GPS/Fishfinder won't start at all...everything else works fine.

[RS22]

Several weeks ago my Garmin started cutting off anytime I cranked up the engine. After a few trips, it started to do this every time, and then started cutting off in choppy conditions...finally, it just stopped working altogether. Had my girlfriend take the battery to autozone, and she was told it was "fine", just needed to be charged some more. I have since replaced my main battery switch, and since I had been planning to replace the Garmin with a newer Lowrance system anyways, went ahead and bit the bullet. After hooking the new system up tonight....still nothing.

All other electronics are working fine, and the motor cranks right up. I've tested the main fuse panel in the helm, and it's getting power where it needs to be. At this point, what else should I be checking? Could it be that my battery isn't "fine," and needs to be replaced after all?

 

[GA_Boater]

Welcome aboard.

I would be shocked if the problem is your battery. You say the only thing not working is the Humminbird, now the Lowrance. It sounds like either the ground or the power wire/connections for the FF started going intermittent until one of them finally failed.

Where is the power coming from, the main starting battery or another battery? Is there dedicated power and ground from the battery to the FF or are you using the main boat fuse panel?

When you installed the Lowrance, did you use new power/ground wire and connect to the same place as the old FF? Are you getting 12 Volts where it feeds into the FF and do you have continuity from ground to the end of FF ground wire?

A few places to start.

 

[RS22]

Power is coming from the main starting battery. All electronics including the Lowrance are connected to a fuse panel, which runs to the main breaker. I don't have a voltmeter, but that's likely on the agenda for the weekend.

 

[lmuss53]

If you are attaching it to the same wire that powered the Garmin I would suspect that you have a open fuse or a bad connection somewhere in that wire. Test that wire where it attaches to the unit and then back up stream towards the battery at every connection. I have seen the little springs in fuse holders corrode and let power into the holder and through the fuse but not out the other end.

 

[roffey]

My 2 cents would be test it by connecting directly to the battery, if that works and I suspect it would then the problem is 100% wiring. Connect the positive to the battery and try your ground. If it does not work your problem is the ground, if it does work your problem is power. From here its tracing the wire back or running new.

 

[roffey]

oh, and if this does fix your issue I bet your old GPS is fine and would be a great candidate for CL.