Engine Hatch with Dead Batteries

[RittSea]

How do you open the engine hatch when batteries are dead?

 

[Soulshine]

Can you plug into shore power for a while?

 

[RittSea]

Yes, I had shore power connected and the Battery Charger switch on the AC/DC panel was turned on. But I'm not 100% certain the batteries were charging. How can I tell? I just bought this 2013 DA330 and I'm still learning how everything works. How long could I expect to have it plugged in before I see results?

 

[Chip S]

If the battery charger is providing power to the batteries you should be able to open the engine hatch by having the shore power and battery charger on when you push the button to open the engine hatch.

 

[RittSea]

I assumed that AC battery charger would trickle charge the batteries. But since I just bought this boat I’m not sure it’s actually charging the batteries. And I cannot open the hatch while it is plugged to shore power. The marina has a power pack to jump start the engines if I can just get the hatch opened.

 

[KevinC]

Make sure the transom door is fully open and locked in place. If its like mine there is a sensor to prevent opening the hatch when the door is open.

-Kevin

 

[R-and-R]

There may be a small removal cover in your hatch that will let you reach inside and pull a pin that attaches the actuator to the hatch. Then you can lift the hatch by hand.

 

[Greg Lions]

...and you are The Hulk/Superman.... The hatch is very heavy!!

I think also you can provide power directly to the hatch actuators using the cigar lighter socket at the helm... I've never tried it though.

 

[RittSea]

I wondered about that. I heard that works for other vehicles. I’m gonna try to use shore power to charge the batteries overnight. Praying that will work. Otherwise I’ll ask the mechanic about the lighter socket.

If the battery charger is providing power to the batteries you should be able to open the engine hatch by having the shore power and battery charger on when you push the button to open the engine hatch.

 

[MikeBravo]

It could be your accuators are shot.

 

[bfernald0]

If the batteries went completely dead, it may be that the battery charger is not detecting the batteries--smart chargers won't be able to 'see' the batteries to charge them if they are below a certain voltage. Plug one of those lithium car charger/starter things into the cigarette light (or if it's clips, hook them to a positive and negative busbar under the dash). The charger should then 'see' the batteries and lift the hatch. Obviously, check the hatch breaker before you go through all the trouble. Additionally, you also have the emergency access port referenced above. Had the same issue last year on my 340.

 

[RittSea]

If the batteries went completely dead, it may be that the battery charger is not detecting the batteries--smart chargers won't be able to 'see' the batteries to charge them if they are below a certain voltage. Plug one of those lithium car charger/starter things into the cigarette light (or if it's clips, hook them to a positive and negative busbar under the dash). The charger should then 'see' the batteries and lift the hatch. Obviously, check the hatch breaker before you go through all the trouble. Additionally, you also have the emergency access port referenced above. Had the same issue last year on my 340.

Great! I wasn't sure if a cigarette lighter charger/starter pack would work on a boat. But it's good to know that you successfully tried it out.

 

[RittSea]

Update... My mechanic was able to hook up a jump starter pack to wires found under the dash and start up the motors. So crisis averted for now. So it appears that the inverter was not charging the batteries, and that was probably the root cause. Hopefully the batteries were not damaged and can still hold a charge. Fingers crossed...

 

[Pirate Lady]

Ya I'm a dinosaur. Wife recently bought a car with no key slot in doors. I asked, what if remote battery dead? Her “I can get on my phone and open door”. What if car battery dead cause that phone wont work the plunger to unlock the door. I got this little latch on the engine covers that lifts them. Problem solved.
Some things in life dont need to be so complex.