No Electrical Power _ Thought Done Wintering Today

[milkyway]

Last week, I ran the engine on the trailer preparing to winterize it.No problem. Afterwards, I removed the thermostat ( and the 2 wires attached to it) and poured antifreeze. Rehooked the 2 wires. <br /><br />But I forgot to fog it and pour oil in the spark plug valves. So today I turned the ignition, the engine cranked 4 times, but the cranking turned weaker and weaker each time, the audible sound became weak, then no power. I took the other fully charged battery from the garage and still no power. Engine did not crank, no lights, no audible sounds, all gauges did not move when iginition key was halfway. Ignition coil wires are attached, all spark plugs and ditributor wires are connected, the battery cables are clean. How come the engine turned from weak cranking then totally dead?<br /><br />Where is the 20 amp fuse located? I have the merc 5.0 220 hp with alpha 1 gen II, year 1998.<br /><br />Where else should I look?<br /><br />Thanks.

 

[Don S]

Re: No Electrical Power _ Thought Done Wintering Today

You have a battery or battery cable problem. No 20 amp fuse will cause slow cranking. No cranking or clicking maybe, but no slow cranking.<br />Did you test the voltage on the batteries? How old are they and have they been load tested?<br /><br />ya didn't hook em up backwards did ya?

 

[milkyway]

Re: No Electrical Power _ Thought Done Wintering Today

The same battery worked last time for 25 minutes engine running so I could have not hooked them backwards.<br /><br />How come not one gauge ( such as fuel, voltage,) moved? No lights. Nothing at all. Even if the battery is low ( I tried 2 batteries and one is fully charged), I should at least get some reading from the gauges. It seems like there's no battery connected at all.

 

[waterone1@aol.com]

Re: No Electrical Power _ Thought Done Wintering Today

Follow both battery leads from the battery to where they connect. The black (negative) should connect to the engine block, make sure the connection is tight and not corroded. Follow the red (positive) lead from the battery through battery switch (if equipped) to the large post on the starter. Again check for tightness and make sure there is no corrosion. If that doesn't turn up anything you will need to get a voltmeter and follow from the battery back. As Don said make sure the batteries are good, most auto parts stores will load test a battery free of charge.<br />Keep us posted.

 

[milkyway]

Re: No Electrical Power _ Thought Done Wintering Today

HELP! I spent 3 hours this afternoon and couldn't locate the problem.<br /><br />I replaced the ground cable and still NO ACTION! Only the bilge pump is working. The positive cable is tight on the alterntor. My battery is fully charged. <br /><br />I have a depth sounder, and normally, when I switch the battery on, not even touching the ignition switch, the depth sounder will give a sound, and the depth screen will show something. I use the depth display to alert me if the battery is on or off, though I know the switch very well.<br /><br />I still couldn't locate the 20 amp fuse. It should be a few feet from the ignition switch. Where is this thing? <br /><br />IF THE MAIN FUSE IS BLOWN, WOULD THIS CAUSE A TOTAL BLACK OUT ( except for the bilge pump which is working)?<br /><br />Could a faulty ignition switch cause a black out?<br /><br />My first off-season and the boat is a dead duck.

 

[tommays]

Re: No Electrical Power _ Thought Done Wintering Today

milky<br /><br />1. does the trim system still run its on its own battery cables and fuses<br /><br />2.the 50 amp breaker which should be on the starbord rear or the motor would shut everything down it supplys the key switch and all the acc items its also and area for bad connections<br /><br />3.the starter is connected directly to the battery but the sol gets power through the 50 amp<br /><br />4.what is the real battery voltage when there new they hold about 12.8 volts charge i have found by the time they get down to holding about a 12.5 volt charge there pretty shot<br /><br />the .3 volts doesent sound like much but the battery delivers much less cranking amps by this <br />point<br /> <br />fuses are were ever who built the boat felt like putting them but under the guages for the most part<br /><br />tommays

 

[milkyway]

Re: No Electrical Power _ Thought Done Wintering Today

tommays,<br /><br />I did not try the trim. I should have.<br /><br />I don;t have a 50 amp circuit breaker. The manual says 20 amp fuse.<br /><br />I spent an hour under the gauges and couldn't locate a familiar looking fuse. There is a place for all fuses for all types of connected accessories but they all ranged from 5 to 10 amps only. Manual says the fuse is between the ignition switch and the harness connection to the engine. It runs on red and purple wire. Couldn't find that fuse thing.<br /><br />Would a blown fuse cause this black out?<br /><br />thanks.

