1988 four winns, hour meter runs and depth sounder on with no key in ignition

swilks84

Recruit
Joined
Jun 15, 2018
Messages
1
Hello all, I've got '88 horizon 200 with 5.7 4v. everything's been fine up until randomly yesterday when i heard a click sound coming from rear of boat about every 5-6 seconds, while covered up in my driveway. i opened my cover and found hour meter running with key off. Also, the depth sounder was on. Normally, both of these things only happen when key is in the "on" position, with or without motor running. I took key out, still stayed on. Had to unplug battery to get them to turn off. I replaced the ignition switch tonight, to no avail. still not working properly. So I have to keep battery unplugged to not run up hours. I ended this past sunday with 486 hours, it now says 568. Not cool. any thoughts? I just am struggling to figure out how it has never had this issue, and now it does. very strange. I don't really know where to begin. I looked behind the dash, don't see bare wire or anything crossed. I hope its not in engine compartment, because i have no idea about the wiring back there.

any ideas/help would be appreciated,
thanks in advance.
 

dingbat

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Nov 20, 2001
Messages
16,625
It’s a long shot, but move the Bilge pump switch from auto to off/manual and see what happens.

Had a bilge pump short and backfeed 12 volts to the helm one time.
 

Silvertip

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Sep 22, 2003
Messages
28,771
If those two devices originally worked only when the key was on and now are on all the time, you need to first look at the wiring between those devices and the source. If that appears ok (nothing touching adjacent terminals/circuits) then as was suggested, those two devices are being fed by another source. With the key OFF, start pulling fuses until those two devices stop working. That then is the circuit with the issue. If it makes no difference with all fuses pulled there may be an engine harness issue near the helm.
 
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