Running Light 1993 Godfrey Pontoon not Working

[DayCruiser]

A couple of years ago my 1993 Godfrey Pontoon submarined a bit and broke loose a grey running light wire. So I hooked the three wires back together and the lights started working again. Toward the end of last year it subbed and broke loose the black wires. No lights again. So I go out today and hooked the 3 black wires back together. No luck this time. No running lights front or back. So where is the fuse that controls the lights? I know where some fuses are in the helm compartment. Those don't look damaged. They are not marked. So is there is more running light fuses or is it one of those near the back of the steering? Or maybe it is the switch from sitting all winter? What do I test(switch etc) and how? I have a test meter. I am sure the wiring is correct--grey on grey and black on black Star board side. Boat is in the water so I couldn't check if any other wiring is broke off. I pulled it to the shore to fix the front. Water is still too cold! Least the boat is running good
Thanks in advance!

DC

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Running Light 1993 Godfrey Pontoon not Working

Does the stern (anchor) light work? If it does, the switch is fine, power is getting to it so the problem is either bad ground for the nav lights (black wire ground) or the +12 volt wire (gray) going to/from the lights. Looking at the fuses is not a good check. Remove them and look carefully. You did check the bulbs didn't you. Seems you make a habit os submarining the boat. Those lights are water resistant, not water proof. You can use your voltmeter to measure voltage into and out of the switch. No voltage in says fuse or bad switch. Voltage in but not out says bad switch. Voltage in and out of the switch says bad wiring between the switch and the light(s)

 

[DayCruiser]

Re: Running Light 1993 Godfrey Pontoon not Working

I had to go grill out in. Last time when the grey wire broke loose I do believe the anchor light still worked. None of the lights work this time. No anchor light. I checked the anchor bulb and it look fine. I didn't check the others. I will do that. Thanks for the info about the switch and voltage. I will take out all the fuses and inspect > just too out one
Our Lake is like a Interstate Highway traffic wise. In fact it is marked like a interstate highway. Lots of narrow areas where it is nearly impossible to avoid hitting the big boat waves at the right angle. My boat is a 20 footer. Putting a 12 gallon gas tank on the very rear has helped some--12-6-6 now

 

[Don S]

Re: Running Light 1993 Godfrey Pontoon not Working

I had to go grill out in.

That probably means something, Just not sure what.

Last time when the grey wire broke loose I do believe the anchor light still worked. None of the lights work this time. No anchor light.

Depend on where things break as to how you fix them.

How is your switch wired, single switch, two switches?, post a picture of the front and back (wiring side) of the switch and you may get more help,

 

[DayCruiser]

Re: Running Light 1993 Godfrey Pontoon not Working

Don I was going to say grill in the rain. Rain moved in sooner than the weather guessers said it would. I will try and get a good pic. There are so many wires blocking the view of the switch wires. I haven't had any luck unscrewing the face plate. Looks like a push button switch. Press left for anchor and press right for navigation and anchor. i think i am remembering those directions correctly. Level, is off completely

 

[DayCruiser]

Re: Running Light 1993 Godfrey Pontoon not Working

Update: The front wiring wasn't the only problem. There was loose wiring going to the switch. So now all the lights work. Something though is running and draining the batteries after 2 weeks of sitting. Could be the fish finder or stereo? Somebody said the stereo drains the battery. I took the front part of the stereo off for the winter and it is still off. 2 batteries pretty much dead after 2 weeks of sitting. They were completely charged and tested good. I unhooked them this time

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Running Light 1993 Godfrey Pontoon not Working

Even though you remove the faceplate on the stereo, the unit must still maintain the clock and station memory function. It takes juice to do that. Not much juice mind you, but even with two batteries it shouldn't drain them. A car for example can sit for a month or more and still start. If you didn't have this issue before, you best look at your repair of the NAV light switch. Fish finders are either on or off. If the display is off, then it should not be drawing power either. A bad rectifier in the engine charging system can cause battery drain.

 

[DayCruiser]

Re: Running Light 1993 Godfrey Pontoon not Working

Thanks for the info SilverTip! The Stereo had a habit of coming back on by itself and draining the batteries after a week of sitting. So that is why I removed the faceplate after every trip. When I would leave it there would be nothing on the screen and the next day it would be back on. That cured that problem or so I thought So it may be coming back on even with the faceplate removed? Maybe I didn't cut the stereo off before taking off the face plate? I will also check into the rectifier and the wiring repair job