No ignition + No trim

Kyp2 · **Posted:** Thu Dec 05, 2013 2:50 am

Hey guys. I have an issue with my ignition on my 2005 245 sundowner. When I turn the key to acc or even ignition to start it, I get nothing. Both battery's are fully charged. I checked fuses and relays, they all seem to be fine. I noticed the ignition relay wasn't clicking so I changed it over to a new one but that didn't click either. Could it be that there is no power going to the relay? None of my switches at the helm are working either. The only ones that work are the cockpit lights and the sink.

Graham R · **Posted:** Thu Dec 05, 2013 4:01 am

Check the 2 pin main pin connector to the helm, if you lie on your back under the helm, it's high up on the starboard side ( it has 2 thick cables; red and black if I remember correctly). On mine, (a 2004 245) FW in their wisdom fitted the wiring harness in such a way that the weight of the whole dash wiring harness was pulling it apart, which it did eventually. On mine, the 2 (bare) connectors pulled out of their half of the connector block. I vaguely remember having to change 2 fuses in the black box that sits on top of the engine ( presumably the 2 bare connectors touched).

Seems strange you're getting power to the lights and water pump though; it could be the kill cord switch. Easily checked if you remove the whole side panel to get access to it and it's wiring ( easy; just 2 screws on the lower edge, the panel then just lifts out)

kd4pbs · **Joined:** Thu Sep 05, 2013 10:34 am **Posts:** 350

Likely something similar to problems in this thread, if not the kill switch...

http://www.smwebhead.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=11499

Time to get a test light and go looking...

ric · **Posted:** Thu Dec 05, 2013 1:56 pm

Kill switch. Make sure the lanyard is on and move the switch around to make sure it gets good contact. If still no juice, you can pull it out and jump the wires it might be a bad switch.

Kyp2 · **Posted:** Thu Dec 12, 2013 12:12 am

Bit of an update. Got down to the boat on Wednesday and tried to find the cause. Looked under the dash and everything was plugged in correctly, then proceeded to check the kill switch but that's fine. Got a tester and started from the batter. I got as far as the fuse box in the engine bay and found there was no power going to it. Cleaned all the cables but still nothing. I don't know what else to do

Graham R · **Posted:** Thu Dec 12, 2013 3:44 am

There is a "press to reset" circuit breaker on the starboard side of the 2004 engine, probably is on the 2005 ones as well.

Did you clean up the cables at the starter motor solenoid ? Power goes from the battery selector to the solenoid, then on to the engine loom ( circuit breaker). The engine bay as standard in a 2004 245 is a wet place so connectors corrode if not protected. I don't know if they sorted it out in the 2005 245s and later 255s (I doubt it somehow !). Water flows down the gap at the hinge end of the engine cover, in a warm climate it's going to be pretty humid in there, ideal for corrosion.
One season I found mine had massive corrosion at the solenoid terminals and engine ground studs; VP in their wisdom used a myriad of different metals and no protective grease, so it actually encouraged corrosion.

Jafo4U · **Joined:** Wed Jun 22, 2011 2:33 am **Posts:** 1026

Graham R wrote:

Check the 2 pin main pin connector to the helm, if you lie on your back under the helm, it's high up on the starboard side ( it has 2 thick cables; red and black if I remember correctly). On mine, (a 2004 245) FW in their wisdom fitted the wiring harness in such a way that the weight of the whole dash wiring harness was pulling it apart, which it did eventually. On mine, the 2 (bare) connectors pulled out of their half of the connector block. I vaguely remember having to change 2 fuses in the black box that sits on top of the engine ( presumably the 2 bare connectors touched).

Seems strange you're getting power to the lights and water pump though; it could be the kill cord switch. Easily checked if you remove the whole side panel to get access to it and it's wiring ( easy; just 2 screws on the lower edge, the panel then just lifts out)

Sounds like the kill cord. Corrosion at the starter also sounds like a possible culprit. I have the engine reset buttons but they have never been tripped. Good luck getting to the buttom of the problem.

ric · **Posted:** Thu Dec 12, 2013 10:17 pm

I flip my kill cord switch everytime I don't use the boat. Cheap security.

Graham R · **Posted:** Fri Dec 13, 2013 3:57 am

The external circuit breaker ( trim pump only) seems to have been deleted on later engines; the circuit breaker being incorporated into the fusebox. The wiring schematic shows the connection direct from the starter solenoid to the fusebox.

Kyp2 · **Posted:** Sat Dec 14, 2013 2:00 am

Could it be the fuse box is dodgy? There is a red button in the engine bay where a big plug goes into, I pushed it and still nothing happened

kd4pbs · **Joined:** Thu Sep 05, 2013 10:34 am **Posts:** 350

Indeed it could be. A 12v test light will steer you in the proper direction. Just start from the supply and trace it down to the load. Somewhere along the way you'll find a bad connector, fuse, coupling, etc.
Ohm. It's the law.

Kyp2 · **Posted:** Sun Dec 22, 2013 3:44 am

Ok so I got a boat mechanic to have a look at it. The igniting circuit breaker was stuck which was cause by wires that melted and are now grounding. Tomorrow will go down and trace the wire down and replace it. Also as to why the trim wasn't working. The trim switch was also stuck so I'll be up for a new switch.

kd4pbs · **Joined:** Thu Sep 05, 2013 10:34 am **Posts:** 350

Holy mother of catastrophic failure that could have caused a fire, Batman!
Glad you found the fault!

Kyp2 · **Posted:** Mon Dec 23, 2013 5:51 pm

I've located the wires that were melting and smoking and replaced them, now I have to find out why it's happening. Could it be the battery's that are causing me grief? I read up somewhere that sometimes battery's throw out to much voltage and short circuit things and can possibly melt the wires.

ric · **Posted:** Mon Dec 23, 2013 7:44 pm

Are you sure you didn't mistakenly wire them to 24v?

www.iFourWinns.com

No ignition + No trim

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