bilge, bait, lights and switches not working.

[ssjrrupp]

Hello,

I live in Wisconsin and have had my '06 170CC since August 06. Last year we recieved very heavy rain fall during July and August.

At some point during that period I noticed that my bilge pump was no longer working. Upon further investigation I noted that the switches for my bilge, running lights, and bait well would no longer illuminate. Also, the bait well pump and running lights do not work. I assume this is a short somewhere in the system, but as I am not electrically inclined, this poses a real challenge for me.

The only modification I have made to the boat is the addition of a Lowrance fish finder. I installed this on the dash of the boat, and using a coaxial cable snake, ran the wires down under the center console and through the bottom of the boat to the back directly to the batter location. As per the instructions for the lowrance I installed an inline fuze and connected the positive and negative leads directly to the battery.

Everything functioned properly from April 07 to late July 07.

I read the post on here, today, about the hidden tube for running wires through. I guess I should consider finding that and re-running the fish finder wires through it. However, I didn't do any splicing, that I can remember, for the power cables.

Any help you can offer would be appreciated.

Thank you in advance
Justin

[fridaysoff]

Justin,
Is your battery fully charged? I think the bilge pump comes on every few minutes to check for water in the bilge. It will run your battery down after awhile 2-4 weeks unless you keep your battery charged. Thats the way my 2004 170CC was. I just unhooked the bilge pump wires to the battery in the winter to keep it charged.The switches for all of your lights,pumps,etc should have a little rubber knob below each one.That is the fuse.Just push in on the rubber knob to reset your fuse.Good luck.
John D.

[wschapinjr]

Just noticed that my boat has two fuses in the battery compartment. If the battery is charged you might want to check the fuses. Just a thought

[NCangler]

Word from the factory:

Check the breaker on the battery and see if it is still good.

[BarryB]

Hi SS,

Open up the rear starboard hatch where the battery is located. On the transom, you should find 2 or 3 fuses. The cover of the fuse holder is screwed on the transom. Open the clip and check the fuse. You may have blown the main fuse.

Barry

[ssjrrupp]

Thanks all for the replies. I really appreciate it.

The battery is ok. The engine still tilts up and down, and the ignition works. The guages still light.

I will look for the those fuses on Saturday. I didn't see a box back there when I was messing with things, but then again I haven't pulled the battery since last year, and I never thought to look back there when I did it. Also, I wasn't aware that there is a breaker "on the battery." Did they mean, "to the battery"? I replaced the battery last spring with another marine unit... but I never noted anything special about either of them besides the posts.

Once again, thanks much.

Best Regards,
Justin

[BarryB]

Hi SS,

My hull is an 2008. Seems the factory makes little changes every year.

On my boat, you can see the fuses. There are three of them. I added one for AUX power in the center console.

The fuses mount in a cover that is screwed to the inside of the transom. The fuse unclips from the cover and looks like an automotive plastic fuse.

When my son returns with the camera, I'll send a photo.

Barry

[ssjrrupp]

I looked all over the transom for this small, 3 fuze block. It doesn't exist on my boat. It's such tight quarters in there that I wonder where the heck it would fit. All I found was an inline fuze for accy power on the hot terminal of the battery.

Inline fuze and fuze terminal directly above the battery were heavily corroded. I cleaned the fuze and cleaned as best I could the inside of the terminal and tried the switches. No change. I then surmised maybe the fuze was no good, so I replaced with another. No change. I then figured that maybe the terminal was no good, so I cut the fuze out of the circuit and put a connector on the end of the accy power lead for a direct connect to the battery. Still no change.

To this point I could still turn the ignition on and see hours, fuel, and lit up guages, and if I tried, the engine would crank.

I putzed around in the housing of the center console figuring maybe I could find a loose wire. Everything looked intact. My wife went up under and looked around just to confirm my findings as she is an electrical engineer. All wiring to breakers and everything looked good.

I then noted that I could not see hours on the guage and nothing was lit up. Tried to crank and raise and lower the motor... now completely dead. I tested the battery... still good. Boat is a total dead fish now.

I'm very frustrated right now.

Nearest dealer is Sturgeon Bay, and when I bought my boat there, I didn't perceive that they have much of a service department. When I type my zip into the thing at Triumph, it only lists Sturgeon Bay... not good. Show me all, please. I thought there was one in Minnesota. Maybe they are no longer there... who knows. Guess I'll call Dan up at Sturgeon Bay. I hope my boat isn't down too long.

Best Regards,
Justin Rupp

[fridaysoff]

Justin,
You said your wife is an electrical engineer. Get her to help you with this problem. First make sure that your battery is fully charged. Then start at the battery: clean the posts on the battery and then the connections to the posts.Use a wire brush on all of the connections.If they look bad or feel weak cut the ends off and put new connectors on. Try to start the motor again.If that doesn't work go to the next place down the line towards your console. Clean or replace the next connections, etc. etc. until you get to the end. By taking the fuse out of the line you could have blown other fuses. The outboard motor may have a main fuse at the engine (mine did) and if it blows the motor will not start. My outboard had a spare fuse inside of the motor cowling. If none of this works ,then take it to your dealer. Try it first, but you have to take your time and look at every wire connection carefully. The first one you overlook may be your problem. Rule #1 Start with a fully charged battery!!!! good luck. You can do it.
John D.

[BarryB]

Hi Justin,

I thought I sent this photo. Here are the fuses in my boat. Remember, mine is an 08 model. Seems that Triumph likes to change things every year. I tried to attach this photo, but, I get an error so check out the link below.

Installing a fishfinder in the 170CC