Finally found & fixed electrical problems on 1994 270DA.

gengiant

New Member
Oct 5, 2006
268
Sacramento, CA
Boat Info
1994 270 DA
Engines
7.3L BRIII
Boy, there are some real blunders that occur when 'they' build boats! :smt021 For some time now I have been chasing recurring electrical problems on my boat. One of my windshiled wipers had twice gone inoperable and then the last time out over night my anchor light and then all nav lights went. Argh!! :smt013

Well, this last long weekend (Happy New Year to everyone!) I spent all Saturday tracing and then fixing the problem. As it turned out it was nothing more than a very stupid installation (by the factory???) that caused a short in the wiring harness leading to the windshield. The wiring to the windshield on my boat runs along top edge of the starboard windshiled/window, hidden behind a flexible plastic "race" cover. Seven wires run down the length of the window and go down into the hull through a dime-sized hole just below the leading edge of the windshield. Not a 1/4" further aft is where the first mounting screw for the windshield attaches to the top of the gunwale. This is where I found the problem. Some idiot had takn this mounting srew and rather than screwing it vertically into the screw hole next to the wiring hole, they had swrewed it at an angle right through the 7-wire harness, thereby cutting the insulation on every single wire! :smt021 It apears that the only way to screw this particular screw in o be flush with the top of the windshiled frame was to have it at that particular angle. Using the hole that is intended for it actually leaves about 1/4" of the screw head sticking out. I still need to find a solution to that one (probably a skinnier screw - requiring me to first fill the existing screw hole...). But at least now my lights and wiper work again! :smt038
 
What a nice feeling! Congrats.
 
Gengiant:
good find, good detective work!! arent you glad you have the ability and know how to find problems like this. imagine you had to pay someone else who may know more but cares FAR less what is causing your problem. being a do-it-yourselfer is not a matter of how much money you can save - it's a matter of "when you want something doen right, do it yourself."
bravo!
 
rondds said:
Gengiant:
good find, good detective work!! arent you glad you have the ability and know how to find problems like this. imagine you had to pay someone else who may know more but cares FAR less what is causing your problem. being a do-it-yourselfer is not a matter of how much money you can save - it's a matter of "when you want something doen right, do it yourself."
bravo!

rondds,

You have no idea how true your last sentance is! As I had mentioned, my electrical problems with my wiper had be a recurring problem. Last winter when the boat was in for general service I had asked my local shop to fix this particular problem. They said they did. well, first off, it didn't even "last" one season and second, I believe it was their own mechanic who proverbially screwed this up good the second time around! Because for him to "fix" it last winter he likely would have had to unscrew that screw which caused my problems!

What I actually like best about all of these DIY boat projects is that every time I learn a bunch about my boat - how to get to certain things, how things are wired (or not), where parts, wires, hoses, etc. are located, and what items need servicing replacement in the near future. But taking the DIY route does require time, time on weekensa that I could otherwise use to go boating. :smt017
 
GREAT POINT! i have always said that nosing around in the bilge (or under the dash) gives you mechanic muscles. things arent as daunting if you co-exist with them. it breeds familiarity and allows you to tackle the next problem (and there WILL be many more) with less trepidation.

granted, you lose valuable boating time, but you lose even more time while you are on "the list" for your yard guy to get to your boat. granted, the problem you just solved doesnt affect sunny daytime boating, but the next time, it might.
 
It's amazing just how much a little common sense goes. Geeez! They should have seen that would have been a problem from the start! :smt018
 
GG,

Glad to hear you found your problem! I will have to go take a look at my boat and check out how mine is routed. I have not looked at that.

A nice Happy New Year present for you to have the problem isolated, even if you had to do it yourself. But I am also a firm believer in that rule about if you want it done right.....

This thread belongs in the electrical section.
 
Back when they made my 1980 Weekender 260 they used to run the wires inside the windshield frame. The canvas snaps were rivited on. But as they wore out people would replace them with the retail screw-attached snaps, unaware that the wires were inside. Mine was screwed right through!

They didn't have as many wires back then. The wipers were served by a single wire and used the window frame for the return! They don't make wipers like that any more.

I ran all new wires to new wipers and anchor light, all inside the windshield. Now I fight to keep it out of the sun.

Cap10Pat
 
slack250 said:
Does anyone know off hand if they still had this same practice in 1996??? (one the 250's specifically?)

VERY simple to find out: the wiring channel/race in the window frame is covered by a flexible plastic strip. This strip is easily pried out (and subsequently pressed back in) from one of its ends with a scew driver. The wires should be right behind it, plainly visible.
 
Oh, ok ... great. I need to replace this strip anyway. If it's the same strip i'm thinking of, mine is cracked and starting to fall apart because of the UV rays. (It's on the outside of the windshield .. correct, looks like weatherstripping?
 
Dave M.,

Early this week I sent you a PM asking for some advice based on your expertize with "all things electrical" :thumbsup: ... did you receive it? :smt017
 
gengiant said:
Dave M.,

Early this week I sent you a PM asking for some advice based on your expertize with "all things electrical" :thumbsup: ... did you receive it? :smt017

No, I did not! Let me go look, it is probably waiting for me somewhere here.
 
Dave M. said:
gengiant said:
Dave M.,

Early this week I sent you a PM asking for some advice based on your expertize with "all things electrical" :thumbsup: ... did you receive it? :smt017

No, I did not! Let me go look, it is probably waiting for me somewhere here.

Sorry Dave, but I accidently deleted your personal email address... :smt021
 
gengiant said:
Dave M.,

Early this week I sent you a PM asking for some advice based on your expertize with "all things electrical" :thumbsup: ... did you receive it? :smt017

GG, I have nothing in my CSR inbox. You can try again, or you can e-mail me if you wish.
 

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