Nav lights not working

[tonyjh63]

Ok, so it got dark on us while eating at a restaurant, and I got nothing when I tried to turn on the nav lights, but my horn works (in the same panel).
How should I go about troubleshooting the problem? It's after midnight right now, so looking for pointers before I start on tomorrow. Thanks!

 

[alldodge]

They worked before so start with the fuse. Then use a meter and trace power

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,..... The circuit should run from the fuse block to the switch, to the light, 'n a ground wire from the light base back to the ground buss,....

 

[tonyjh63]

Got around to checking the fuse...it's good, so the problem is something else.
Unfortunately, checking the fuse is the extent of my mechanical/electrical abilities. :-(

 

[alldodge]

Get a voltmeter or test light.
Start at the switch and ground one end of the meter/light then turn lights ON
If it lights at the switch then go to the bulb
If it doesn't light at the switch, then back trace to the fuse and main feed

Might be corrosion on the connections

 

[mike_i]

If checking the fuse is the limit of your capabilities I'm curious how did you confirm the fuse is good? As the other guys suggested, get a test light or voltmeter and start checking at the switch. If you have more than one lite not working the fuse, switch and wiring are the only common factors.

 

[FunInDuhSun]

My money is on a poor or missing ground connection.

 

[85Skeeterman]

All the above is great information . I will add however you can still read 12 volts and now have enough power to light the lights if you have corrosion or broken strands of wire in circuit. I can remember fighting a like problem my self. My bow lights on my skeeter would not light. I checked voltage 12 volts. Checked bulb and found that was also good. When I removed my light base and pulled it out I found i only had one good strand of wire that was still connected. It was enough to read full voltage but could not carry enough current to power bulb. Just a thought.

 

[tonyjh63]

If checking the fuse is the limit of your capabilities I'm curious how did you confirm the fuse is good? As the other guys suggested, get a test light or voltmeter and start checking at the switch. If you have more than one lite not working the fuse, switch and wiring are the only common factors.

Well, I checked the fuse visually, then I switched the fuse to the "horn", and it worked. So I figured the fuse has to be good, right?

 

[tonyjh63]

Update: got a guy to look at it for me. I had a broken wire to the stern light and as for the nav lights, it turned out to be a badly corroded connection on the inside - replaced that, and viola! I have lights!
Thanks for all the replies!