Gauges don’t work....

Gary5410 · Posted: Fri May 07, 2021 7:52 am Post subject: Gauges don’t work....

I have had low voltage at the fuse panel. So I started at the battery and cleaned the connections, then clean all the grounds behind the dash & now have full voltage. Then I replaced original fuse panel with same but new, added additional blue sea box for things that had in line fuses. Now everything seems to work, voltage is good......but none of my gauges work....don’t know where to start??

thataway · Posted: Fri May 07, 2021 8:17 am Post subject:

Did you check the wiring harness at the motor as well as at the panel? What outboard engine do you have? These contacts can also corrodel. Does the motor start and run well? Does the tachometer register?

Gary5410 · Posted: Fri May 07, 2021 9:00 am Post subject:

The volt meter & tach did work before I started messing around, but not now. 2004 Honda 90 & runs perfectly.

Gary5410 · Posted: Fri May 07, 2021 3:14 pm Post subject:

I don’t think it would be at the engine as I suspect it was something I did....but I think all wires are accounted for. Is there a fuse for the panel???

gulfcoast john · Posted: Fri May 07, 2021 6:39 pm Post subject:

Gary,

I had the same experience on my boat. At the time I was not familiar with this chart:

http://www.criboats.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Outboard-Wire-Colors.pdf

Try to trace your yellow/green (temp gauge sender) and gray (tach) [under the Honda column in this chart] from your helm instruments as far back as you can. Mine led to blown inline 10A fuses at the binnacle end of the engine wiring harness. They were WAY back near the throttles and almost inaccessible in my boat. I don’t have an access plate back there.

The circuit protection for all my helm wiring is a 40A breaker on the 12v distribution/battery selection switches back on the transom, not a fuse.

At the time, I knew that under modern rules 12V NEG wires could be black (old std) or yellow (new std), but I did not know that in YamaWorld yellow was IGN ON 12V POS as per this chart. Yet further proof, should you need any, that A LITTLE KNOWLEDGE CAN BE A DANGEROUS THING!

Hope this helps, and also that you have at least one arm that is 6 feet long with a hand that can replace the fuse in an inline fuse holder with three fingers by feel.

Best,

John

digger · Posted: Fri May 07, 2021 6:48 pm Post subject:

The tach wires come from a plug on the binnacle control box. There are usually 3 or 4 wires there, and sometime can pull apart when you are working on wires under the fuse panel.

digger · Posted: Fri May 07, 2021 6:49 pm Post subject:

The tach wires come from a plug on the binnacle control box. There are usually 3 or 4 wires there, and sometime can pull apart when you are working on wires under the fuse panel.

Gary5410 · Posted: Sat May 08, 2021 10:16 am Post subject:

Thanks gulfcoast john, digger, thataway..... I’m going back in! 😳
.....I had to look up binnacle control box! 🤣🤣🤣

Gary5410 · Posted: Sat May 08, 2021 10:48 am Post subject:

What is this?
https://gary5410.smugmug.com/C-Dory-21--Pro-Angler/Pro-Angler/i-gdZgRkP

thataway · Posted: Sat May 08, 2021 11:40 pm Post subject:

Gary5410 · Posted: Sun May 09, 2021 8:57 am Post subject:

Thataway- problem is NOT solved... frustrated.

What is this circled in red??
https://gary5410.smugmug.com/C-Dory-21--Pro-Angler/Pro-Angler/i-MgNdFHs

ssobol · Posted: Sun May 09, 2021 12:06 pm Post subject:

Looks to me like a sensor of some kind. Don't know what though. I would undo the tie and see if it said anything on it. I'd also look into the shop manual for the engine you have and see what is says about the remote controls and indicators.

tsturm · Posted: Sun May 09, 2021 9:45 pm Post subject:

BBlalock · Posted: Mon May 10, 2021 11:19 am Post subject:

Gary, when I lost power to my switch panels I learned the Accessory fuses(2) run them. I don't know if the gages were affected though.