Electrical help needed please

mymomisbecky · 03-24-07, 03:18 PM

Good afternoon BBC. I have a dc190 nitro, and everything has worked great from the start.
Yesterday I bring the boat home from winter storage and I pop in the batteries.
2 troller and a cranker.
2 trollers work great, hold a charge, all that good stuff.
Here is the problem im facing.
When I switch on the main power switch, it turns on. Access light turns on, and the fish finder on the console fires up just fine. The livewell works, recirculate works, bilge works. Everything looks great.
Until I try to use the nav anchor lights. The light on the switch to turn them on lights up, but the lights do not. Also, the horn does not work. Also the trim on the motor does not work. And the front fish finder does not work. (when I hit the power button on the front fish finder i hear a clicking).
When I try to trim the motor I hear a clicking as well, like it is a dead battery. But most everything else works just fine, so I think the battery is good.

THere are 4 positive wire connections running to the cranking battery, and 3 black negatives. Could one of these wires be controlling the trim, front fish finder, horn, nav lights?
Any suggestions would be great. Its driving me up the wall.
And I switched out all the leads, with new terminal connectors just in case. the leads are all clean.

Thanks in advance.
Ryan

zooker · 03-24-07, 05:01 PM

umm we aint the bbc hoss..

zooker

mymomisbecky · 03-24-07, 05:21 PM

there are just as many knowledgeable people here as anywhere else. Im just trying to get as many answers as possible.

i work in IT. when we have issues, we post on a lot of forums, each forum has their own knowledge base with unique scenarios. I find no issue with trying here.

JB · 03-24-07, 05:41 PM

have ya checked for blown fuses?

crab · 03-24-07, 06:26 PM

sounds like you have a bad switch or wires loose from the switch, If it has power to it(the light) but nothing works it could be your switch wont close letting power through the switch. I would try going around the switch to see if those things work.

dampeoples · 03-24-07, 06:29 PM

If it's clicking when you turn the stuff on, you probably have something grounded, and the relay or breaker is tripping. Try unhooking each device one at the time, until you get full power.

zooker · 03-24-07, 06:30 PM

is it just your trim switch on the moter? or is it all of the trim switches..
the lights are likly rust either in the post-male end-or the holes -female end-
check to see if there has been a mouse in your boat...they may have chewed the wires into..
depthfinders don't normally make a clickin noise unless there is a wire arcing..

zooker

Jackl · 03-24-07, 07:12 PM

MMIB,
You may have some corrosion either in the switch connections or in the fuse connections. I would start by pulling the fuses one by one and checking them for corrosion. If you find any, clean them with steel wool and grease them with dielectric grease (Can be found at auto parts stores). Then I would go thru the same routine with the wires on the switches. Have you checked the ground wire ON THE MOTOR? I have to agree with ZOOKER (as much as I hate to admit it) but I have never heard a depthfinder make a clicking noise.

JackL

dampeoples · 03-24-07, 07:27 PM

He didn't say the depthfinder itself is clicking, he says that when that switch is pressed, or when the trim switch is pressed, he hears a clicking. Figure out where the clicking is coming from, check there.

mymomisbecky · 03-24-07, 08:00 PM

First off, im having trouble even finding the fuses haha. I bought the boat used and I guess never had to find it

The only lights on the switches that are funky are the nav anchor. Main power, fresh water, recirculate water, access, and bilge are all good. The nav anchor lights on the switch turn on, just dont light the dials. and when I hit the trim from the steering wheel, gear selector, or on the motor itself I get the clicking noise from the MP Pro auto charger (charges while motor is on) and the fish finder in the front is not working. very peculiar indeed.
I will try some of the suggestions. thanks for the help thisfar folks.

mymomisbecky · 03-24-07, 08:07 PM

actually DP, there is clicking when i try trim from the Mp pro charger box. when I plug in the front fish finder and hold down power i get a slight clicking as well. not from the charger, but from the fish finder itself. yet the other fish finder works great. im working on some things , but fiberglass boats Suck for troubleshooting.

