Four Winns 190 Freedom Electrical Problem.

[Gueltzow1]

I recently bought this boat and really don't know much about the 4.3 Mercruiser that is in it. My promblem is this, I had it on the lake last weekend and was running fine slowed down and put in nuetral and at that point lost all power to the dash components, depth finder, vhf, lights, and stereo which usually come on even when the ignition was in the stop position. When I turned the motor off I got nothing from anything no click when I turn the key or anything. Batteries are good and starter is good. Trim on throttle still has power and works fine. Any Idea of what could cause this? Thanks for any help you could give me with this problem.

 

[gjgm]

Any chance you have a model book with the wiring diagrams? Actually, often you do. Anyway, I d guess its an earth issue, so the clue is why the trim is working and nothing else. You could try a big fiddling with the ignition switch connections as an easy start, and after that a good look at the main terminal connections(probably under the helm). But you are probably going to need someone with a voltmeter who knows what he is doing. if you can find one non marine, thats 50pct saved.

 

[omega2]

Check the leads from the battery to the starter motor, sounds like a bad earth to me, the trim switch is probably direct off the battery, but the rest will be off the starter motor.

 

[spannerman]

First check the battery cables are secure on the engine earth and starter terminal, then follow the small red wire from the same terminal up to the circuit breaker on the engine and check its not popped out, if OK follow the red/purple wire from CB to the main harness connecter, these often are the cause of loss of power, remove plug and spray with WD40 and make sure its fully home. Then check if you have power at the back of the ign switch on the red/purple, if so turn on ign and check you have power out of the purple which goes to the instruments and back to the ign system (Coil), does it have a dead mans switch on the dash, these also give trouble, this interupts this purple wire between ign switch and the instruments so check it, (you can temporarily join the wire to bypass it. If you have power this far it should start, if the dash lights up and it doesn't start then check you have power at the purple wire on the coil.
The power trim is wired direct to the battery so is independant of the ign switch.
If you have power at the panel but no lights then check the black earth wire, but this won't stop the engine starting as it has its own earth.
If it doesn't show any life after this let me know as I have the wiring diagram in front of me.

 

[Gueltzow1]

Thanks for all the great Idea's for help. Now all I have to do is get out of work and go try them. Thanks spannerman sounds like you have everything I need to know. Don't be surprised to here from me again!