Help??!??

[Chadku]

Ok guys, I have something going on and I know that it is simple, but I cannot seem to find it. I went out for a couple hours last night and noticed when I got there my battery was barely able to start the engine....Ran it around awhile and noticed that it was running low on voltage so tried to get her charged up a bit.....Fished an area for a couple hours and then went to start it and nothing. Dead as a doornail. I think ok, well it just needs a good charge. I switch over my cables to my trolling motor batter so I can get to the ramp and the cables spark when I put it on that battery. I have no lights on, both depthfinders are off, so why am I getting a spark from the main wire that provides the power to my engine? I have checked everything, but cannot seem to find it.

[go dart]

Well if you think about it
* motor battery dead--slow drain or wasn't charging last trip?
* good battery showing a short in the system
? any new electronics added
? what brand of motor
I dunno but makes me wonder about a coil or a powerhead if its a johnson
With your vacation coming up thats a good time to let a shop have her Might be done when you get home

[Lucky_Livewell]

I had a similar situation earlier this year; the problem ended up being a bad battery. It would run the lights, sonar, bilge, etc. and would even show a full charge on the charger, but it would only start the engine once or twice per trip. I had the battery checked out and they told me it was shot.

[go dart]

he switched batterys and it sounds like he couldn't leave the cables on. probably my bad. maybe he did get it started with the other battery. damm things only last a couple years

[brettbran]

Check all your in-line fuses for your accessories (lights, bilge, etc.) Alot of times where those in-line fuses are installed, there will be some corrosion and cause a bad connection. Just an idea, good luck.

[Chadku]

the boat started when i switched over to the trolling motor battery. But when putting the cable on there the spark is what made me think something was running causing it to drain my main battery. It would not spark if it was drawing power would it? It is a mercury. Before switching over the battery was not completely dead...enough for the lights to come on and barely trim up the motor.

There are a couple things I have done lately and actually maybe one of them could have led to this now that I think about it. I have this light on the side of my console. I unplugged it from teh fuse box, bc my rods sit in rod holders next to it and would accidently turn it on. A few weeks ago I had to install a new transducer. When unhooking the wires from the fuse box I broke one off. So I unhooked the light at that time and used those to hook up the transducer. Since my depthfinder is only on during the lake time it would not drain it like that would it? The other thing I would not think could do anything. I replaced my prop yesterday before going out.

I imagine it is the battery. This would make it 3 full years I have had it, so I imagine it would be time to replace. It did charge to 100% so I guess I need to have it tested to see what is up.

[haugboss]

guess #1 auto-bilge pump

[Chadku]

HB---What do you mean with the auto bilge pump? I have a switch I have to turn on for the bilge pump and it has a light, so I would have seen that....I think anyway.

[LBM]

Chad

Boats have manual and auto bilge pumps where the auto is always connected to kick on when the float is lifted to activate the pump. I think the autos still have juice to them even if the main key is off.

My first boats auto had a piece of wire stuck in the impeller and burnt the motor out. I didn't realize that fact for some time.

I think Al had a very good suggestion there if your boat has both a manual and a auto bilge pump.

[Chadku]

ok thanks guys...i will look into it...