mymomisbecky · 03-24-07, 08:24 PM

took the mp pro system out of the loop just to see if that might be it. its not.
still cant find any dang fuses around haha.

and yes, the depthfinder is clicking, inside its housing, not in the wiring in the hull or anything, the actul physical fish finder'/

lizardsrule · 03-24-07, 09:31 PM

All the above advice sounds good to me. I would also check the light connectors.(female part you stick the light pole into) Many times they get water, and corrode, and will short out a bunch of things. Try charging the battery if you haven't already. A bad battery can do things I would've never imagined. And "FIND THE FUSE BOX"! (Look under the steering console first) Or at least the inline fuses, and check them. And I hate mice, they can and do make a mess of things as already stated. Electrical problems are just time consuming sometimes to figure out, but it aint rocket science, trace down the wires. I would also disconnect one of the leads to the battery one at a time, and see if one of them in particular is the problem source. If you find that to be the case, then of course you know which one to trace.

Lizards

mymomisbecky · 03-24-07, 09:57 PM

im still working on it of course.
well, the nav lights work, just not the lighted dials on the console (that is very possibly a fuse).
the trim still clicks. the power checks out ALL the way to it.

so the only things messed right now are the lighted dials, horn *both possibly fuses), trim and front fish finder.
still no luck finding the fuse box. seems like a no brainer, only so many places it could be. its not under either console. any storage box, the back. ive scoured the thing haha.
and lizards. the batteries all test out fine on the volt meter, and the 334c lowrance on the console works, so I know the battery is working. and im testing through to the motor just fine.

i know this isnt rocket science, and im a smart guy (insert laugh here) , i may just have to take it in.

HOG Ranger · 03-24-07, 10:01 PM

It sure sounds like you have a bad fuse. My fuse box is located in one of my rod lockers but I have seen them just about everywhere on different brands of boats.

bassintom · 03-24-07, 10:18 PM

reb has a nitro...where's your fuse box reb?
do you have a side panel with the switches?...the fuses should(should,not always)be near the switch panel..look harder

mymomisbecky · 03-25-07, 01:36 PM

Well, i figured out the problem. It wasnt a weak battery, although its possible it is on the weak side. The wire that runs up to the front for the fish finder had gotten chewed on (F;in rodents), it wasnt all the way through, just enough to peel some skin off, and that bare spot just happened to be touching abut the only bold in the boat.
I basically had to shread the entire boat looking for it. but im up and running now .
Thanks for all the suggestions, and of course one of them ended up being right
thanks again
Ryan

p.s. still never found a fuse box. im convinced it is like sasquatch, its a myth

zooker · 03-25-07, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zooker

check to see if there has been a mouse in your boat...they may have chewed the wires into..

Quote:

Originally Posted by mymomisbecky

The wire that runs up to the front for the fish finder had gotten chewed on (F;in rodents), it wasnt all the way through, just enough to peel some skin off, and that bare spot just happened to be touching abut the only bolt in the boat

not a lucky guess lets just say voice of experiance..

i think i also know where the fuse block is. your going to love this. open driver side rear hatch remove compartment liner. see if it is not inside there.. driver side is logical and you say it aint under the consle.. mine is a lil black box with a wire harness plug into it under the consule.

remermber they hire circus freaks to do the wiring in there boats -i swear to god-

zooker

1FASTLASER · 03-31-07, 02:42 PM

Just a little word of experience talking here. Anytime you are having electrical problems with a device start at the device first and make sure it is working. Do this with a couple of temporary wires hooked to a battery to make sure its working. Then work back to the switch and/or switches. Not only will you usually find bad connections that you can fix right then but you take out all the variables.

