Electrical problems

[MossyOak99]

Ok. I am stumped. Had the boat out last week and it ran normal. started right up ran good no problems. Decided to go ahead and fire it up today in the driveway to check it out before tomorrow mornings fishing trip. I changed out the alternator belt so wanted to make sure everything was working. Well, that's where the trouble started.

This is a 1987 Mercruiser 120. Hooked up the hose and started running water, turned the key and nothing. made sure the boat was in nuetral and tried again, nothing. checked the battery voltage and it was good. Even ran it to the auto store to have them put it on a tester, tested great. Came back and started looking under the dash, noticed that there was power to the ignition switch untril i turned it to run then the power went out to everything under the dash. Figured that the switch was bad so went and got a new marine one and installed it. Getting power all the time now. When key turned forward there is power to the gauges but the don't light up or move at all. Also, when I try to start it I still get nothing. No clicking, no anything.

Sorry so long but I don't know where to go from here.

 

[MossyOak99]

Re: Electrical problems

Also, I did go through the adult section and run the tests on the starting system. At the solenoid, I am not getting a good ground to it. I hav etried to changed the ground with no luck but noticed that when the switch is in the run position I get power coming through the ground when i hold the ground off the battery to it. Don't think that should be happening if it is supposed to be a ground. Please help me. LOL

 

[cooter2506]

Re: Electrical problems

check all battery7 connections or corrosion and tightness. Check your engine ground from the battery. Maybe it is corroded or loose

 

[MossyOak99]

Re: Electrical problems

That's exactly what I was just working on. Still not getting anywhere with it.

 

[rbh]

Re: Electrical problems

did you check the neatral safety switch?
rob

 

[MossyOak99]

Re: Electrical problems

Ran the test that Don has listed under the adults section. Checked for power coming to and from the switch and it appears to be working fine. Only getting power coming out of it if it is neutral. If it is in gear no power coming from it.

 

[MossyOak99]

Re: Electrical problems

Hey Cooter. You were holding the golden ticket on this one. After only 7 hours of playing with everything it turned out to be that the ground connections just needed to be cleaned up. Some day I will learn to start with the simple things. LOL. The ignition switch was bad too but just glad that it is running again. Look out perch here I come.

Thank you all for your quick responses.