Reversed Battery Cables - rookie move

[cnkmills]

I just re-floored my 1989 Four Winns Horizon. It started fine before this project. When I reinstalled the batteries, I inadvertantly reversed the cables on one battery. When I turned the perko swithch, the pos terminal on one battery caught fire. I've corrected the hookups, checked the battery charges and nothing...the trim works fine but no guages and the started doesn't turn over...any thoughts?? Thanks!

 

[Don S]

Re: Reversed Battery Cables - rookie move

Start checking fuses and circuit breakers on the engine and under the dash.

 

[lilmandavis]

Re: Reversed Battery Cables - rookie move

im surprised that nothing else caught on fire or at least melted. look real close at everything. then check the main fuse or breaker switch. will anything work with out the toasted battery hooked up? or is that one now disconnected? you could also try to bypass the bat switch, perhaps that melted down as well.

 

[cnkmills]

Re: Reversed Battery Cables - rookie move

Here's a silly question: Where do I find the Main Fuse? I replaced one blown fuse under the instrument panel but I'm not sure if these inclde the main fuse.

 

[Don S]

Re: Reversed Battery Cables - rookie move

Here's a silly question: Where do I find the Main Fuse?

Here's another question, what engine and drive combination do you have. You could have a Volvo, Mercruiser, OMC, or mayby it was repowered with something else.
FourWinns also made a lot of different sizes and models.

 

[cnkmills]

Re: Reversed Battery Cables - rookie move

I have a 4.3L GM engine with OMC Cobra outdrive. A few more points...the trim works fine but nothing else seems to have power. Could it possibly have fried the ignition switch? If so, would that keep the guages, blower, etc. from working? Thanks!

 

[Boatin Bob]

Re: Reversed Battery Cables - rookie move

The Cobra's have 2x50 amp glass fuses on top of the engine near the back. Look for 2 black round rubber connectors, one will have a single big red wire and the other will have a big orange wire (normally), the fuses are inside these rubber connectors. There is a separate one for tilt/trim and the other one pretty much does everything else. Sounds like your tilt/trim one is Ok but you probably blew the other one. These are big fuses, probably need to get one at the dealer, should get a couple of spares as well just in case.

 

[Purduebarry]

Re: Reversed Battery Cables - rookie move

On my OMC the tilt works without the key or ignition or power turned on (accessory switch). That's why it's probably okay. Everything else seems to be ignition related. Hopefully the fuses that Bob suggested will get you running.

 

[cnkmills]

Re: Reversed Battery Cables - rookie move

Boatin Bob...you're the man! I found the fuses and sure enough one was blown. Replaced it and she started right up...everything seems to work. Many thanks from a 1st time boat owner!

Charles

 

[Boatin Bob]

Re: Reversed Battery Cables - rookie move

Good for you...hope you got yourself a spare, cause you know if you have one you won't ever need one! NOTE...(This doesn't always seem to work for boats) but I'm still a glass half full kind of guy.