2002 bayliner capri 175 gauges wont work

[potatoe]

i did a 3.0 merc ,motor swap in my 02 capri 175 and now no fuel, oil, temp, speedo, tach, nothing at all. the gauge lights come on but nothing else. everything is hooked up, and i checked all the fuses. does anyone have any ideas? i understand if 1 or 2 didnt work, but all not working is weird. i didnt know they were all linked together.

[Bond-o]

everything is hooked up,

Ayuh,... Obviously Not....
The gauges are fed from the igntion circuit...

[potatoe]

any idea what can be the problem? ive checked everything and it seems fine

[Silvertip]

Checked everything -- but how? Every gauge on your panel requires +12 volts and ground with 12 volts being present when the key is on. If only one gauge failed it may be the sense line (such as from the sender in the fuel tank) but since none of them work, that implies a power issue. Turn the key on, and using a voltmeter check for +12 volts at the "+" (or "I") terminal on each gauge to a "known good ground". What you will find is that +12 volts and ground are daisy chained (jumpered) from one gauge to the next. So again, since all of them failed, either +12 volts and/or ground has been lost to the very first gauge in the string. If +12 volts is present, you have a bad or missing ground. Looking or tugging at wires is not a valid check and certainly cannot pass as an "everything is ok" test.

[Doernuth]

Also depends on what you mean by they don't work. Do they light up and just not read?

If you have light it is probably the connection at the engine. All of the senders route through a large round 10 pin connector on the solenoid bracket. Pull the connector and make sure that it is clean. Maybe spray some electrical lube into it and reconect.

If no light, check the ground and the wiring under the dash. Clean every connection you can find and use a meter to check all wires for connectivity. you may be surprised at where you find fuses.