Cockpit Lights Wouldn't Turn Off now Won't Turn On

[ThrowingWakes]

I have an 88 sea ray weekender that I shipped from PA to GA, my dad owned it for about 15 years. When I got it in the water, we started having new issues right away. I think some things got knocked around during the trip.

One of the issues was that the cockpit lights would not turn off. I decided to disconnect the wires from the cockpit lights switch that is on the dash, and then they turned off (obviously).

I purchased an exact replacement switch, put the wires back in the same way, now it doesn't turn on. I got another replacement switch sent, same thing, does not turn on. I put the OLD switch back on and they will not turn on.

What's the best way to troubleshoot? Note that this area of the boat has never been tampered with.

 

[Skip Boyer]

I would take a look at the wiring schematic if possible and see if they used a relay in 1988. It may be stuck or coil may be toast.

 

[eagleone]

Need more info are they 110 ac lights or 12 volt dc. If 110 try and look for a ground fault, 12 volt check each side of switch see if you have 12 volts at the switch if not back track the wire to a fuse. Hope this helps. Jim

 

[ThrowingWakes]

Thanks guys. It is 12v. I did put my electrical tester on both ends of the switch yesterday and got nothing, so I guess I'll try to find a fuse.

 

[Highliner]

Thanks guys. It is 12v. I did put my electrical tester on both ends of the switch yesterday and got nothing, so I guess I'll try to find a fuse.

It's possible that you did have a bad switch, but when you pulled the wires off the hot wire inadvertently touched a ground and blew the fuse. It's easy to do.

 

[ThrowingWakes]

It sparked a little when I was monkeying with it because I forgot to turn the battery switches off so maybe that blew a fuse. I’ll check that first. Everything else on the 12v panel works fine. Thanks!

 

[ThrowingWakes]

This issue is fixed. Turns out it was the switch/breaker. I was initially testing the switch while it was hanging there, but after using a 12v tester I realized it has to be touching the metal bar that all the switches sit on in order to get power.

Now I need to replace the wiring harness for one of the lights in the arch. I took it apart so many times the plastic cracked and now the bulb doesn't make contact. If anyone knows where to find one of those please let me know it is a 90 LL sylvania halogen? lamp.