Nav Lights Throw Gauges Off

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
  • SkiNautique2001
    • Apr 2005
    • 60

    • Upstate SC


    Nav Lights Throw Gauges Off

    On my 89 2001 each time I switch on the navigational lights, all of my gauges swing high (about 25%). Any idea what could be causing this? Possibly a bad ground, but where?
  • mrese
    • Feb 2004
    • 67



    #2
    RE: Nav Lights Throw Gauges Off

    Try running an additional ground wire off the last gauge in the daisy wire ground to the neg buss bar under the helm. I think it is the voltmeter on your boat. Provided all the connections are clean. (Sometimes corrosion builds in the crimps and you can see it though.) You can also put individual grounds from each guage to the ground buss, but that can end up being a hugh mess of wires in an already tight space in the helm.

    Comment

    • CHassmann
      Senior Member of PLANETNAUTIQUE
      • Jul 2004
      • 512

      • Holiday Lakes, OH

      • Current: 2002 Ski Nautique Closed Bow Previous: 1990 Ski Nautique, 1987 Ski Nautique 2001

      #3
      RE: Nav Lights Throw Gauges Off

      That's not it at all. There are little knobs under the helm that you need to turn until it corrects the stiuation. I had a '91 with the same problem. The only problem is that I don't remember what the knobs are called. Call your dealer and they can give you "exact" names and directions. James at Mid Ohio Watersports helped me with mine when I still had it.
      Ski on dude!

      Comment

      • M3Fan
        1,000 Post Club Member
        • Jul 2003
        • 1034



        #4
        RE: Nav Lights Throw Gauges Off

        Mrese is exactly right. Add an additional ground wire from the end of the daisy chain to the ground bus, or even to the battery negative terminal. The older SN dashes are notorious for this problem- mine does it too. I don't know what Chassman is talking about- majority rules here.
        ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
        2000 Ski Nautique GT-40
        2016 SN 200 H5
        www.Fifteenoff.com

        Comment

        • EchoLodge
          Senior Member of PLANETNAUTIQUE
          • Jan 2004
          • 616

          • Huntington Beach, CA

          • 99 Super Sport

          #5
          My Fix

          I tried adding an additional ground to my boat's guages. It helped but did not fix the problem. I ended up running an additional 10 guage hot (+) wire from the 50 amp breaker (near engine) to the ignition breaker. This solved all my electrical issues.
          sigpic

          Comment

          • M3Fan
            1,000 Post Club Member
            • Jul 2003
            • 1034



            #6
            Re: My Fix

            Originally posted by EchoLodge
            I tried adding an additional ground to my boat's guages. It helped but did not fix the problem. I ended up running an additional 10 guage hot (+) wire from the 50 amp breaker (near engine) to the ignition breaker. This solved all my electrical issues.
            Great idea. I did the extra ground wire and then took every wiring harness in the whole boat- dash, under dash, engine, etc, and cleaned all the contacts. Still, I get a little blip so i may try the positive wire also- great input.
            ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
            2000 Ski Nautique GT-40
            2016 SN 200 H5
            www.Fifteenoff.com

            Comment

            • Laptom
              Senior Member of PLANETNAUTIQUE
              • Oct 2003
              • 876

              • Eindhoven, Netherlands


              #7
              RE: Re: My Fix

              On our '88 Nautique I also had to change a lot on the electrical side:
              Run a new ground and hot wire from engine to dashboard. Gnd on the block installed under the dash. The hot wire connected to a new relay (heavy duty one) controlled by the ignition switch on the dash. All switches and gauges got new grounds (not in a daisy chain!!) to the block and new power wires. After this (4 years ago) never had a single problem with the electrical part of the boat. It took a whole day playing with electrics though.
              230 with ZR6 running on propane

              Comment

              • SkiNautique2001
                • Apr 2005
                • 60

                • Upstate SC


                #8
                RE: Re: My Fix

                Okay, I'm usually pretty good with these things, but I'm scratching my head trying to find the breakers. I have been through everything behind the dash, and I can see the ground block, but I cannot find any breakers.
                As far as the problem is concerned, I ran an extra ground, and it trimmed the 25% jump in my gauges to about a 10% jump. Thanks so much for all of the input! Now can you just help me locate the breakers?

                Comment

                • 882001
                  Senior Member of PLANETNAUTIQUE
                  • Aug 2003
                  • 353

                  • clear lake texas


                  #9
                  RE: Re: My Fix

                  the buttons on the dash are your breakers.
                  1988 Ski Nautique \"2001\"

                  Comment

                  • EchoLodge
                    Senior Member of PLANETNAUTIQUE
                    • Jan 2004
                    • 616

                    • Huntington Beach, CA

                    • 99 Super Sport

                    #10
                    RE: Re: My Fix

                    The breaker (dash button) marked "ignition" is where you connect the new 10 guage hot wire. I left the old one and just added the new one to it.
                    sigpic

                    Comment

                    • SkiNautique2001
                      • Apr 2005
                      • 60

                      • Upstate SC


                      #11
                      RE: Re: My Fix

                      Gotcha... I'm down in Atlanta for the week, but I'll try that this weekend when I get home. Thanks for the advice!

                      Comment

                      Working...
                      X