2007 Bass tracker, No power front of boat

[jamestexas]

1. Just bought a 2007 bass tracker from a buddy of mine that has around 15 hours on it. Everything look great... But i want to run the engine before i sign the papers for it. Well long story short im not getting power the the ignition or the saftey kill switch. Nothing comes on! Also the only thing working with power is the tiltl up or down on the motor.. " just the motor side not from the throttle". WHY?!?!??! WHat im a missing?? If anyone has a wiring diagram that would be awesome. The boat has very low hours and has spent a large amount of its life under a cover in a drive way here in VA.
2. I put a volt meter to the starter and i am getting 12vts there. But Where does the power go from there? The motor is a 2007 50 mercury 50ELPTO. Is there a fuse or somthing in that area preventing the power to get to the front of the boat???

 

[Silvertip]

Re: 2007 Bass tracker, No power front of boat

Power leaves the battery on the large red battery cable. But it cannot go anywhere unless the large black negative cable is secured solidly to the engine block and the NEG terminal of the battery. This is not "looks ok" test. You disconnect, clean and reconnect both ends of both cables. Make sure the battery is fully charged. Even a dead battery can measure 12 volts with no load on it. With those items confirmed, power then goes from the engine, up the bigger red wire in the engine harness to the control box. At that point the red wire is attached to the "A" terminal on the ignition switch. When you turn the key to the START position, the "A" and "S" terminals are connected and power passes through the neutral start switch in the control box and back down the engine harness to the small terminal on the starter solenoid. The solenoid energizes and the two large terminals are connected which then energizes the starter. If the trim system works, then the basic power system seems intact. But if the engine doesn't crank with the key in the START position, then I would look at the neutral start switch. Jiggle the throttle/shift lever to make sure it is in neutral. You can also jump the starter solenoid to see if the starter engages. Do not overlook the large plug and receptacle in the engine harness at the engine. Disconnect, inspect, clean if necessary, and reconnect it several times to burnish the contacts. Let us know what you find.

 

[jamestexas]

Re: 2007 Bass tracker, No power front of boat

Power leaves the battery on the large red battery cable. But it cannot go anywhere unless the large black negative cable is secured solidly to the engine block and the NEG terminal of the battery. This is not "looks ok" test. You disconnect, clean and reconnect both ends of both cables. Make sure the battery is fully charged. Even a dead battery can measure 12 volts with no load on it. With those items confirmed, power then goes from the engine, up the bigger red wire in the engine harness to the control box. At that point the red wire is attached to the "A" terminal on the ignition switch. When you turn the key to the START position, the "A" and "S" terminals are connected and power passes through the neutral start switch in the control box and back down the engine harness to the small terminal on the starter solenoid. The solenoid energizes and the two large terminals are connected which then energizes the starter. If the trim system works, then the basic power system seems intact. But if the engine doesn't crank with the key in the START position, then I would look at the neutral start switch. Jiggle the throttle/shift lever to make sure it is in neutral. You can also jump the starter solenoid to see if the starter engages. Do not overlook the large plug and receptacle in the engine harness at the engine. Disconnect, inspect, clean if necessary, and reconnect it several times to burnish the contacts. Let us know what you find.

Awesome I'll look into that neutral switch. Imm guessing thats it. I've checked high and low and ill clean the terminals again just for the heck of it. This thing has been driving me nuts! Also ill look at that large plug and receptacle and see what shape its in. Im just blown away that a boat this new with soo little hours has this much a problem... ahhhhh
Thanks i'll keep you updated