1991 Evinrude 88 spl gauges do not work

[Clyde Jones]

So i have a 88spl that's mounted on a 18ft renken bow rider.. and none of my gauges are working. is there a way to test the circuit? I took a quick peek underneath the dash and it seemed to be wired up correctly with no shorts... Do i have to be a scientist to fix this problem?
thanks for any advice!

-Clyde

 

[boobie]

Check all the fuses you can find on the motor and under the dash.

 

[ondarvr]

It's very common to have bad wiring on 25 year old boat. Start cleaning every connecting and hunting for fuses, a digital multi meter will help trouble shoot it quickly.

 

[Clyde Jones]

Yeah I looked for fuses but couldn't find any under the dash.. And the wiring does look old so I think I will clean connections and replace what wires I can.

Also, there is a gauge for a power trim/tilt but this motor is not equipped with one... Will this cause all the gauges not to work?

Maybe I should have mentioned this but the boat is an 81 and the motor is 91. So I may be floating down **** creek with these gauges..?

 

[ondarvr]

The gauges don't have much to do with the motor from that era, they were just generic, they will work or not work depending on how they're wired and their condition. Trim gauges are a waste of time, don't even concern yourself with it. The gauges need power and to be connected to the correct item so they report whatever it is they monitor. Your job is to make sure they have power (and a ground), plus are connected to the right sensor, and that the sensor works.

 

[Clyde Jones]

Awesome, that's what i wanted to hear.

 

[Clyde Jones]

Okay.

So i was going through my wiring and i found a few issues.

I followed my speedometer tube to the stern of the boat and it turns out the hose had been broke off with the nipple stuck inside the tube. does anybody know where that tube attaches? to the motor or to the boat?

Also two wires exiting the fuse box and going to the motor (i think), were cut... both the wires were coming from the only two relays that were in the fuse block so that is kind of concerning.

i also have two random wires that go from the gauges into the fuse block and then connect to two more wires in the fuse block, then those wires exit the fuse block and a couple feet down they also have been cut..

im really scratching my head on what the purpose of each of these wires is... is there a wiring diagram for the fuse block portion? there is one on the inside of the fuse block itself but none of the wires are labeled.

 

[Clyde Jones]

No Title

heres some pics

 

[Clyde Jones]

NEVERMIND. turns out all that bs wiring is for the tilt/trim motor which i don't even have...

but i still do not know where the speedometer tube goes to if anyone knows..?

also my tach still isn't working. i assume there needs to be 3 wires going to the tach? the power, ground and signal? is there a ign wire too?

thanks

 

[ondarvr]

The tube goes to the back on the transom, there should be a bracket with plastic piece that sticks down into the water, it will plug into that. But they rarely work and aren't that accurate when they do. Look up the wiring diagram online. It will tell where each colored wire goes.

 

[oldboat1]

This is one of the diagrams you can access via the top secret link up at the top of this forum page: http://maxrules.com/graphics/omc/wiring/1992_V4.jpg Think it might help.

On the pitot tube for the speedometer -- will bet you are going to install a GPS depth finder anyway (or need an excuse to do so). Make sure you get one with a speed indicator -- probably all or most of them. If you want to use what you have, though, they are available and cheap: http://www.iboats.com/Speedometer-Pitots/dm/cart_id.105079435--session_id.838785711--view_id.1250629

 

[Clyde Jones]

yeah my grandpa has a fish finder with a speed indicator so i've considered that. I think i will go with that since the factory one seems to be inaccurate as ondarv says and i can totally believe..

also thanks for that wiring diagram! i've seen that one before but it was in black and white, so this color one is great!

appreciate the help gentlemen, thank you

 

[Clyde Jones]

one more question i do have... if i do need to buy a new tachometer... do i have to buy a certain one because i have a two stroke or will any one work?

http://www.iboats.com/SeaStar-Amega...973419--session_id.140755723--view_id.1240149

i am interested in that one but it says outboard alt & 4 cyl... please excuse my inexperience