no response from gauges and meters, no cranking - 2003 SeaRay 185 BowRider

[khandielas]

Hello, all, any advice is very appreciated. In short, when I turn the key, nothing happens now. No response on the gauges and meters on the dash board, no cranking at all. But water blowers, gas blower, boat light are OK. And I can move up and down the motor with the button on gas lever.

Due to some health issues, it is the first day I try to test my 2003 Searay 185 Bowrider. I charged the battery, use garden hose and earmuffs to supply water to the propeller, then turn the key, it cranked, cranked, and started running but stopped when I turn the key back the neutral. I tried a couple of times, all are the same. Then I start again and push the lever to give more gas, then turn the key back to neutral, the engine stopped again. After that, when I turn the key, nothing works.

Did I do anything terrible? It seems I blow up something? Or maybe just some circuit breaker, fuse or other electrical problem? If i bring the the boat dealer, generally how much is the cost? Thank you very much.

 

[Bt Doctur]

need to know the motor info but sounds like an ign switch or no power to the coil on the purple wire

 

[khandielas]

need to know the motor info but sounds like an ign switch or no power to the coil on the purple wire

It is 190hp Merc 4.3 V6 motor. Right now the gauges and meters are not working, are those gauges using the same power source as the motor? Do you mean the purple line behind the dash panel? Thank you very much.

It appears the water blower, gas blower, light and the power to life the motor are working fine.

 

[Bt Doctur]

main system power comes from the Red wire under the dash. from there sometimes thru a 20a fuse to the purple wire. that wire goes to the "I" of the ign switch.

 

[Mike Blake]

sounds to me like the main feed toy the Ign switch. get a volt meter and try following the 12 volts.

 

[khandielas]

Thank you very much for the replies. I am totally a newbie on boat mechanics. What does the fuse look like? and where is it located, under the dash or on the back of the boat beside engine? And if it is just a bad fuse, where should I buy the new one, a special marine supply store or simply Ace Hardware or Sears?

I found a thing with a big red button (looks like a circuit breaker to me). I try to push the button, but it does not move at all.

 

[CliffA]

Thank you very much for the replies. I am totally a newbie on boat mechanics. What does the fuse look like? and where is it located, under the dash or on the back of the boat beside engine? And if it is just a bad fuse, where should I buy the new one, a special marine supply store or simply Ace Hardware or Sears?

I found a thing with a big red button (looks like a circuit breaker to me). I try to push the button, but it does not move at all.

nothing wrong with being new to boating...everyone on this forum started sometime...but IMO based on the questions you are asking you should have a mechanic make the repairs....it sounds like you have very little mechanical skills and if you don't know what you are doing you can hurt yourself or damage the boat...maybe you can watch the mechanic and ask questions and use this as a learning experience....

please forgive me if i made the wrong assumption about your mechanical abilities...

cliff

 

[blaster]

At least the water blowers work.

 

[1990-270-da-lover]

I know the gas blowers are working! All of them are on TV every day!

 

[BryanOnTheBay]

Hello, all, any advice is very appreciated. In short, when I turn the key, nothing happens now. No response on the gauges and meters on the dash board, no cranking at all. But water blowers, gas blower, boat light are OK. And I can move up and down the motor with the button on gas lever.

Due to some health issues, it is the first day I try to test my 2003 Searay 185 Bowrider. I charged the battery, use garden hose and earmuffs to supply water to the propeller, then turn the key, it cranked, cranked, and started running but stopped when I turn the key back the neutral. I tried a couple of times, all are the same. Then I start again and push the lever to give more gas, then turn the key back to neutral, the engine stopped again. After that, when I turn the key, nothing works.

Did I do anything terrible? It seems I blow up something? Or maybe just some circuit breaker, fuse or other electrical problem? If i bring the the boat dealer, generally how much is the cost? Thank you very much.

One more possibility, if the gauge harness is not plugged in, you will have the same problem. I found this out when I replaced my gauge panels this winter. The boat won't run if that harness is not plugged in.

Bryan

 

[JVM225]

I would check the ignition switch first. Not uncommon for them to go bad, or to have a bad connection.
If that's the case, it's a cheap and easy fix.

 

[khandielas]

I am not bad on fixing my cars, change ignition foil, plugs, different pumps, this and that.
But for the boat, just too few information/instruction available to follow. I got a digital multimeter today, will try to trace the electrical wires to see what I can find. I will report back. Many thanks to you guys.

 

[JVM225]

I am not bad on fixing my cars, change ignition foil, plugs, different pumps, this and that.
But for the boat, just too few information/instruction available to follow. I got a digital multimeter today, will try to trace the electrical wires to see what I can find. I will report back. Many thanks to you guys.

Even better, get a 12 volt test light and keep it on the boat. You'll diagnose and correct a multitude of sins with it in the years to come.
The electrical connections on boats are exposed to pretty harsh conditions, expecially on the smaller and more exposed boats. They often suffer from corrosion and oxidation at the connection points.
Ignition switches are exposed to moisture too, and they can fail. I've replaced a few of them in my time.

 

[khandielas]

Finally got sometime today to do some testing. I tested whatever I can on the motor side and it seems all of them at least get appropriate voltage measures. But under the dashboard, there is no voltage on any wire, red wire, purple wire ...

FYI:
1. Under the dashboard, a green circuit board is installed on the wall, please see the picture 1. The big red wire gives me about 7.5v voltage.

2. On the motor side, the circuit breaker give me 12v.

My situation is I did not change anything, the problem basically suddenly happened.
If it is ignition switch issue, how to verify?
If it is due to fuse blown out, how to verify? and where is the fuse located? The room under the dashboard is pretty small, there are a lot of wires along the wall.

 

[Mike Blake]

At least the water blowers work.

OK I give up? WTF is a water blower?????

 

[Mike Blake]

Have you charged and draw tested the Battery ? That's where it all starts.

 

[khandielas]

Battery is charged and works fine. The story is when I tried to start it, it was cranking and the gauges and meters were working fine. Then nothing works any more.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Go to the 50A circuit breaker (the one with the red button) test both sides for voltage. one lead of your meter to ground, the other to the 2 connections. report the results.
No voltage would mean the 90A fusable link went bad at the starter.
To verify the results check the output post of the alt. no voltage there indicates a blown 90A link at the starter,

 

[khandielas]

Both sides now show 9.8v Voltage ( the same as the battery positive measure when I use the same spot as ground.)

Where is the outpost of the alt.? (alt. is alternator, I suppose?)

Go to the 50A circuit breaker (the one with the red button) test both sides for voltage. one lead of your meter to ground, the other to the 2 connections. report the results.
No voltage would mean the 90A fusable link went bad at the starter.
To verify the results check the output post of the alt. no voltage there indicates a blown 90A link at the starter,

 

[Mike Blake]

9.8 volts is not enough. I'm willing to bet the battery is junk. It should be 12.8===to 13.4