Shorted a fuse..please help

[Irie308]

Hello everyone, new boat owner here (2000 Sea Ray 215 express cruiser with a 5.0 Merc engine). I accidentally short circuited something on the boat by plugging in the wrong cable to a 12 v outlet in the cabin (near the sink). since then i have no power. The only thing that appears to still work is the trim adjustments on the throttle/shifter. I've checked each of the below locations and can not find any blown fuses.

1. fuse panel in the the helm (behind steering bank)
2. fuses in the engine compartment (stereo memory and bilge pump)
3. 50 amp breaker on the engine
5. I don't see any other fuses on the + or - negative leads from the battery.

I'm at a loss right now and would hate to have to trailer the boat to a marina to have it sit for a few weeks before someone can have a look and apply a 5 min fix.

Any thoughts as to a possible fuse panel that i'm overlooking?
Are there fuses on the wire harness that i'm missing?

 

[kaz911]

My "old" 2009 210 Select had a breaker above the battery switch - only visible when you looked up under panels.

 

[Lazy Daze]

Although I think the breaker that Kaz is referring to (the one with the little arm that pops out?) wasn't used until the mid-late 2000's (maybe around the time that 210 model - 2007 - was introduced), you never know what a previous owner may have installed. If I'm thinking of the same thing that Kaz is, it's about 3" square, with a little colored button and a small colored arm that, when tripped, flips out of it's little hiding place.

When you checked that fancy-looking fuse box that's accessed through via the removable panel in the head, did any of the lights light up when you depressed the test button? It really should have only popped the 12v accessory fuse. But since more things aren't working, it does sound like the breaker that Kaz is referring to... or the fuse box (the EIM) is fried. Check to see if you have 12v coming into the EIM.

Do you have a battery switch? It is set to "off"? Sorry - but have to ask!

Pull the 12v outlet and check the contacts to see if they're fried. What did you plug in by mistake, a bazooka?

 

[Irie308]

Appreciate the help guys. I did ensure the battery switch was on. there is a switch on the engine that is marked "50amp" that pops a yellow lever when depressed. I checked this as well with no luck. I have not checked under the panels for the breaker switch but will do so today. The 12 v outlet in the sink counter in the cabin is not on the wiring diagram from the owners manual so i'm not sure if that was added afterwards however i plugged in a power cord that i thought was the power to the radio. i did not see a test button on the fuse panel in the head. Should there be one? I will check further when i get home today.

 

[Lazy Daze]

I think I recall a 12v outlet being in my 215 (from the factory that way), but honestly it's been a while.

Test button - yes, on the side, a little white push button - I think it says something like "push to test". It's small - 'bout 1/8" in diameter and maybe 1/4" long. The little green light next to each fuse will light up if the fuse is good.

 

[Irie308]

Also, just so that i'm clear what exactly is the (EIM)?

 

[Lazy Daze]

Electronic Interface Module. It's a square, weatherproof box (about 8" square) that holds all the fuses - clear lid. But, you know what... The more I think about it, this year 215 (I'm not sure I'm remembering correctly about mine, either!) may or may not have it. You might only have a standard fuse bus. If this isn't ringing a bell to you, then you don't have the fancy fuse box. If you have regular rocker switches on the dash, you don't have it.

Still recheck the fuses and check for voltage coming to the fuse bus bar.

 

[Irie308]

So i did a few more online searches and found someone with similar symptoms as as mine and discovered the attached which worked for them. Will give this a try this evening to see if it works.

 

[Lazy Daze]

Yes, it might very well be the starter fuse. But check for 12v at the fuse panel, first.

There's a battery cable (comes from your battery switch in your case) that's connected directly to one side of the starter fuse. It's easy to spot since it's a large gauge cable. The starter is at the starboard, aft corner of the engine. This fuse is a light tan color with what looks like a black button. The power trim motor is connected at the same spot the battery cable is so it has a constant supply. The power wire that runs to the dash is connected on the other side (fused side) of the starter fuse.

--- Before you mess with this, though... Check for 12v at the fuse panel behind the dash - look for the largest, red wire. This is the easiest thing to do. If you're not getting 12v there, then verify at the starter fuse. BE CAREFUL working around the starter fuse when the battery switch is on - it's VERY easy to bump against the engine (ground).

 

[Irie308]

Will do. Thanks!

 

[Irie308]

Problem Solved! I went home yesterday and took a good look at the fuse on the starter and thought there is no way they would design such a large fuse to be blown by such a simple accident. I took a closer look at the wire harness and found a blown 15 amp fuse. i'm going to stock up on a variety of fuses going forward should this happen again while i'm out on the water. Thanks for the help!

 

[Lazy Daze]

Good, glad you got it figured out. I agree - I couldn't, for the life of me, figure out how that starter fuse would have blown with what you did. Which is why it was important to take this step by step and not just rush into replacing it.

15 amps sounds right for the 12v accessory plug fuse, but where was the fuse that blew?

 

[Irie308]

It was on one of the wire harness which was comprised of 4 individual fuses. The harness was bundled with a set of wires labeled "digital trim" and "analog trim" not sure if they were just bundled together or they were a part of the same harness however there were 3 x 20amp fuses and 1 15 amp fuse.

 

[Lazy Daze]

Interesting. Where these behind the dash?

 

[Irie308]

No, in the engine compartment.