More issues! Does anyone know where power to the helm comes from? - FIXED

bert_florida

Hey guys, needless to say we’re having issue after issue hundreds of miles away from home. We went to start our port engine yesterday to leave to our next hop on our Florida Keys trip and all of the sudden everything turned off. No power to the helm, including no gauges, no 12v receptacle, no trim tabs, no chart plotter, no ignition or crank. It was a nightmare to open the engine hatch without power BTW!

Does anyone know where the helm gets power? I removed the battery switch and I can’t find a single wire that carries power to the helm, engine breakers are good, main harnesses to engines are good too. Any clues? Boat is a 2004 FV 290.

Thanks!

Bert

PickleRick

First thing to check since you had work done is the harness(s) where the boat wiring attaches to the top usually front starboard side of the motor.  If that is loose or come unplugged you lose all power. It probably a round plug and a hose clamp around it.

Next is check grounds at the back of the motor.

Then check your battery selector, they fail more often then you'd think.  Mine failed on #2 so i could only power bank 1.

212rowboat

Check the fuse on the starter post... Its a little cube looking thing... you can bypass it by connecting the wires directly to the starter post, but don't leave it that way.  

I wager this is your issue... they go out and there is nothing at the helm- notta. 

bert_florida

Thank you. The thermal fuse in the starter post was it. Fixed the issue, but my port engine now cranks and won’t start. Jesus! lol. 

There is a wire connected to the thermal fuse and two wires that are on the main lug of the solenoid. One is the big heavy gauge wire that runs to the battery switch and the other one I don’t know where it goes or what it does. It’s a smaller gauge wire. These are the only things I messed with. 

212rowboat

Touch the lessor gauge wire directly to the same post the fuse is connected... eliminating the fuse, basically... try again. 

Then, make sure the breaker on the engine is closed... there are two styles of breaker... one is just a button, but the other and if original likely the one you have has a little gate on it that needs to be reset manually.  .... a matter of fact, try that first... 

Then.... check your kill switch at the helm... 

bert_florida

We’re getting power to the helm again, crank too. Both engines crank, but port engine, which is where that fuse was cranks, but will not start. 

Tried breaker too, it wasn’t popped and we have power there. 

aero3113

Maybe your IAC is giving you trouble starting also. Try to advance the throttle in neutral some on the port side and try to start it.

212rowboat

check power TO the coil. 

212rowboat

Is your main breaker a big red button? 

J3ff

Appears that the florida keys waters eat boats. 

bert_florida

Tried advancing throttle already, IAC is new, was replaced a month or so ago. Engine was running great. Yes the breaker is red, there is power there. 

reneechris14

There is a spade fuse under a little black cap by the ecm. Actually there should be 3 fuses in there.

PickleRick

Two fuel pumps? 

aero3113

I think there is a miniature 15 or 20 amp for the starter in there. But if that was blown it wouldn’t crank over.

bert_florida

I'll look into fuses shortly, yes two fuel pumps, it is cranking, just not starting.

reneechris14

One fuse is for fuel pump and one for ignition. Pull coil wire to check for spark. Should be on top by the IAC 

J3ff

do dual engine boats have two kill switches? 

Willhound

As to the hatch issue, from day one I've carried just a cheap $60 battery jump box on board. There are studs by the battery switch you can connect the cables to and open the hatch. Also boosts the battery or charges phones and accessories in a pinch. 
Good luck man!

YYZRC

J3ff said:

do dual engine boats have two kill switches? 

No kill switch on my boat. 

J3ff

Willhound said:

As to the hatch issue, from day one I've carried just a cheap $60 battery jump box on board. There are studs by the battery switch you can connect the cables to and open the hatch. Also boosts the battery or charges phones and accessories in a pinch. 
Good luck man!

This one goes on sale every black friday (this is a newer version) https://www.amazon.com/Schumacher-SJ1329-Arrancador-port%C3%A1til-amperios/dp/B07BGQH6T5/ref=sr_1_17?dchild=1&keywords=power+station+jump+box&qid=1597433625&sr=8-17

Use it all the time to quietly charge laptops...etc... and of course to lift the hatch when mine doesn't feel like working. 

bert_florida

Thanks for all the tips. Where are the fuses? lol. Been looking and can’t find fuses, but can find relays. See pic. 

bert_florida

bert_florida

Never mind. Found fuses they’re good. There is spark. Has to be fuel, but how? So weird. I’m gonna continue to curse at it until it starts Hahahaha. 

aero3113

Check the area where I circled, they should be in that location. Are those relays there or covers for the fuses?

Willhound

I think the red button by the red and yellow wire by the right hand side if your distributor is the main reset. Your engine a little different than mine so maybe someone else can comment?

J3ff

is that red button near the yellow and red wire popped out? can it be pushed in?

aero3113

Here is what one of the fuse holders looks like on my engines. Yes, your engine is set up a little different, so not sure you have them.

bert_florida

Found fuses. All good. Red button is good too. Also have spark, thinking fuel now. But so odd, both tanks are now connected together in case it’s an issue with port tank so if starboard engine starts, port should. See pic for fuses, they’re next to relays. Relays seem fine. 

Willhound

Did you test or switch out the fuses? They can sometimes look good but have a small break in them. An ohm meter will tell you for sure.

J3ff

Okay so something knocked out the thermal fuse.. what would have done that? 

aero3113

Do you hear the fuel pump prime when you turn the key to run?