No ignition power

[trailshredder]

Trailered the boat for about 10 minutes in a hard down pour of rain. The next day I went to start it and it will not turn over at all. The volt meter on the dash only reads about 10V when I turn the key on. I put the charger on overnight and I have 13.8 volts at the battery. Everything else electrical works fine, i.e. horn, tilt/trim, bilge, lights and blower but refuses to show more than 10 volts on the dash gauge. I have wiggled wires and hoping to see the gauge move but no luck. Here is the ironic thing, If I pull the engine cutoff safety tether, the voltage gauge will jump up to over 13 volts but won?t start. When I plug the tether back in, the voltage drops back down on the dash gauge to 10 Volts. Thoughts? Ignition switch bad or have water in it?

 

[Scott Danforth]

safety switch or ignition switch full of water and shorting to ground

 

[alldodge]

Replace your battery, when it gets down to 10V its been damaged.

 

[trailshredder]

As I mentioned, the battery checks out at 13.8 volts at the battery. I took the ignition switch out and sprayed it with some electronics dri spray. Still 10 volts on the dash and not turning over. Took the tether safety switch out and bypassed it, still no go. Other suggestions? I'm at a loss.

 

[alldodge]

As I mentioned, the battery checks out at 13.8 volts at the battery. ..... Other suggestions? I'm at a loss.

Probably should leave this alone but trying one more time. A full 100% charged lead acid battery is 12.7V. Your reading the battery charger voltage and not the battery. If you take a bat off a charger you need to let is set a couple hours and then measure. Your comment

If I pull the engine cutoff safety tether, the voltage gauge will jump up to over 13 volts but won?t start. When I plug the tether back in, the voltage drops back down on the dash gauge to 10 Volts

When the tether is pulled your removing power to the purple wire which feeds the motor. The motor will crank but no power is going to the coil or any gauges/sensors. Plugging in the tether reconnects power to the motor. If the purple wire has more then 20 amps going thru it the fuse blows. The fuse has not blown because the boats voltmeter drops to 10V.

 

[trailshredder]

I didn't think my charger was connect to the battery but it was a long day. The charger has been disconnected for a couple days now so I will check it again when I get home.

 

[trailshredder]

Thanks for the replies. I have 12.66V at the battery. I guess I have to assume my issue is in the purple wire, short to ground somewhere? So do I just follow the purple wire from the safety tether to the engine and back and then the other way to the dash? I am ok with most mechanical issues but Electrical and I don?t get along well. Ugghh.

 

[alldodge]

That voltage should be good, wouldn't mind finding out if it will pass a load test. Don't see the purple wire having a short because it would blow the 20 amp ignition fuse. Might be a bad ground or connection it the 10 pin harness connector