Hi all, I'm having a hell of a time with an issue I can't figure out. Last Friday I was on the lake running for a short period when she died on me. After not being able to figure out what happened and getting towed back I began troubleshooting. I found the 5 amp fuse that either runs the mpem or the mpem supply was blown and had a 7.5 amp fuse in its place. I replaced the fuse and as soon as the key hits the post, it starts to beep and blows the fuse. I've tried a bigger fuse, it's all I had, and got two beeps, but it too blew.
I've tried to run a diagnostic with the key off the post and a new fuse in. As soon as I hit the start button on one engine, pop.
I've also unplugged all the wires off the rectifier and received the same result as well as removed the fuse for the instrument panel thinking there might be a short there and that didn't work.
I'm leaning towards the mpem, but everything else screams dead short. I've ran a multimeter to all the wires running into the side of the box and didn't find any short as well. Any help will be greatly appreciated.
* * * *UPDATE* * * *
Well in an odd twist of fate, I found what was popping the fuse. I bought this boat last week. I called the previous owner and learned that he had located a ground wire lying on the bottom of the engine bay and connected it to the ground post on the battery, thinking that it needed to be connected. I disconnected that line, which ran to the rear of the port side engine, replaced the fuse and put the key on the post and VOILA! The fuse didn't blow. After a brief happy dance, I connected the garden hose and tried to fire the engines up. Initially I got the smell of gas but no start. Now when I look at the lines, they're empty and there's no spark.
In my earliest attempts, while stranded on the water, I learned that the pump can sometimes gum up and if you blow it out, it frees whatever is blocking the flow. In a fit of desperation I disconnected a line, using my house key, and blew it clear. I say that to ask this; does the pump need primed? While it wouldn't start just now, the line did fill up and then run dry. Pulled a plug and no spark. Honestly, if it weren't a 10 1/2 hour drive back, this boat would have already been returned. But anything worth having is worth working for I guess. Any thoughts?
* * *Another Update* * *
Turns out I have fuel, just no fire. I reconnected the ground wire to the battery, as it should be, and the fuse no longer blows. I started another thread to address the lack of fire issue as the other issues seem to be a result of something else.
I've tried to run a diagnostic with the key off the post and a new fuse in. As soon as I hit the start button on one engine, pop.
I've also unplugged all the wires off the rectifier and received the same result as well as removed the fuse for the instrument panel thinking there might be a short there and that didn't work.
I'm leaning towards the mpem, but everything else screams dead short. I've ran a multimeter to all the wires running into the side of the box and didn't find any short as well. Any help will be greatly appreciated.
* * * *UPDATE* * * *
Well in an odd twist of fate, I found what was popping the fuse. I bought this boat last week. I called the previous owner and learned that he had located a ground wire lying on the bottom of the engine bay and connected it to the ground post on the battery, thinking that it needed to be connected. I disconnected that line, which ran to the rear of the port side engine, replaced the fuse and put the key on the post and VOILA! The fuse didn't blow. After a brief happy dance, I connected the garden hose and tried to fire the engines up. Initially I got the smell of gas but no start. Now when I look at the lines, they're empty and there's no spark.
In my earliest attempts, while stranded on the water, I learned that the pump can sometimes gum up and if you blow it out, it frees whatever is blocking the flow. In a fit of desperation I disconnected a line, using my house key, and blew it clear. I say that to ask this; does the pump need primed? While it wouldn't start just now, the line did fill up and then run dry. Pulled a plug and no spark. Honestly, if it weren't a 10 1/2 hour drive back, this boat would have already been returned. But anything worth having is worth working for I guess. Any thoughts?
* * *Another Update* * *
Turns out I have fuel, just no fire. I reconnected the ground wire to the battery, as it should be, and the fuse no longer blows. I started another thread to address the lack of fire issue as the other issues seem to be a result of something else.
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