No ignition power

[Trav780]

Hey everyone,

I am a new used boat owner and a first timer on iboats.

Over the winter I purchased a 2000 Bayline Capri w/4.3 Mercruiser. Everything was running well but there was what sounded like a bearing squeel. It came down to the power steering pump or alternator.

Yesterday I replaced my power steering pump to hopefully eliminate the noise. Everything went smoothly....but when I went to start it, it did a half of a crank and ignition went dead.

There is power on both sides of the starter fuse and at the alternator with the key off. I can't find the 50amp fuse or reset. And everything else has power.

Upon turning the key there is no alarm, no start and no guages.

If it is a fuse is it possible the new power steering pump was to hard to turn and drew to many amps or the belt is to tight and drew to many amps?

Thanks for any help

 

[Chris1956]

My '88 4.3LX MerCruiser had a red reset button on the starboard side of the motor. It was pretty visible. If you have one, you should be able to find it.

A starter could draw a whole lot of current if the motor was binding. You might turn it over with a wrench and see how hard it is. I had my merCruiser hydrolock, out of the blue, while on the trailer, first start of the year.

 

[Trav780]

Update:

Thank you for the information Chris, however I was going to start testing back from the ignition yesterday and decided to throw the key in and see. Of course I got my warning beep and it started up no problem. So either something reset itself or during troubleshooting I wiggled the right wire. I hate when things fixed themselves, I would rather find a big problem and fix it then not find a small problem had to be left unable to fix it.

 

[Chris1956]

No worries, it will likely break again. You do have tow insurance, right?

 

[Trav780]

Ha, I have 2 paddles.

 

[Chris1956]

Sure, try paddling a boat larger than 16 foot. With any kind of wind or current, it won't work.

A boat pole that you can push off the bottom is more effective.