Changing my boat gauges.

[catfishr1]

Started changing my boat gauges. First thing noticed PO did not follow code for wires. Everything seemed OK till changed temp and tach, Everything went south. Now have no gauges. The tach worked until yesterday. Figure probably a dead short.

 

[alldodge]

Going to be hard for us online to know what's wrong. Do you have a volt meter, and if so check power and connections.

 

[catfishr1]

Going to be hard for us online to know what's wrong. Do you have a volt meter, and if so check power and connections.

View attachment 381924

Yes, it is not very good. Think will buy a better one so can be sure of readings.
You probably noticed left volt gauge original.
Do have one ?. Noticed some of the gauges had what appears to be a ground and a hot wire wired together and on the positive post. Thought this was very strange. Wiring is not my strong point however feel if get a good meter and some guidance can fig. it out.

 

[catfishr1]

Plan on working on it this evening. Will try to get some pics.

 

[alldodge]

All Iboaters will be here to help, just may not be quick responses, but we will be back

 

[mike_i]

"Noticed some of the gauges had what appears to be a ground and a hot wire wired together and on the positive post"
I hope not.

 

[catfishr1]

Here are pic's promised. Used my old meter this morning. 3 volts fuel, 3 volts trim, 6 volts tach 1st reading, 3 volts temp., and 3 volts voltmeter. 2nd reading 8 volts tach, rest the same. Tach started working again? Guess you can see what a menagerie am dealing with. If PO would have adhered to code this would be much easier.

 

[alldodge]

Unable to determine what manufacture but do see some corrosion issues. Maybe remove wires, clean and reinstall may fix the issues, or at least some of them

 

[catfishr1]

By the way all dodge that is an outstanding schematic of gauge hook up. Thank you.

 

[catfishr1]

Nene to determine what manufacture but do see some corrosion issues. Maybe remove wires, clean and reinstall may fix the issues, or at least some of them

The new gauges are crowline black sterling. The old gauge just says starcraft.
Will try cleaning as you suggested. Did notice corrosion.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Gauges are easy
I = Ignition (purple)
GND = Ground (black)
L = Light (dark blue)
S = Signal

tan = water temp
light blue = oil pressure
grey = tach
pink = fuel

 

[catfishr1]

I should probably mention trim gauge did not work when I purchased boat. Blower quit last year, however was able to hook it directly to battery. Now won't work at all. And fuel gauge been acting weird.

 

[Scott Danforth]

I should probably mention trim gauge did not work when I purchased boat. Blower quit last year, however was able to hook it directly to battery. Now won't work at all. And fuel gauge been acting weird.

check your grounds

 

[catfishr1]

check your grounds

Will do.

 

[catfishr1]

Got my new multimeter today. Going out now to get readings. Did notice yesterday tach works as long as revs. about 900 or more. Does that mean got a short?

 

[alldodge]

Not necessarily, might just be a bad Tach, but bad Tach can cause ignition problems

 

[catfishr1]

Not necessarily, might just be a bad Tach, but bad Tach can cause ignition problems

I got good readings today. Ign. on 2.6 volts fuel, trim, water temp, voltmeter, 6 volts tach.
Running 9volts tach, 4 on rest.
The engine starts right away, every time.

 

[04fxdwgi25]

Did you mean 12.6 on temp, trim and fuel?
What you mean by "4 on rest" ? Supposed to be 14?

Are you sure the tach is set to proper setting for engine size / cyl?

What is that yellow wire connected to ground?

 

[Lou C]

If you have one of those old original fuse boxes with the glass fuses check the tabs for oxidation; I had this problem one year & none of the gauges came on & engine didn’t crank. Fuse was not blown it was simply oxidation.
Did the old gauges work right?

 

[catfishr1]

Did you mean 12.6 on temp, trim and fuel?
What you mean by "4 on rest" ? Supposed to be 14?

Are you sure the tach is set to proper setting for engine size / cyl?

What is that yellow wire connected to ground?

Have checked readings several times, definitely 2.6 on all but tach. Have tach set on 6cyl 3p. Going to hook up my timing light to make sure getting accurate reading.