No accessory power.... I'm so stumped

[bobbobobbo]

This happened after I summerized the boat this year. I can start the boat, run the blower and bilge, yet every single accessory item is out. Entire dash, gauges, radio, etc. I'm not sure what I'm missing and I've read through other threads. 2012 Challenger 180SE

- I have two cables going to the battery, 1 red and 1 black.
- I have checked and reset the black arm
- I have looked and checked all the fuses I can see in the battery area and elsewhere

What am I missing? The only other thing I haven't checked/replaced is the big relay inside the fuse box. The boat has only 50 hours.

Anything anyone can do to help is greatly appreciated!!

 

[beerdart]

Diagram.............

 

[rcguy]

There is another fuse box for accessory fuses. Fuses for the vehicle electrical system are integrated in the Vehicle Control Module (VCM), which is located in the starboard gunwale near the driver's seat.

 

[bobbobobbo]

I've checked all the fuses under the steering wheel helm. They all seem fine. + it would be odd if they all went out at once..

So for example. I turn the key on, I have no horn. According to Beerdarts schematic the horn goes to one fuse (which is not blown), then to the circuit breaker, to the cutoff switch, and to the battery. There's not much else to it... The blower fan gets power so I know the panel with those fuses are all working. The horn is on the same lineup as the blower..

I'm so confused..

 

[beerdart]

Bad ground is the most likely cause.

 

[bobbobobbo]

Bad ground is the most likely cause.

To specifically the gauges and accessories? How can the starter, blower, bilge etc all be grounded just fine

 

[beerdart]

Every section of the boat has separate grounds. On my 150 there is a ground bus bar under the helm that handles all the grounds for the instruments.

 

[radiofred]

I think there is 2 main grounds at the battery I had it happen to me I could start the motor but had no accessory they way I found out I was probing around on the 12volt socket and tested it found I had power but no ground once I grounded the edge of the socket everything came on then traced everything back to the loose ground at the battery

 

[radiofred]

Oh I have a 2008 challenger 180 should be the same setup

 

[bobbobobbo]

I think there is 2 main grounds at the battery I had it happen to me I could start the motor but had no accessory they way I found out I was probing around on the 12volt socket and tested it found I had power but no ground once I grounded the edge of the socket everything came on then traced everything back to the loose ground at the battery

What do you mean by 2 main grounds? Where would the edge of the 'socket' be? Sorry if I'm not getting it.

That would make sense actually (loose ground at battery) as it was working just fine before I winterized it and unplugged battery. That was literally all I did.. There's only a red and black wire, hooked it up tight to battery posts. I looked everywhere to see if I was missing a wire.

 

[radiofred]

If u look at the wiring diagram that beerdart posted it shows 2 grounds and 1 power wire at the battery

 

[beerdart]

There is also 4 ground wires attached to the front of the engine.

 

[bobbobobbo]

If u look at the wiring diagram that beerdart posted it shows 2 grounds and 1 power wire at the battery

O wow you're right. Not sure how I missed that.

So does that mean there are a total of 2 wires coming off the negative side of the battery? As right now I only have one.. didn't see any other stray wires
(not home at the moment but I'd love to run out and check)

 

[radiofred]

Yes u should have to ground off the battery 1 is motor ground the other is acc. ground, I had the same exact issue after being winterized

 

[go_panthers]

When I winterized last year, I ran a zip tie through all three (twin engine) in order to keep them together. Easy to miss when putting the battery back in.

 

[radiofred]

That's a really Good idea that way u can't miss place hem