Bass Boat Electronic Issue Effecting Everything But The Starter

[jay42782]

just picked up a 1998 skeeter 17.5 all weld with a 40 hp yamaha and having a heck of a time figuring out this electric issue

 

Yesterday went through everything getting it ready for the first fish trip and everything was in working order

 

Upon doing one last once over I realized my on board charger only had the red light on wich usually has both green and red.Also was very dim

 

So i went to the tilt trim switches both bow and shifter.As I push up or down it moves but very slow like its drawing very little power

 

next went to the horn....same thing super low screeching honk

 

And then finally my Humminbird 859.Will turn on then right back off

 

Both batteries are fully charged checked with a fluke meter several times

 

I checked every fuse the boat has on it there all good

 

I even went as far as eliminating everything electrical and reconnected it one at a time.Same as before.Each device would perform poorly

 

The batteries both cranking and trolling are brand new one month old and have been used in my other boat and worked just fine

 

any thoughts on what to check before i pull my hair out??         PS:The starter cranks the motor normal but that's it

[slonezp]

Ring connectors all clean and corrosion free?

[jay42782]

100%...well as clean as I could get them with a wire brush and sand paper

 

first thing I did when installing the new batteries

 

I am stumped on this one

[Way2slow]

It takes two wires to make a circuit. Battery negative is just as important as battery positive. Sounds like you are having issues on the negative side.

[jay42782]

It takes two wires to make a circuit. Battery negative is just as important as battery positive. Sounds like you are having issues on the negative side.

ok I will continue to check the grounds

[Ski213]

Run jumper wires from the battery direct to something. The horn perhaps. Take everything off the battery and remove the harness wires from the horn. There are most likely splices, connections, and switches between the battery and the accessories, you need to bypass them which the direct jumper does. Make sure you've got good connections on both ends. If the horn works with the jumpers then you've got an issue in those connections or switches that you bypassed. You just have to start isolating it. The starter probably does its thing cause its a more direct connection to the battery versus accessories since it requires a higher amperage draw.

[Slade House]

First off make sure you got distilled water in them batteries.

2nd off it a bad connection on either your positive or your negative.  YOu need to have a marine battery terminal thing that looks like this around the positive and negative terminals.  and use a pair of pliers to and make sure that you have them tightened down very tight.  its your connnections, period.  You just need to tighten evertyhing and use 

 

 

 

 

go lookup a battery diagram to see if you have it all hooked up right.  all of your starter, humminbird and fish finder should be on the same battery.  trolling motor is on the other 2 batteries. once you get the engine started and run the boat, the starter battery recharges itself by running the boat.  if you have a dual charger charge the 2 trolling motor batteries with the dual charger. 

[Al Wolbach]

First off make sure you got distilled water in them batteries.

2nd off it a bad connection on either your positive or your negative.  DEK-00149-lg.jpgYOu need to have a marine battery terminal thing that looks like this around the positive and negative terminals.  and use a pair of pliers to and make sure that you have them tightened down very tight.  its your connnections, period.  You just need to tighten evertyhing and use 

 

 

 

 

go lookup a battery diagram to see if you have it all hooked up right.  all of your starter, humminbird and fish finder should be on the same battery.  trolling motor is on the other 2 batteries. once you get the engine started and run the boat, the starter battery recharges itself by running the boat.  if you have a dual charger charge the 2 trolling motor batteries with the dual charger.

Sometimes the smartest action you can take is remain quiet.

[Way2slow]

AL, you read my mind, I just felt it best to do just that.

[Nice_Bass]

I have no idea...but let me know what you figure out because now I am curious. 

I would think it would have to be a ground issue but like I said...no idea.

[Slade House]

being quiet isnt in my nature.  Ive had the same exact problem this guy had, my humminbird would turn off and the motor trim would seem underpowered.  

[Way2slow]

Wouldn't let me delete, Decided it's better left unsaid.

[jay42782]

messed with it for a few hours tonight.cleaning,checking connections etc.....

eliminated the whole harness with a jumper to my Humminbird and hydrawave.both worked great isolated

i will be back at it again tomorrow

thanks guys for your help its much appreciated

[jay42782]

#1  ended up being a faulty tilt trim motor(ran direct jumper wire with clean power to it)

#2 had my hydrawave and humminbird wired into the tilt trim switch at the bow using the red and blue (rookie mistake) (temporary until  complete overhaul of carpet....etc this winter)

#3 no idea on the horn its a new boat and works when it wants to

 

thank you guys for helping out.greatly appreciated

[jay42782]

finally have some poles on deck! taking it out for the first time tomorrow morning

[Al Wolbach]

#1  ended up being a faulty tilt trim motor(ran direct jumper wire with clean power to it)

#2 had my hydrawave and humminbird wired into the tilt trim switch at the bow using the red and blue (rookie mistake) (temporary until  complete overhaul of carpet....etc this winter)

#3 no idea on the horn its a new boat and works when it wants to

 

thank you guys for helping out.greatly appreciated

Thanks for the update. Nice to receive feedback