Keypad loses power

[StruikZambia]

I own a 2005 196 LTD with electronic keypad. Whilst operating the boat the keypad intermittently loses power i.e. the orange lights go out and the engine fan turns off. Pressing of any button shuts the engine down and resets the keypad. I am about to order a new keypad but would appreciate confirmation that this is the problem. To me it appears their is a dry joint or bad grouding somewhere in the system. Thank you.

[AirTool]

One of your symptoms sounds strange.

But nevertheless, its likely the toggle switch. If you don't have access to a new one easy, you can just turn yours upside down for now. The load side lug you are using for main power has come lose inside the switch. You can turn it over.

Or just land the main power connector (usually the bottom wire) on the center lug with the middle power lug. Now...doing that loses the ability to turn the power off but completly bypasses the switch for diagnostics.

If you turn the switch over, you can turn the power off....but then don't use the bilge only side because that will be the bad side now.

Don't scratch the decal around the switch....it is no longer available.

You can also read some of these threads: https://www.google.com/#hl=en&sclien...w=1280&bih=628

[StruikZambia]

Thank you, will go ahead with your recommendation, and advise the result!

[AirTool]

Thank you, will go ahead with your recommendation, and advise the result!

One thing you can do is turn the switch on and reach under the panel and wiggle the bottom wire and tang (assuming up is "on") and see of your power goes on and off. I can't remember what you would notice but probably turn on the power and type in the code to get your dash on. Then wiggle the tang and watch your pad/gauges.

[StruikZambia]

Just to clarify, when the keypad loses power the engine continues to run though the fan stops running and the orange lights on the keypad go out. If I press any button on the keypad, say "Horn" or "Fan" the engine shuts off and the keypad once again has power. If there was a lose connection in the toggle switch would the engine not shutdown when the keypad lost power?

[AirTool]

Just to clarify, when the keypad loses power the engine continues to run though the fan stops running and the orange lights on the keypad go out. If I press any button on the keypad, say "Horn" or "Fan" the engine shuts off and the keypad once again has power. If there was a lose connection in the toggle switch would the engine not shutdown when the keypad lost power?

I understand and you might have a bad keypad or gateway or something.

But many people have had bad toggle switches.

But what I'm suggesting is that the power to the keypad comes through the toggle and power to most everything else is coming through relays. Let's say your toggle is going bad and you are losing a couple of volts through the toggle which troubles the keypad but the other stuff running directly off the battery keeps going. Some with toggle problems had their engines die or stall when they hit a wave. Before I figured mine out, I just kept having strange issues like a dead dash or PP. Then one time after cleaning the boat, a huge rain shower came and everything was dead. The after it dried, it all worked. So then I went boating and when I got to the lake it was half dead again. So I stopped at an auto store and had the battery tested and it tested "replace" so I replaced it although it was less than two years old. After I put the new battery in, I had the same problems. So I got a volt meter and tested the battery voltage then crawled behind the seat and tested the voltage across the switch. I measured about 2 volts less ....then measured nothing. Then I figured out the tang was loose inside the switch. Problem solved.

So get under throttle panel and investigate that switch. You will kick yourself if you buy a $$$ keypad and/or a $$$$ gateway and its a $ switch.

Also, with the power off, unplug your keypad connecter and inspect it. There are only four wires...it passes data. Then carefully plug it back in again.

[StruikZambia]

Thank you, I really appreciate your advice, your problems appear very similar to mine. I have taken the keypad out cleaned the connector and reconnected the plug. Will do as you suggest re the toggle switch. What is easiest way to get to the back of the toggle switch, do I need to remove the whole side panel?

[Kmayotte]

Not sure if this helps but it's an easy problem to check out and eliminate. A few years back my keypad started acting really funny, cutting out power and then randomly lighting up for various instruments. It turned out to be a poor ground connection on one of my batteries. I replaced the connector and everything went back to normal. It drove me bat-s**t crazy for a weekend until I found the problem.

[AirTool]

What is easiest way to get to the back of the toggle switch, do I need to remove the whole side panel?

No, just lay on your back along the starboard side like a big fat sack and you can see up under the panel. You'll see the three wires on the switch and you'll see the back of the 12v cig plug. Let me know whether or not you have a "zip tie" connecting the toggle to the cig plug trying to prevent the two from unscrewing. My theory is the zip tie puts stress on the tang but others had the switch problem and didn't have the zip tie.

If you are old and fat like me, Its a pita to lay down there and scoot up under the panel. So take everything you need or have a qualified runner to fetch the flashlight, voltmeter, screwdriver, etc.