 

[waterone1@aol.com]

Re: No Electrical Power _ Thought Done Wintering Today

Going from your description of what happened, I have to think that something in the HIGH CURRENT circuit failed and not in the low current (ignition switch, etc.) You said that you had checked the alternator connection, in this case that really doesn't matter. You stated that you had replaced the ground wire from the battery to the engine block....so we can rule that out. The most common area of failure is the battery connection to the starter, I would double and triple check that. Does the boat have a battery switch ? If so, the contacts in that switch could have started to arc, then completely "open up". I would unscrew the battery switch and temporarily connect both thick cables to the same bolt and see what you get. If none of this gets you anywhere, you are going to need a volt meter or at least a test light. Keep us posted

 

[Boatin Bob]

Re: No Electrical Power _ Thought Done Wintering Today

Here is a link some Mercruiser wiring diagrams that should help you, has both engine and dash wiring, you have to have a 50 amp breaker, all Mercruisers do. Mercruiser Wiring

 

[milkyway]

Re: No Electrical Power _ Thought Done Wintering Today

I think it's the positive fuse located on the alternator. According to the diagram, this fuse is situated after the starter but before the red/purple wire that feeds to the harness going to the switches and gauges. This has to be it, and I will find out tonight. If not, I will also check the battery switch.

 

[milkyway]

Re: No Electrical Power _ Thought Done Wintering Today

Correction -- the fuse is located on the starter, not alternator, as I originally wrote..

 

[milkyway]

Re: No Electrical Power _ Thought Done Wintering Today

Correction -- the fuse is located on the starter, not alternator, as I originally wrote..

 

[milkyway]

Re: No Electrical Power _ Thought Done Wintering Today

BINGO!!! The end of the positive cable connected to the starter is so corroded I could squash the thing like crumbs. So I replaced the positive cable and I " got power back". I also have the 50 circuit breaker according to the marine store and I had a picture that I showed him. Exactly what is it. A good circuit breaker has the plastic case intact, he said, while a bad would show this plastic to be melted. Mine is still square. I'm back in business, but then I have a new problem.<br /><br />Engine started with no problem, then stopped after 45 to 75 seconds. Must have happened 10 times then I gave up. One problem solved but another problem arises. This boat is starting to <br />irritate me.<br /><br />Thanks to all.

 

[Bondo]

Re: No Electrical Power _ Thought Done Wintering Today

Engine started with no problem, then stopped after 45 to 75 seconds. Must have happened 10 times then I gave up.

Is this a Carbed motor, with an Electric Fuel Pump ????????????<br /><br />It sounds like the Fuel Pump is only running in the "Start" phase,+ going Dead in the "Run" phase..............<br /><br />This could be related to the wiring you just "Fixed"........

 

[Don S]

Re: No Electrical Power _ Thought Done Wintering Today

Engine started with no problem, then stopped after 45 to 75 seconds.

Sounds like the pressure switch that keeps the fuel pump activated "AFTER" the engine starts went bad or a wire is off. It's an oil pressure switch with 2 wires going to it just above the oil filter (original oil filter, not remote oil filter).<br /><br />Do you have a service manual for your engine. This is described in detail in service manual 24 from Mercruiser.<br /> Click here and on the nav bar on the left hand side click on "Order a MerCruiser Manual".

 

[milkyway]

Re: No Electrical Power _ Thought Done Wintering Today

Bondo,<br /><br />You may be right. Actually whenever I put more throttle hoping the engine will stay running, the engine always died within a few seconds of doing this. Yes it is a thunderbolt V carb with electric pump. So what wiring coud be missing that my pump is only running start phase? I did not touch anything else other than positive cable and the circuit breaker. Could you elaborate what wiring makes up the start phase and what wiring makes the run phase. <br /><br />You might be able to save me a lot of time trying to figure out what's going on.

 

[milkyway]

Re: No Electrical Power _ Thought Done Wintering Today

Don S,<br /><br />You mean the oil pressure switch also controls the fuel pump? I will check tomorrow. The electrical diagram shows that the purple/yellow wiring from the elec pump is connected to the starter and then also to the oil pressure switch ( with purple wire). I hope you are correct!!! Been spending a lot of time on the boat each weekend.I must have unintentionally hit something.

 

[Don S]

Re: No Electrical Power _ Thought Done Wintering Today

Yep, just hook a jumper wire between the purple/yellow and the purple and with the ignition switch on, the pump should run. With the jumper on, start the engine and see how long it runs......... ain't boats fun

 

[milkyway]

Re: No Electrical Power _ Thought Done Wintering Today

Sometimes i feel like putting my boat on fire. Thanks to all of you.

 

[milkyway]

Re: No Electrical Power _ Thought Done Wintering Today

Sometimes i feel like putting my boat on fire. Thanks to all of you.