www.iFourWinns.com

Purchased this 02, 18' horizon w/a 4.3 volvo penta. Previous owner assures me they never had a problem\
It fired right up and purred like a kitten when I tested it in his yard. Brought it home and prettied it all up, but I did have to steam clean under the motor due to some sloppy oil changes. Other then that, the boat was pretty clean.

Fires right up, but stalls once you drop the throttle. No fuel? Bench tested the pump/ good. But found the alternator was bad with the bridge rectifier fried. Just replaced the alternator today, same problem, I may have even fried this new alternator, it was awfully hot to the touch. So I think I'm on the right track; if the alternator not operating properly, the fuel pump starves!, right?. but whats killing the alternator. All the wiring looks like new. and it had over a week to dry-out, but that said, I never saturated anything other than the floor.
Any thoughts?

Steve from Buffalo

This maybe a stupid question! Is the alternator hooked up the the battery. It just may look like it is. I have heard stories about battery switches, were the boater will turn the switch OFF with the engine running. That will fry it. OR you may have a short?? Use a meter, look for shorts to ground.

Good luck with it!

I've been tailing with a guy from Ask, and was told that a diode in the harness on the orange wire may had gone bad.
When I got into it, I found one on the green wire also (they sit below the fuel pump), but both tested good (in4004).
I really need a wiring diagram, or an answer to what would fry the 6 diode bridge rectifier that's internal to the alternator, before I burn up another.
Steve in Buffalo.

For the wiring diagram, I would call Four Winn. I wish I could be more help!

thank you.

This is a shortcut for the FW wiring schematics for the 180 Horizon from 2002.

http://www.fourwinns.net/ownman/FreeHorSunAdd/180H-IOWiringeps-03.pdf

Unfortunately, it stops at the engine connector. For anything beyond that connector, you'd need the VP engine electrical schematics. I found them online for my '04 "-F" series engine, that was 4 years ago though so I can't remember the website I'm afraid. I do have a copy of the document, I can send you a copy if you'd like one. Maybe slightly different on your 2002 engine, but it should give you an idea of where to start. Let me know if you want me to send it to you.

Graham

Get a load of this!, I got my hands on the wiring diagram for the motor end, and all I can figure is this thing somehow ran with the wires improperly connected.
When I removed what seemed tobe the factory original alt, I had to wire wheel all the nuts of the factory paint. I made a diagram and reconnected the new alt as it was disassembled, Both alt post connectors were labeled the same.
luckily I didn't burn up the new alt. Once I had the wiring diagram for the motor end, I found three wires to be connected wrong. Could of it been wrong for 9 years?, or did someone go to the effort to respray the connectors? I may never know.Boat runs like a champ and my children are talking to me again, Thanks for all your help, and God Bless.