Electrical problem

[williamst]

I have no idea where to start. I just purchased a 91 sport. It had been setting for awhile. I've not really had any major problems until a few weeks ago. I carried the boat out to check any issues. Well boat ran fine on the water until loading. It didn't want to run at low idle. So I thought it was in the carb. Now I'm trying to fix problem and find another issue. I have 12.45 volts at the battery and the ignition breaker. Electrical to bile pump, lights and so seem to be fine. I ran new ground and tied all existing grounds to it on a block to make sure. Problem is when I turn ignition key to on about 3 to 4 seconds and it trips the breaker on the dash and the red and purple wires at the back of the ignition are warm. Please God help me out with some ideas to check. I hate electrical in vehicles. Thank you in advance.

Tim

[azeus17]

I am a little confused with your question. Did you think the electrical was causing the low idle issue? Why did you dig into the electrical? I would go back and check your grounds. Assuming everything was fine before you messed with the electrical, besides the idle, it was something you did. Recheck your work.

[williamst]

Sorry for the confusion. No the electrical and carb are two separate issues. While trying to adjust the carb with cranking the engine several times between adjusting the short has shown up. Now I have to fix the electrical before I can fix the carburetor.

[kend]

warm wire is a little scary; do you have a volt meter so you can check for a short?

[MLA]

I would start by undoing all that you have done and isolate the cause of the 12.4V reading. Was that 12.4 @ the battery with the engine running? If so, you are likely looking at an alternator problem.

Boats that sit are likely going to suffer from the side effects of ethanol blended fuel. Nothing about that fuel system was designed with ethanol in mind. Beyond the fact that ethanol blended fuel absorbs moisture at a greater rate then non ethanol, leading to phase separation, it deteriorates the rubber and plastic fuel hose and other components on the older fuel system.

[williamst]

O.k. I have spent a week tracing and checking everything to do with electrical on my 91 sport. I finally found the two engine circuit breakers bad. One was a 12.5amp and the other a 50amp. Corrosion internally caused them to ground out. I got the boat running and fixed the carburetor. Just wanted to thank you guys for the advise and if you have an electrical issue check these breakers first.