Battery Power issue shutdown starboard engine

Boater71

Boater71

Member
Mar 5, 2018
321
Boston, MA
Boat Info
2008 Sea Ray 310 Sundancer
Engines
MX6.2 MPI Bravo III DTS with Axius and SeaCore
Kohler Genset
I Launched the boat on Monday after winter storage. Both engines started but had an message for low voltage on the starboard side. Before I stored the boat for the winter, i got the same message for the port engine. I though this was related to leaving the boat as it was on land and batteries were discharged. Before launch, I charged the batteries, launched with no issues (starboard started after a the second try and port after from the first try). We went out yesterday, all good, had the low voltage but then went away. got up to cruising speed for a about a minute and all good. After a about 15 minutes, I was idle and noticed that the starboard engine with 0 rpm. Low voltage message. I tried to restart but restart was aborted, "Critical - Start Sequence Aborted". I tried to key engine off and restart and nothing. I started heading back to dock with port engine. I wanted to give another try and the starboard engine started. we docked at a gas dock and I checked all battery connections. it started again and then when idle it shut down and would not start again. Voltage on the starboard was around 11, it went down as low as 8 - 9 and when it was running it was around 13 - 14.2. I measured each battery and it was 12.7 V. What is going on here and did I blow my alternator?

Any help to troubleshoot appreciated.
 
I would say a battery tester is needed. You can rent or borrow these from many auto parts places. The tester employs a load test. The batteries may be gone. The question then becomes whether it’s just batteries succumbing to old age, or a case of a faulty alternator poor charging system health.

Did the yard remove your batteries for winter storage? If not and the batteries stayed in place over the winter it is unlikely it’s an alternator issue as the problem switched sides over the winter.

Best course would be to get the boat connected to shore power and get batteries on the charger. If the batteries have fill caps, fill all the cells with distilled water (you can get it at most groceries) before charging. Give them an overnight to reach full charge and then test.
 
Load test your batteries they may have been frozen or completely discharged. I got a $30 load tester. it is basically a big element that loads your batteries for a set time. An electronic one is better but cost much more money.
 
Henry Boyd said:
I would say a battery tester is needed. You can rent or borrow these from many auto parts places. The tester employs a load test. The batteries may be gone. The question then becomes whether it’s just batteries succumbing to old age, or a case of a faulty alternator poor charging system health.

Did the yard remove your batteries for winter storage? If not and the batteries stayed in place over the winter it is unlikely it’s an alternator issue as the problem switched sides over the winter.

Best course would be to get the boat connected to shore power and get batteries on the charger. If the batteries have fill caps, fill all the cells with distilled water (you can get it at most groceries) before charging. Give them an overnight to reach full charge and then test.
Click to expand...

Thank you for the feedback.

3 of the 4 batteries stayed on the boat over the winter. I took one home and kept on a charger. 2 batteries were replaced in 2017 and 2 were replaced in 2015. I have to find out which is which, load test and possibly replace.
 
thanks for all the replies and giving a quick update. Next day, I went to the dock, started starboard engine no issues and no message for low voltage. I decided to take all 4 batteries to Interstate batteries for testing and possible replacement. results were:
  • starboard (1 was a WestMarine AGM G31 & 1 unknown no label)
    • 1 battery did not tested good and required replacement
    • 1 was producing only 60-70% of the load
    • both batteries had 2018 dates
  • port
    • both batteries were good and had no issues. However theses were group 27. I have Axius which requires group 31
I ended up replacing all 4 batteries group 31 flooded type. back to boat, installed and all looking good. will be testing the boat out today.
 
Boater71 said:
thanks for all the replies and giving a quick update. Next day, I went to the dock, started starboard engine no issues and no message for low voltage. I decided to take all 4 batteries to Interstate batteries for testing and possible replacement. results were:
  • starboard (1 was a WestMarine AGM G31 & 1 unknown no label)
    • 1 battery did not tested good and required replacement
    • 1 was producing only 60-70% of the load
    • both batteries had 2018 dates
  • port
    • both batteries were good and had no issues. However theses were group 27. I have Axius which requires group 31
I ended up replacing all 4 batteries group 31 flooded type. back to boat, installed and all looking good. will be testing the boat out today.
Click to expand...

Interstate Battery, is that the place off Montvale Ave in Woburn? I’ve driven by it a few times, but have never gone in. I take it they were pretty helpful.
 
Now you have new batteries take black felt marker and put the date you purchased the batteries. Those little stickers that come with the batteries some time fall off.
 
northern said:
..take black felt marker and put the date you purchased..
Click to expand...

I also find it helpful to write (or P-Touch label) the location of the battery. Allows me to reinstall them in the same location year after year.
 
If your going to leave batteries onboard during the winter, make sure they are fully charged prior to the cold weather showing up. Not sure of your winter storage conditions - but I would also suggest disconnecting the batteries cables as well if you can - ensuring that nothing can draw them down over the winter. Especially if you have two tied together (eg: house bank).

If you pull them and place them on a charger at home, make sure its a good quality charger that will float when fully charged - and perhaps put them through a maintenance cycle once a month. A smaller multi bank marine charger works awesome for keeping the batteries healthy at home.

As Henry said, check water levels.. At least beginning, mid way through, and end of boating season.
 
markrsimon said:
If your going to leave batteries onboard during the winter, make sure they are fully charged prior to the cold weather showing up. Not sure of your winter storage conditions - but I would also suggest disconnecting the batteries cables as well if you can - ensuring that nothing can draw them down over the winter. Especially if you have two tied together (eg: house bank).

If you pull them and place them on a charger at home, make sure its a good quality charger that will float when fully charged - and perhaps put them through a maintenance cycle once a month. A smaller multi bank marine charger works awesome for keeping the batteries healthy at home.

As Henry said, check water levels.. At least beginning, mid way through, and end of boating season.
Click to expand...

Nah, just bring the boat inside.

Seriously, charged up and grounds disconnected has worked out fine for us over the past 20 or so years. I’ve also stored a lot of cars over the winters and had similar good luck.

When we had trailer sized boats that were stored at home and low to the ground I didn’t mind pulling out the batteries. But once we got to being on stands in a boatyard, having to negotiate a six foot steep ladder with three batteries didn’t seem like such a good idea.
 
Henry Boyd said:
Interstate Battery, is that the place off Montvale Ave in Woburn? I’ve driven by it a few times, but have never gone in. I take it they were pretty helpful.
Click to expand...

yes that is the place I went to. I arrived at 4:40 PM they close at 5 and they were able to complete the entire transaction for testing and replacing my batteries. I also liked the batteries I got, the batteries have a decent handle on each side for much better handling on/off the boat.
 
Last edited:
Went out yesterday all day had no issue. However, the interesting part is the starboard batteries showed 9 and even sometimes 8 v before starting the engine. once started the starboard engine, it jump to 13.4 to 14.2. the previous set stayed around 12 and did not go to 14.2.

I don't have dedicated house batteries and house load is split between the 2 sets.
 
Boater71 said:
yes that is the place I went to. I arrived at 4:40 PM they close at 5 and they were able to complete the entire transaction for testing and replacing my batteries. I also liked the batteries I got, the batteries have a decent handle on each side for much better handling on/off the boat.
Click to expand...

just to close the thread out, my 90A on the starter was basically the issue. I replace the module and everything is good now. The starter and 90A are basically unreachable and may require to take out the manifold to replace which was my case.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
113,116
Messages
1,426,339
Members
61,028
Latest member
ddbyrd329
Back
Top