Electrical short on evinrude

[rob1973]

I have a 16ft aluminum Lowe bass boat with a 1990 70hp evinrude. I noticed yesterday all the electronics on my engine seem to be melted looking. It looks like brown sticky grease coming from where the wires go in the rectifier, primer and other various components. This morning my batteries were completely dead. The batteries are only two weeks old. I had a battery go bad a few weeks back. It was tested and had a shorted plate in it. I replaced both batteries with new excide batteries. Anyone ever had a similar problem like this? Any help would be much appreciated . I removed both new batteries and they both fully charged so I know the new batteries are good. Just don't want to put them back in till I get a handle on the issue.

 

[rob1973]

In addition I checked all my ground and hot connections everything looks clean and I can't find any wires that are melted. It does have power trim/tilt.

 

[sam am I]

Definitely start by replacing the rectifier, it's probably toasted and is most likely the reason your batteries are being drained.

The rec could have been going bad un-noticed for sometime, they work pretty hard, some guys heat sink them if they're not already. The shorted cell in the old battery could have been the death blow as it held/clamped the output voltage lower than designed.

 

[rob1973]

Thanks I'll pick up a new rectifier and replace it. I'll also do amp test on the hot lead to the engine and see if it has anything else going on to pull the batteries down. Hope I didn't fry all the electronics/stator on my engine. I'm worried that they all got really hot.

 

[sam am I]

You're quite welcome and good idea on the current draw test....GL and let us know if ya get a chance.

 

[rob1973]

Disconnected the rectifier and installed the charged battery. Did a current draw test. All is well now. It was definitely the rectifier. Thanks a million for the help. She will be back on the water soon as I can drop by dealer to pick up a new one. Much appreciated.