Yet Another Electrical Problem

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   I need some help troubleshooting.  I have an intermitent problem and it's driving me nuts.  Sometimes I turn the key and nothing happens and I  mean nothing.  The gauges don't work, the blower doesn't work, the bildge pump doesn't work and of course the engine won't crank.  If I disconnect the negative battery cable (haven't tried the positive side) for a few seconds then reattach, everything works again.

I replaced the solenoid a while back as well as the key switch (key switch was automotive type, solenoid was marine grade).

Any thoughts?  Altenator going out?  Voltage regulator?  50 Amp breaker getting crusty?  Something not wired correctly?

It's an '84 SN with 351 Commander.  Thanks

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jimbo Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: September-07-2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 473	Post Options Post Reply Quote jimbo Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Yet Another Electrical Problem Posted: January-30-2006 at 11:44am
	I need some help troubleshooting. I have an intermitent problem and it's driving me nuts. Sometimes I turn the key and nothing happens and I mean nothing. The gauges don't work, the blower doesn't work, the bildge pump doesn't work and of course the engine won't crank. If I disconnect the negative battery cable (haven't tried the positive side) for a few seconds then reattach, everything works again. I replaced the solenoid a while back as well as the key switch (key switch was automotive type, solenoid was marine grade). Any thoughts? Altenator going out? Voltage regulator? 50 Amp breaker getting crusty? Something not wired correctly? It's an '84 SN with 351 Commander. Thanks

Tim D Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Grand Poobah Joined: August-23-2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 2641	Post Options Post Reply Quote Tim D Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: January-30-2006 at 12:17pm
	Is the blower and bildge pump wired so they can be turned on with the ignition off?
	Tim D

79nautique Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Grand Poobah Joined: January-27-2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 7872	Post Options Post Reply Quote 79nautique Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: January-30-2006 at 12:22pm
	check the connector on the wiring harness towards the back of the motor. I had the same problem a couple of years ago and replaced about everthing trying to track it down and it really makes you scatch your head and think. I didn't get it fixed until I replaced alt and wiring harness. Turn the key on and mess around with the connector and see if you get power to the blower or just watch the tach and see if it goes to zero.

jimbo Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: September-07-2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 473	Post Options Post Reply Quote jimbo Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: January-30-2006 at 8:07pm
	TimD: No, the blower and bildge are wired to work with toggle switches regardless if the key is on or off. '79: Thanks, I haven't checked the wiring harness. I'll give that a shot.

JEFF KOSTIS Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Gold Member Joined: April-19-2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 817	Post Options Post Reply Quote JEFF KOSTIS Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: January-31-2006 at 7:40pm
	If it does it again, dont touch anything and take a test light and start from the battery and follow it through. Its obviously a main feed problem on either the hot or ground side. Best of luck cause intermittents are a pain to get them to fail and troubleshoot. Jeff...
	MUSTANG COUNTRY 1974 Mustang 17 1976 Mustang 17

M3Fan Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Grand Poobah Joined: October-22-2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 3185	Post Options Post Reply Quote M3Fan Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: February-16-2006 at 7:20pm
	It could be that you don't have enough voltage in the system to fire the relay. I'd suspect a bad ground/corroded connection somewhere in the chain. Low battery, corroded clamps, bad ground connection at the block, etc etc. The battery may have enough amperage to acutate the starter but not enough voltage to trip the relay.

Rick Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: March-03-2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 338	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rick Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: February-20-2006 at 10:44pm
	Sounds like a ground problem to me. I would check the ground of the starter relay.If it's really corroded (sp?) you can run a seperate wire to a known good ground. I would remove it polish the connection between it and the mount. It could also be where the ground cable attaches to the engine. Clean that also. Finally as a long shot remove and clean all of the wires going to the coil. I know it sounds wierd but sometimes a corroded wire there causes all kinds of faults. Good luck
	2000 Ski

gigem75 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: November-12-2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 239	Post Options Post Reply Quote gigem75 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: February-22-2006 at 8:18pm
	I've seen that same thing and the solnoid was hanging. New parts can be defective too. What was happening was that when the key was turned to start the engine all power to accessories is shut off to send max cranking amps to the starter. It was hanging up and not turing everything back on when the key was released. Don't know if that is your problem just sharing what happend to me with same problem.

Gregory Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: January-19-2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 12	Post Options Post Reply Quote Gregory Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: February-22-2006 at 10:09pm
	jimbo I just posted asking if someone with a commander 351 could help me out with a silinoid wiring question. I have a new silinoid and original wiring but cant seem to find a wiring diagram showing what wires (color) go where on the silinoid. I bought the boat without a siliniod so I have no ref. point. Wonder if you could let me know what yours looks like? I have an 84 SN. Thanx.

Yet Another Electrical Problem

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