03-24-07, 03:18 PM	#1
mymomisbecky BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Des MOines, IA Posts: 336	Electrical help needed please Good afternoon BBC. I have a dc190 nitro, and everything has worked great from the start. Yesterday I bring the boat home from winter storage and I pop in the batteries. 2 troller and a cranker. 2 trollers work great, hold a charge, all that good stuff. Here is the problem im facing. When I switch on the main power switch, it turns on. Access light turns on, and the fish finder on the console fires up just fine. The livewell works, recirculate works, bilge works. Everything looks great. Until I try to use the nav anchor lights. The light on the switch to turn them on lights up, but the lights do not. Also, the horn does not work. Also the trim on the motor does not work. And the front fish finder does not work. (when I hit the power button on the front fish finder i hear a clicking). When I try to trim the motor I hear a clicking as well, like it is a dead battery. But most everything else works just fine, so I think the battery is good. THere are 4 positive wire connections running to the cranking battery, and 3 black negatives. Could one of these wires be controlling the trim, front fish finder, horn, nav lights? Any suggestions would be great. Its driving me up the wall. And I switched out all the leads, with new terminal connectors just in case. the leads are all clean. Thanks in advance. Ryan

03-24-07, 05:01 PM	#2
zooker BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: denton nc Posts: 13,441	umm we aint the bbc hoss.. zooker __________________ the godfather.. aml in remission since 7-20-09

03-24-07, 06:29 PM	#6
dampeoples BassFishin.Com Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 826	If it's clicking when you turn the stuff on, you probably have something grounded, and the relay or breaker is tripping. Try unhooking each device one at the time, until you get full power. __________________ The Jon Boat Fishing Club and Fishing with Sterling Peoples

03-24-07, 06:30 PM	#7
zooker BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: denton nc Posts: 13,441	is it just your trim switch on the moter? or is it all of the trim switches.. the lights are likly rust either in the post-male end-or the holes -female end- check to see if there has been a mouse in your boat...they may have chewed the wires into.. depthfinders don't normally make a clickin noise unless there is a wire arcing.. zooker __________________ the godfather.. aml in remission since 7-20-09

03-24-07, 07:12 PM	#8
Jackl BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Great Bend, KS Posts: 2,960	MMIB, You may have some corrosion either in the switch connections or in the fuse connections. I would start by pulling the fuses one by one and checking them for corrosion. If you find any, clean them with steel wool and grease them with dielectric grease (Can be found at auto parts stores). Then I would go thru the same routine with the wires on the switches. Have you checked the ground wire ON THE MOTOR? I have to agree with ZOOKER (as much as I hate to admit it) but I have never heard a depthfinder make a clicking noise. JackL __________________ There are two theories about argueing with women...........Neither one works!

03-24-07, 05:21 PM	#3
mymomisbecky BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Des MOines, IA Posts: 336	there are just as many knowledgeable people here as anywhere else. Im just trying to get as many answers as possible. i work in IT. when we have issues, we post on a lot of forums, each forum has their own knowledge base with unique scenarios. I find no issue with trying here.

03-24-07, 05:41 PM	#4
JB BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 8,655	have ya checked for blown fuses?

03-24-07, 06:26 PM	#5
crab BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 200	sounds like you have a bad switch or wires loose from the switch, If it has power to it(the light) but nothing works it could be your switch wont close letting power through the switch. I would try going around the switch to see if those things work.

03-24-07, 07:27 PM	#9
dampeoples BassFishin.Com Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 826	He didn't say the depthfinder itself is clicking, he says that when that switch is pressed, or when the trim switch is pressed, he hears a clicking. Figure out where the clicking is coming from, check there. __________________ The Jon Boat Fishing Club and Fishing with Sterling Peoples

03-24-07, 08:00 PM	#10
mymomisbecky BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Des MOines, IA Posts: 336	First off, im having trouble even finding the fuses haha. I bought the boat used and I guess never had to find it The only lights on the switches that are funky are the nav anchor. Main power, fresh water, recirculate water, access, and bilge are all good. The nav anchor lights on the switch turn on, just dont light the dials. and when I hit the trim from the steering wheel, gear selector, or on the motor itself I get the clicking noise from the MP Pro auto charger (charges while motor is on) and the fish finder in the front is not working. very peculiar indeed. I will try some of the suggestions. thanks for the help thisfar folks.

