Really Dumb but need help

[megawisdumb]

I have a Caravelle 209 w/ 5.8LFL Volvo Penta that I was attempting to sell yesterday afternoon and went to hook up the battery to show the potential buyer how well she purrs and I connected the wrong poles. Yes, pos went to neg and neg to pos. Quickly realized what I had done and reversed them but now no power anywhere in the boat. I pushed the two 50 amp circuit breakers about 100 times to no avail. I searched for other fuses but did not locate anything. If I place a screwdriver across the solonoid the engine will turn over but all juice at the key is dead - lights, horn, radio, etc. The buyer drove off. Fate is a painful experience. HELP!

 

[Boatin Bob]

Re: Really Dumb but need help

There is generally a 20 amp fuse in the ignition circuit somewhere most likely up under the dash, keep looking you just haven't found it yet.

 

[megawisdumb]

Re: Really Dumb but need help

Only fuse I can locate under the dash thus far is for the radio. Does anyone know if a 96 VolvoPenta 5.8FL has and inline fuse other than the twin 50amp circuit breakers and if so where is it located. I located many rubber type connectors (1 under coil, 1 behind engine, 1 above starter) but once I opened them they are simply connectors not fuses. I have voltage at solonoid. My wife really thinks this is really funny since I listed it in the paper today. I am about to blow a fuse...pardon the pun.

 

[bjcsc]

Re: Really Dumb but need help

I remember this exact same situation was posted before and resolved. There was a fuse in some non-obvious location that ended up solving the problem. I searched but can't find it...I'll keep looking...

And another thing...don't just trust pushing the buttons on the breakers - test across them with a meter. One of my breakers failed several years ago. I had no power, pushed the buttons just like you to no avail. When I tested across the breakers with a meter, one had failed internally...

 

[megawisdumb]

Re: Really Dumb but need help

Another sad element is that I have a 700+ page manual with a wiring diagram but it does not show any fuses only the two 50 amp breakers.

 

[bjcsc]

Re: Really Dumb but need help

If it's 700 pages it's not the factory manual. Aftermarket manuals are like road maps that only show major highways...see my added comments above-it could be one of the breakers...

 

[megawisdumb]

Re: Really Dumb but need help

I concur on the manual issue. I did drop my meter behind the 50amp breakers and did get power readings on the rear side of both of them but I'm not sure that rules them out. I am not getting juice at the coil or anything forward of the solonoid. I'm really hoping a fuse exists somewhere I haven't looked or overlooked. Still can't believe I hooked up the terms wrong. sad.

 

[BoatinFool]

Re: Really Dumb but need help

The boat is trashed. When you hooked it up backwards it reversed the polarity to the zincs which reversed the molecular attraction at the atomic level in the hull and engines. Your electrons are now positive and your positrons are negative. But since I'm a nice guy, I'll give you $50 for it!!

Seriously, there's most likely a fuse somewhere you haven't found. Look all around the engine, under the dash, and along the side of the boat where the wires run. Every boat I've ever seen seems to have undocumented fuses randomly placed in the wiring harness.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Really Dumb but need help

Just a shot here, but check for a "fuse wire". Fuse wires look exactly like a short piece of wire spliced into the main harness. It works like a "master fuse" and actually burns open on serious direct shorts. As for troubleshooting, start at the point where the positive battery cable attaches to the engine and work forward from there.

 

[Don S]

Re: Really Dumb but need help

Trace the red/purple wire on the ignition switch, there is supposed to be a 20 amp inline fuse in it.
Also check near the battery for a fuse for the accessories.

 

[megawisdumb]

Re: Really Dumb but need help

Ok, I fondled everything from the battery on up to the key and did not find a fuse. However, did notice an oddity with my meter. There are two 50 amp breakers on my rig. The one on the right shows power on both back side terminals. The one on the left only has power on one terminal. Pic below shows this breaker. Jumper wire goes to the other breaker and is hot, other one is not. I hope this means this is my problem. Any takers?

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Really Dumb but need help

With the reset button pushed in it should read 12 volts on both posts..

 

[megawisdumb]

Re: Really Dumb but need help

RESOLUTION IS SO SWEET!!! That was it, the circuit breaker was stuck which prevented me from getting a reading under I slammed it on the kitchen counter and the ohm meter lights up. Once back on the boat everything comes to life. Can't thank you all for your assistance on this stormy morning trying to troubleshoot this issue in a thunderstorm. I plan to purchase a center console w/ the funds (should a buyer return) and will certainly use this site to help with my new rig and the issues it will carry. Thanks again!!

 

[littlebookworm]

Re: Really Dumb but need help

Just a suggestion: I know you're selling the boat, but if it were me in your situation, I'd replace that circuit breaker. You know it's bad and it could die at any time, killing any sale you might have of the boat. Or it might stick closed when it should pop open and cause all kinds of electrical problems. It's not expensive, and changing it would let you sleep sounder. Hy.

 

[Don S]

Re: Really Dumb but need help

I slammed it on the kitchen counter and the ohm meter lights up. Once back on the boat everything comes to life
I plan to purchase a center console w/ the funds (should a buyer return) and will certainly use this site to help with my new rig and the issues it will carry.

I just had a customer come in with a boat he wanted to sell. It had a compression test of 160, 150, 90, 140. He brought it in because it wouldn't idle right and he wanted to make sure it was ok for the new buyer. After I gave him the info on the compression check, he was going to GIVE the boat to a mechanic friend that likes to tinker with things. But he would sell it to anyone since he knew there was a problem with it.
You might want to think about the saying "What Goes around, comes around"

 

[megawisdumb]

Re: Really Dumb but need help

For the record, the buyer returned and I fully explained the issue and the "kitchen slam" fix to him prior to his purchase. I even let him take the boat to TWO marinas nearby for a review which it passed without any issues. He purchased the rig. I pointed out every negative issue I was aware of with the rig which I believe is always the best policy on any sale but especially on a 12 yr old boat.

 

[soler]

Re: Really Dumb but need help

For the record, the buyer returned and I fully explained the issue and the "kitchen slam" fix to him prior to his purchase. I even let him take the boat to TWO marinas nearby for a review which it passed without any issues. He purchased the rig. I pointed out every negative issue I was aware of with the rig which I believe is always the best policy on any sale but especially on a 12 yr old boat.

Congrats on the fix, and on the sale! But all the electrons probably only came to life due to all the electricity in the air (thunderstorm). The new buyer will only be able to get the boat working during stormy weather

SOLER