Battery Drain Mystery

[ozark_skier]

I bought my 2004 SKI 196 the first week of March. When I picked it up the dealer put a new battery in it. The old one was dead as a door nail. I had the boat out the following two Saturdays and it started right up. Then it sat until a couple of days ago. The engine would not crank. I checked the battery with a multimeter and it read about 8 volts. I put it on the charger and it only took about 5 minutes to get it back to 12 volts. The boat started fine. Then last night, about 8 volts again.

The boat only sat a few weeks so my question is: Is it normal for the battery to drain after sitting for that amount of time? Should I disconnect it if it's going to sit for more than a week?

I know there is alot of stuff for the boat to "remember" (stereo presets, Perfect Pass settings, etc.) but I wouldn't expect them to drain the battery that fast.

Thanks in advance for any ideas or suggestions!

[Grant_West]

#1

Take the positive leed off of your battery. Place the positive leed from your multi meter on the Positive leed from your battey. Then place the Neg leed form you Multi meter on your battey . That will tell you how much of a draw is being sucked form your battery.

You can start pulling fuses to see what is pulling that current, If your current draw is low you might want to have your battery checked. Have a load put on the battery, You could have a dead cell in the battery?

[Dr.John]

Oh No! I have the same problem!

Not to hijack this thread butI have gone thru 3 batterys in 3 years, and I just upgraded to a Blue Topper. I saw whitechocolates post above, so I went out and tested mine, even with the switch on the center (off) position, I got 4 amps current drain :twisted:

Now it dawned on me (I must have been in denial) that when I installed the Blue Top, there was a spark when I touched the connector to the battery post, so I should have know that there was a current draw somewhere.

I thought that the fuses were NOT fuses, but breakers. How does one break the connection with a breaker (it seems they are small round rubber push switches)?

Has this been a problem with other Nautiques?

Any other suggestions?

[Frost]

RE: Oh No! I have the same problem!

By any chance do you have the factory installed 40 watt Marine Audio amp? if so look there first. The amp will pull current when off and will cause the battery to drain.

I would start with whitecholate's idea but pull the amps fuse first, it will be about 6" off the battery.

[Dr.John]

Re: RE: Oh No! I have the same problem!

By any chance do you have the factory installed 40 watt Marine Audio amp? if so look there first. The amp will pull current when off and will cause the battery to drain.

I would start with whitecholate's idea but pull the amps fuse first, it will be about 6" off the battery.

What I have is the Factory Clarion APX400.4M amp, and I just took the fuse out and viola.....no sparking and no measureable current!
Also in my previous measurement, I had the wrong setting on the multimeter, not 4 amps, Yellow_Flash_Colorz: .004 amps.... what's a couple of zeros among friends?

After I replaced the fuse in the amp, I also didn't get the big spark and current like before :shock: . Didn't have time to check further, so not sure what's going on. It would be nice if they put a light on the thing so you would know when it's on, but thanks for the suggestions.

:cheers:

[Air206]

RE: Re: RE: Oh No! I have the same problem!

Just did this fix on our 2004 206 - Trace the power (black and red wires) from the amp. Disconnect them from the battery and cut the wires. They will pass along the conduit of wires for the stereo head unit. Find the red and black of the head unit and splice the now disconnected power wires into the head unit power supply- it is switched through the keypad and ignition switch. Viola!

It is an easy repair and stops the frustration we had with a dead battery. I disconnected the neg for every lay-up and that got REAL old! Now we are good to go. If you need visual help, go to the clarion stereo wiring diagram that is posted on the site. I makes sense once you go to the amp and head unit and look........... Have fun!

[Dr.John]

Re: RE: Re: RE: Oh No! I have the same problem!

Just did this fix on our 2004 206 - Trace the power (black and red wires) from the amp. Disconnect them from the battery and cut the wires. They will pass along the conduit of wires for the stereo head unit. Find the red and black of the head unit and splice the now disconnected power wires into the head unit power supply- it is switched through the keypad and ignition switch. Viola!

It is an easy repair and stops the frustration we had with a dead battery. I disconnected the neg for every lay-up and that got REAL old! Now we are good to go. If you need visual help, go to the clarion stereo wiring diagram that is posted on the site. I makes sense once you go to the amp and head unit and look........... Have fun!

I'm not following exactly, and I loked for and found the '01 wiring diagrams, but still a bit confused Yellow_Flash_Colorz:
Are you saying that the wiring to the HU can carry the power required by this monster amp :mrgreen: ?

Here is the digram from my manual and I think imy boat is wired like it shows. There is a "remote turn on" wire to the head unit.

[Frost]

RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Oh No! I have the same problem!

Dr.John the amp air206 is talking about is the Marine Audio 40 Watt amp, that amp can be connected to the red and black wires for the head unit. Your amp should have 8 gauge wire from the battery to the amp w/ a 30amp in-line fuse on it.

For you to check if your amp is causing the drain on the battery follow the procedure whitechocolate posted and disconnect the fuse for the amp. That should tell you if the amp is where your drian is coming from. Another area to check would be the PME box (breaker box) to see if you are drawing current due to the box.

[skiinxs]

RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Oh No! I have the same problem!

The amp was wired incorrectly from the factory. There is a service bulletin out on it, take it to your dealer and tell him to follow the service bulletin, that will correct the problem. (I had the same issue on my '04, the service bulletin came out right after I figured out what the problem was)

[NautiqueJeff]

RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Oh No! I have the same problem!

The procedure above is basically the same as the service bulletin. As long as you're comfortable doing it, I'd just do it.

[ozark_skier]

RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Oh No! I have the same problem!

I removed the + cable, checked the current and it pegged my meter (we're talking mA from my cheap meter). There are two inline fuses connected to my + battery cable. I assume the tube shaped one is the amp fuse because it dies when the fuse on the amp is pulled. When I check the current across both inline fuses (remove the fuse and check between the terminals) they both peg the meter. With both inline fuses pulled I can still peg the meter between the battery and the + cable clamp. All of this is with the switch in "ALL OFF" position. Should there be any current with the switch off? I haven't figured out how to open the breakers to see if one of them is drawing the current.

I assume the tube shaped fuse is the switch mentioned in the other posts (for the amp). Where can I find the service bulletin? Is it on this site or CC's site?

Thanks again for all the help.

[skiinxs]

RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Oh No! I have the same problem!

ozark_skier - where are you located? Extreme in Greenville has the bulletin, if your dealer can't find it I am sure they can call extreme to get a copy.

[NautiqueJeff]

RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Oh No! I have the same problem!

All of the dealers should have a copy. I haven't received one to post on this site, but Air206's post above explains the procedure.

[Frost]

Oh No! I have the same problem!

The bulletin only talks about the Marine Audio 40 Watt amp, the 400 can't connect to the stereo red & black, it will have to come from the battery. If you think thats your problem I would check with your dealer about the amp it self, could be something wrong there. You are right, with the power off to the boat you should not be getting a reading on the amp power wire at all. I would bet there is something with the APX400.4 amp causing the problem.