03-24-07, 08:07 PM	#11
mymomisbecky BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Des MOines, IA Posts: 336	actually DP, there is clicking when i try trim from the Mp pro charger box. when I plug in the front fish finder and hold down power i get a slight clicking as well. not from the charger, but from the fish finder itself. yet the other fish finder works great. im working on some things , but fiberglass boats Suck for troubleshooting.

03-24-07, 08:24 PM	#12
mymomisbecky BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Des MOines, IA Posts: 336	took the mp pro system out of the loop just to see if that might be it. its not. still cant find any dang fuses around haha. and yes, the depthfinder is clicking, inside its housing, not in the wiring in the hull or anything, the actul physical fish finder'/

03-24-07, 09:31 PM	#13
lizardsrule BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Saint Augustine, FL Posts: 7,374	All the above advice sounds good to me. I would also check the light connectors.(female part you stick the light pole into) Many times they get water, and corrode, and will short out a bunch of things. Try charging the battery if you haven't already. A bad battery can do things I would've never imagined. And "FIND THE FUSE BOX"! (Look under the steering console first) Or at least the inline fuses, and check them. And I hate mice, they can and do make a mess of things as already stated. Electrical problems are just time consuming sometimes to figure out, but it aint rocket science, trace down the wires. I would also disconnect one of the leads to the battery one at a time, and see if one of them in particular is the problem source. If you find that to be the case, then of course you know which one to trace. Lizards __________________ There are three types of Snakes I hate 1. Live Snakes 2. Dead Snakes 3. Sticks that look like Snakes. And Gators too!

03-24-07, 09:57 PM	#14
mymomisbecky BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Des MOines, IA Posts: 336	im still working on it of course. well, the nav lights work, just not the lighted dials on the console (that is very possibly a fuse). the trim still clicks. the power checks out ALL the way to it. so the only things messed right now are the lighted dials, horn *both possibly fuses), trim and front fish finder. still no luck finding the fuse box. seems like a no brainer, only so many places it could be. its not under either console. any storage box, the back. ive scoured the thing haha. and lizards. the batteries all test out fine on the volt meter, and the 334c lowrance on the console works, so I know the battery is working. and im testing through to the motor just fine. i know this isnt rocket science, and im a smart guy (insert laugh here) , i may just have to take it in.

03-24-07, 10:01 PM	#15
HOG Ranger BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Rockford, IL Posts: 306	It sure sounds like you have a bad fuse. My fuse box is located in one of my rod lockers but I have seen them just about everywhere on different brands of boats. __________________ Mike

03-24-07, 10:18 PM	#16
bassintom BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: washington(northwest) N.J. Posts: 3,958	reb has a nitro...where's your fuse box reb? do you have a side panel with the switches?...the fuses should(should,not always)be near the switch panel..look harder __________________ A man's gotta believe in something...I believe I'll go fishing.

03-25-07, 01:36 PM	#17
mymomisbecky BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Des MOines, IA Posts: 336	Well, i figured out the problem. It wasnt a weak battery, although its possible it is on the weak side. The wire that runs up to the front for the fish finder had gotten chewed on (F;in rodents), it wasnt all the way through, just enough to peel some skin off, and that bare spot just happened to be touching abut the only bold in the boat. I basically had to shread the entire boat looking for it. but im up and running now . Thanks for all the suggestions, and of course one of them ended up being right thanks again Ryan p.s. still never found a fuse box. im convinced it is like sasquatch, its a myth

03-31-07, 02:42 PM	#19
1FASTLASER BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: crossett,arkansas Posts: 2,777	Just a little word of experience talking here. Anytime you are having electrical problems with a device start at the device first and make sure it is working. Do this with a couple of temporary wires hooked to a battery to make sure its working. Then work back to the switch and/or switches. Not only will you usually find bad connections that you can fix right then but you take out all the variables. __________________ Laser's rule with Merc's doing the pushing..........KEEP THE WETSIDE DOWN AND THE DRY SIDE UP!!!!!!

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