GT40 Elect Problems

[herd2243]

Ok, I have spent sunday trying to get this problem solved without much sucess, so I hope someone can help give me some wisdom on how the power wiring is routed to the dash ignition switch (not ignition key barrel)

The fuses are all ok, there is 12 volts at the starter relay. This terminal doubles onto a smaller gauge wire (red) going into the engine 50amp breaker, I have been unable to get access to the output of this breaker to see if 12 volts are coming out, so here is my questions, before I start taking things off the engine to get into the breaker.

1/Does the 50amp engine breaker feed the dash board?
2/If the breaker has popped out does the button pop out a lot or just a little bit?
3/Has anyone had to replace this breaker?

Oh and the boat is a 98 super sport.



Please help....

[herd2243]

Any help out there???

[jward]

start over and explain what happened up to this point. may be a little easier to figure out

[Rick]

Do a search here and at Correctcraftfan.com. Also you can call Ski discount Imboard marine (SKIDIM) they are very knowledgable. There is also the GT-40 manual in the reference section at correctcraftfan. It should have the wireing diagram. The 50 amp breaker doesn't pop much so you might want to push it just to be sure. In my experience most electrical problems are ground related. Make sure the dash ground is clean and also the main ground. You fail to mention a specific prolem so I have kind of shotgunned it. Also if it is a strating problem make sure the boat is in neutral and the safety lanyard is attached. Good luck.

[herd2243]

Sorry, I should have explained a bit better. My problem is I am not getting power to the dash, all the fuses seem to be ok and there is power going into the 50amp breaker.

So my first question is, does the power output from that breaker feed the dash board?
If it does feed the dash, what route does the wire take to get power to the dash board, are there anymore inline fuses between the breaker and the dash board?

Rick- Thanks for the advise, can you give me a hint on where the ground is on the dash and I will check it out? I don't think it matters if the boat is in neutral or if the lanyard is in plece, I should still get power to the dash to work the bilge pump etc...

Thanks for the help

[SquamInboards]

Definitely check the 50amp breaker, push it in to be sure that's not just popped - as said above it doesn't look different, really, when it's popped.
A really useful tool for diagnosing electrical problems is any 12 volt or other multimeter that has probes you can stab into wires to check for power without taking any wires off or finding the end or bare metal somewhere. This way you can see where there's power anywhere in any circuit where you can stick the little pointy probe. I have one that beeps one tone for ground, another for positive, it's great.
Back to your problem, you have no power to dash, but does the engine start? You're right that the bilge etc would work if the boat was in gear or something... but if you have no power to dash and no power to starter then you could have something really simple like a bad connection to your battery...

[herd2243]

Squaminboards, thanks. I have power to starter and the relay, nothing happens when I turn the key, but thats because there is no power to the dash board ignition switch, which I assume feeds the ignition key barrel. I also check the ground continuity between the starter relay and the main ground next to the engine and that seems ok. I know the problem is around there somewhere, because the power has come back on sometimes when I have been working in that area and I have made sure all connections are correct and tight.

[TRBenj]

Is the ignition breaker in the dash on? Have you checked the kill switch?

[herd2243]

TRbenj, the ignition swith on the dash is switched on, but there is no power getting to it. Kill switch is ok.

On another note, once again thanks for setting up the rankin cover buy, got the cover last week, it looks great!

[DanielC]

My 1997 ski has a fuse in the battery box, inline with with a smaller wire. I would start by looking at the battery, confirm electricity at the positive post. follow the red wires to their end, confirm power. I think power to the ignition (key) switch is always on, but fused. This wire is red, switched power after the ignition switch is purple. Physically follow the wires from point to point. If you have to, remove the center floorboard to gain access to the bilge. You might have to remove the kick panel by the drivers feet. A lot of work, but you can clean everything while you are in there. You might even find some "treasure" in there. When putting the floor, and kick panel back, using a long skinny electrical probe will help you find the original holes the screws you removed came out of.

[ally606]

Graham,

I'm pretty good with boat electrics, having graduated from re-wiring a few cars in my VW restotation past. Any way you can get the boat over to Loch Lomond so that I can have a look at it?
I would check the following:
Do you get anyhting powering up at all on the dash, bilge, blower, stereo etc?
Check for continuity between dash -ve and battery. If okay then it's not a grounding problem
Next check for +ve feed into dash ignition breaker. From memory pretty much everything (on the dash) runs off this breaker. Also, don't just check for +ve voltage also start checking for continuity between points as this will help pin point the fault bei it a fuse, breaker, damaged wire, corroded terminal etc.
Start working back from the main feed into the dash (my old mastercraft was orange, not sure in Nautique use same colour convension). Again check continuity, from point to point.

My boat which is a 97 has an in-line fuse up at the battery box in the bow, check to see if there is a fuse there may have blown.

Ally.

[herd2243]

Just to let you all know, I found the problem. I traced it back to the 60amp engine breaker, should be getting a replacement soon. I have it working at the moment, but everytime I switch the boat off it pops, so hopefully a new one will sort the problem.
Thanks for all your help....