Nav Lights, Bilge Pump, Exhaust Fan and CD Player no longer work. Any clues?

[GlenAdelaide]

Hi I changed battery earlier this year as last one died. Getting boat ready for Summer holiday season and now notice that Nav Lights, Bilge Pump, Exhaust Fan and CD Player no longer work. All fuses seem ok under front instrument panel.

Motor starts fine, and gauges all work. Any clues? HELP!!

 

[Sportster-2001-951C-Stock]

Is it possible you missed one wire while connecting the new battery? See if there's a ring terminal there you may have overlooked.

Otherwise, sounds like there could be a blown fuse. Can you use a voltmeter or test light to measure both sides of each fuse to confirm? There's a small test hole in the exposed portion of the bladed fuses accessible while the fuse is installed, test both corners to ground and see if one side is hot while the other is cold. Both corners should give the same result otherwise the fuse is likely blown.

 

[Coastiejoe]

I agree. Missed a wire I bet. I think there is a main fuse near the battery as well. Follow the wires off the battery.


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[GlenAdelaide]

Is it possible you missed one wire while connecting the new battery? See if there's a ring terminal there you may have overlooked.

Otherwise, sounds like there could be a blown fuse. Can you use a voltmeter or test light to measure both sides of each fuse to confirm? There's a small test hole in the exposed portion of the bladed fuses accessible while the fuse is installed, test both corners to ground and see if one side is hot while the other is cold. Both corners should give the same result otherwise the fuse is likely blown.

Do you mean the fuses in the front instrument dash? or the ones in the engine bay?
Thanks will check connections on the battery.

 

[GlenAdelaide]

I agree. Missed a wire I bet. I think there is a main fuse near the battery as well. Follow the wires off the battery.


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I cant see any missing wires hanging disconnected near the battery or anywhere in the engine bay. All fuses in the engine bay check out with 12.65 volts thru the testmeter. But the fuses for the dash accessories all dead. No voltage. But the ignition starts and the gauges work. Bizarre!!

 

[Coastiejoe]

A pain but it will answer the question. Follow a wire from the dash back. You will find a fuse you missed, a wire not connected, or a damaged wire. Does the boat require the battery switch to be in a specific location for the accessories to operate?


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[Sportster-2001-951C-Stock]

But the fuses for the dash accessories all dead. No voltage.

That's useful info, now you have some idea of why accessories aren't working! But, please confirm to make sure your voltmeter ground source is functioning. So if unsure, measure (by using a long test lead) from the engine block as ground if necessary, until you're certain it's a confirmed ground. ie: always confirm your ground is true.

That's because many times troubleshooting can be complicated by the need to locate a known good ground.

So keep looking and working back towards the power source (battery) and I promise when you finally find the problem, of course it will make perfect sense!

 

[GlenAdelaide]

That's useful info, now you have some idea of why accessories aren't working! But, please confirm to make sure your voltmeter ground source is functioning. So if unsure, measure (by using a long test lead) from the engine block as ground if necessary, until you're certain it's a confirmed ground. ie: always confirm your ground is true.

That's because many times troubleshooting can be complicated by the need to locate a known good ground.

So keep looking and working back towards the power source (battery) and I promise when you finally find the problem, of course it will make perfect sense!

Found the issue. Wasn't the ground. It was the power lead. There's a circuit breaker after the Isolation switch. Someone mustve pressed the button, the reactivation mechanism is really obscure and hard to see. Not obvious when looking through the vent. Soon at I swung it back in place and clicked it in. The accessories came alive. Thanks for all your help. Cheers! and Happy New Year from down under.

 

[Sportster-2001-951C-Stock]

Nice! Yes, "obscure" is a good description. So often the case.