys for the replies.

I have two batteries and a battery selector switch. Could it be that the battery connections need to be cleaned? I wouldn't think so because both motors kick over fine. This problem never happened in the four years of the boats life, so why did it surface now? Why would the feed from the battery cause a problem after working right for so long?

I will run a new ground to check that out. That sounds like what could be wrong. For a while it was intermittent, than it cleared up, then it got worse. Sounds like a loose connection somewhere...all I need to do is find it.

I will let you know what I find. Thanks again for the help.

[fishkisser]

instrument and accessary grounds are commonly daisy chained together with spade connectors ...
Check all connections for tightness and corrosion ...
Reassemble with a dab of dielectric grease on all connectors ...
If all was well for that long its more than likely a bad ground or connection ...:twocents:

[activpop]

I knew it was something simple...after looking at the battery switch to see if anything came loose, I found a 20 amp fuse with a corroded spade on it by wiggling it and watching the lights dim and flicker. After cleaning it off, everything is like new again.

Thanks for all your help. After reading your replies, I started looking in other areas and I found the problem. Brainstorming is a good thing. :excited:

[fishkisser]

Coat all your spade ends on your fuses with siliconized dielectric grease and that will hardly ever happen again ...:twocents:
Glad your 100% again ...Barney