Navigation light shorted, Is there a easy fix

When I turn the navigation lights on the temp guage pegs out past 200.
Dang near caused me heart failure especially after I had just spent a wad of cash on a new pump.

I can turn the anchor light switch on and the rear light comes on and works fine , doesn't mess with the other gauges.

Turn the nav lights on , lights all work, but it pegs the temp gauge.

Where do I start or is there a easy fix for it. a fuse or something.

Is it definitely shorted, or does it just put a big drag on your electrics when it comes on? Does it come on?

Does pressing your horn or turning on your blower affect your gauge at all?

I have some similar issues on my 93 also. I've heard that running a new ground to the dash can help. I removed my dash pod last weekend and cleaned a bunch of connections with this spray contact cleaner stuff. It helped a little. I couldn't find anything that looked like thee ground to the dash though.

If your light isn't coming on, maybe it really is a short. You could unscrew the light from the boat, take it apart and see if anything is touching in there. The light itself is somewhat prone to failure, I just replaced mine. I had tried a bulb but it didn't last long as water was getting inside I think.

I'd like to mention that this problem is not a "short" The term is commonly misused for any electrical problem typically when the person using it knows very little about electrics! A short is a near zero resistance in a circuit and if fused/breakered properly will blow/trip that fuse or breaker. This problem is the opposite with a high resistance. This high resistance, in this case, is from corroded connections and the use of undersized wire up to the dash. Trying to get current through with these problems is causing a voltage drop and in turn causing the high reading on the gauge.

I suggest getting larger wire up to the dash. Not just the ground but the "hot" feed as well.

All connections under the dash as well as the harness plug(s) at the engine must be cleaned. Not with a spray "contact cleaner" as it's not designed to clean connections but rather actual contacts in switches and relays. Connections must be disconnected cleaned with something abrasive like a Scotch Bright pad and then I suggest reassembling with dielectric grease.

Look for any bad "Sta-con" crimped on connections. Loose and or corroded inside the crimped area.

As a example, I was having the problem with my Tique when I got it. Just cleaning up the wiring I picked up 2.7 volts!! That's a lot considering the nominal 12 volt system! I also have bad .250 Sta-con quick connects at all my fuse holders. Cheap non marine that on some had actually broken at the female quick connect end.

The harness plug was another bad one. Green inside!!!

thanks brainerd,

   That was what I was gonna do ,,,, crawl my big Ass under there and start cleaning.

Any perticular brand of Dio grease I need to keep on hand ?

pmccook1 wrote: That was what I was gonna do ,,,, crawl my big Ass under there and start cleaning.

Actually, if you have a '93, you remove the four little thumb screws and the dash will come up, your connections are under there. If you crawl underneath, you'll see some wires, but you can't get at the connections without undoing the screws and moving the dash.

Luckily, the screws are really easy to get at, although it's helpful to have a stubby flathead screw driver to get at some of them. Just don't pull too hard on your wires as you lift it. What's a little tricky is keeping the dash propped up in such a way that you can work on the connections comfortably.

I'd definitely start by unscrewing your bow light, taking it apart (two little screws hold it on and another two hold it together, and seeing what's going on inside. Especially if the nav light is your only issue.

Let us know how it turns out.

Cleaning the front light out and cleaning the wire ends fixed the problem.   

I am having the same issue with my 93. All my gauges go crazy when I turn on the navigation lights or push the horn These are the only two items that cause this reaction. so I'm thinking maybe a ground issue? I looked under dash everything seems to be in tack. Where does the main ground come in at to the dash and what does it hook up to first? Any help on this would be much appreciated. Thanks