Force Electrical Problem

[jdparsons1]

I have a 1987 85HP Force on a 17ft bayliner boat. I've been having some type of electrical problem that keeps blowing fuses and there is a little black ciruit breaker box on the side of the motor that keeps throwing. I have to take the hood off and press the button in before the motor will start back up. This wouldn't be that big of a deal for me except it keeps blowing my fuel guage. Luckily my local boat store is good about swapping it out. It seems like it happens when I have hit a bunch of waves so im guessing somewhere there is a bare wire or loose connection that is shorting when the boat bounces. Any ideas for troubleshooting this problem? Also, is there a way I can hook up a fuse on one of the wires that leads to my fuel guage? There are 3 connectors on the back of the guage itself 1)connects to sending unit 2)runs to the ignition 3) ground. That way all im blowing is a fuse instead of an expensive guage.

 

[navigator336]

Re: Force Electrical Problem

If the problem is frying your fuel gauge, I would say the problem is in the fuel gauge circuit. If the wires are easy to get to, try inspecting them for cuts in the insulation. If not, it may be easier to pull new wires and be done with it. If I had to bet on what the problem is, I would go with the sender in the tank. The sender is usually a variable resistor and completes the circuit to ground. If it doesn't provide some resistance, it is like a direct short of hot to ground and may cause what your experiencing. You usually can pull the senders out fairly easily. Check the resistance with the float all the way down and all the way up. Does the problem occur more ofter with the tank empty or full?<br /><br />As for putting a fuse in, it would go in the ignition wire. I wouldn't band-aid the problem this way though. Direct shorts are bad news.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Force Electrical Problem

I would put an inline fuse in both wires 1 and 2, as you don't know which one is grounding out.<br /><br />Good luck hunting it down.

 

[jdparsons1]

Re: Force Electrical Problem

how many amp fuse should i use???

 

[roscoe]

Re: Force Electrical Problem

The guage doesn't draw much, maybe 2. ?

 

[jdparsons1]

Re: Force Electrical Problem

Well, heres another piece of info I have about that may be related. When I first purchased my garmin fish finder i hooked it up on my electrical system and it would all in the sudden beep and say too high of voltage or something like that so i ended up hooking the fish finder up to a smaller 12v battery that i had and i use it only for the fish finder.<br /><br />what could cause these types of power spikes

 

[The Marine Doctor]

Re: Force Electrical Problem

Its possible that the Force engine is overvolting. I believe that the rectifier does not regulate. So overvolting is possible. Look to hook up an regulator/rectifier. Possibly the old Chrysler one...or the Merc one.<br /><br />TMD

 

[jdparsons1]

Re: Force Electrical Problem

Sorry to be ignorant but where do i get one of those and are they all the same. How does it get hooked up?

 

[The Marine Doctor]

Re: Force Electrical Problem

You could buy one at a Mercury dealership. They should be able to give you instuctions on how to install it.<br /><br />TMD

 

[jdparsons1]

Re: Force Electrical Problem

Ok... im ready to hook up my new guage and sending unit... i also bought two inline fuses and just wanted to check again to see if anyone else recommended higher than 2a fuses? that is what i bought. im also going to look into if it is the rectifier but i at least need to get a temp fix.