Several issues on a 240 DA

[BradMLC]

i just took ownership of a 1999 240 SD. It has been in storage/winterized all of last year and up till now. Most things seem to be working but a couple are not.

The bilge, stereo, and horn are not working. I have checked the wiring I can see and it looks ok. Fuses to each of the above are intact. One thing I noticed is the light on the bilge switch does not come on when the switch is turned on. Is it supposed to illuminate when the switch is on or only when the bilge pump is running? I don’t have the little installation keys for the stereo to remove it and check behind so no idea about connections but will get those tools soon to check.

Is there anything really obvious or simple about any or all of these items I can check? Is there anything in common wiring wise that they share that would cause them all not to work? Looking for some help here as the bilge is keeping us from launching.

Thanks in advance.

Brad

 

[BradMLC]

Well nobody knows or cares or figured new guy will figure it out eventually. So for anybody in my position that may do a search in the future.

Make sure to check wiring for the bilge and stereo. Items were wired when I picked up the vessel and I assumed they were wired correctly as I saw no loose wires anywhere. Well, bilge and radio positive (covered by wire wrap so I couldn’t see color) wire was connected to the negative battery terminal. Lesson learned. Forehead slap moment.

Horn still doesn’t work and I don’t read voltage across the wires at the horn when switch is activated so I’ll have to track that down at some point.

So there you have it.

Brad

 

[Espos4]

It’s not that nobody cares, sometimes it just takes time to get a response.

As far as the horn goes, you need power and ground for it to work. Don’t assume it’s power that’s missing, you need to test the ground circuit too. This may require running a long wire back to the battery for your test light.

If you fill in your profile info, that’ll let others know more about your boat and where you use it.

You’ll find that this site is a phenomenal resource with many of us willing to help. Electrical issues can be difficult to resolve, especially over the internet.

 

[Espos4]

Here’s some reading for you.

http://clubsearay.com/index.php?threads/240-sundeck-thread-questions-and-answers.401/

 

[KevinC]

...Well nobody knows or cares or figured new guy will figure it out eventually...
Brad

Hey Brad,

We do care. Maybe it was the fact that many people were busy with the holiday weekend. In fact this is the first time I saw it. Don't give up on CSR - there is lots of good info and helpful people.

-Kevin

 

[Kwik]

My 240 is a 2004. So, there are some differences. But, my engine room lights work when I turn on the cockpit courtesy lights. I have been down there a few times at night cleaning the screen on my air conditioner water pump strainer. Lake has a lot of debris and my air condition loves to suck it up.

Have to agree with the other responses, though. I have gotten a ton of help on here even before joining just by reading the forums. All questions have had several responses over time. But, as stated, we aren't always online. I put in thursday morning and didn't come off the lake until Sunday afternoon. I don't even have cell signal to send a text from the lake. Internet is completely out of the question.

 

[BradMLC]

It’s not that nobody cares, sometimes it just takes time to get a response.

As far as the horn goes, you need power and ground for it to work. Don’t assume it’s power that’s missing, you need to test the ground circuit too. This may require running a long wire back to the battery for your test light.

If you fill in your profile info, that’ll let others know more about your boat and where you use it.

You’ll find that this site is a phenomenal resource with many of us willing to help. Electrical issues can be difficult to resolve, especially over the internet.

Not offended by lack of response. And yes, I did realize it was the holiday weekend but figured maybe my noob question was easily dismissed.

Thank you for responding. So I updated my info. Boat is a 99 240 Sundancer with 5.7 mercruiser and alpha 1 drive. Dual battery.

So just a meter across the leads may not be enough? Can you explain in a bit more detail how to test out the ground and possibly the switch? I am super mechanically inclined but a little dumb when it comes to electricity.

Thanks again.

Brad

 

[BradMLC]

Hey Brad,

We do care. Maybe it was the fact that many people were busy with the holiday weekend. In fact this is the first time I saw it. Don't give up on CSR - there is lots of good info and helpful people.

-Kevin

Yep, understood. And I am one to scour these forums for info but was having a difficult time with just horn as a search criteria.

Thanks for any help you can give.

Brad

 

[Espos4]

Not offended by lack of response. And yes, I did realize it was the holiday weekend but figured maybe my noob question was easily dismissed.

Thank you for responding. So I updated my info. Boat is a 99 240 Sundancer with 5.7 mercruiser and alpha 1 drive. Dual battery.

So just a meter across the leads may not be enough? Can you explain in a bit more detail how to test out the ground and possibly the switch? I am super mechanically inclined but a little dumb when it comes to electricity.

Thanks again.

Brad

Glad to help.

Your boat is referred to as a 240DA.

SD is Sundeck
DA is Sundancer.

As far as the horn goes, there is a 2 wire connector at the horn itself. One wire for 12v power and the other for ground. Connect one end of your test light to the battery positive terminal and probe the 2 wires individually. One should cause the light to come on,(a black wire in my diagram) indicating that you have a good ground.

The power comes from the horn Button. Switching you test light over to battery negative and probing the orange/black wire should show power when the horn button is pressed.

If not, check the fuse, test for 12v at the horn button, test the horn button for continuity when the button is pushed.

Can you post a picture of your horn button?

 

[Kwik]

Not offended by lack of response. And yes, I did realize it was the holiday weekend but figured maybe my noob question was easily dismissed.

Thank you for responding. So I updated my info. Boat is a 99 240 Sundancer with 5.7 mercruiser and alpha 1 drive. Dual battery.

So just a meter across the leads may not be enough? Can you explain in a bit more detail how to test out the ground and possibly the switch? I am super mechanically inclined but a little dumb when it comes to electricity.

Thanks again.

Brad

Brad, what he was saying it doesnt always have to be the power wire that is open. It can also be the ground/neutral wire that is open. When you put a meter lead on a hot wire and hold the other lead in open air, it reads zero. Also, if you put both meter leads on the same piece of wire, it reads zero. One meter needs to know the power you are trying to reference. So, that the nonpower lead to the negative terminal on the battery. Now it has a zero reference.

 

[BradMLC]

Glad to help.

Your boat is referred to as a 240DA.

SD is Sundeck
DA is Sundancer.

As far as the horn goes, there is a 2 wire connector at the horn itself. One wire for 12v power and the other for ground. Connect one end of your test light to the battery positive terminal and probe the 2 wires individually. One should cause the light to come on,(a black wire in my diagram) indicating that you have a good ground.

The power comes from the horn Button. Switching you test light over to battery negative and probing the orange/black wire should show power when the horn button is pressed.

If not, check the fuse, test for 12v at the horn button, test the horn button for continuity when the button is pushed.

Can you post a picture of your horn button?

Ok on the boat name. DA.
So a volt meter in the connectors on the two wires and pressing the switch isn’t good enough test I guess. I’ll find a long wire and try to trace it the way you describe. I can post a photo tomorrow. Darn work getting in the way of darn boat work.