17 Outrage Fuel: Electrical Problems with Fuel Gauge and Navigation Lights

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Author Topic:   17 Outrage Fuel: Electrical Problems with Fuel Gauge and Navigation Lights

Rob17Outrage posted 08-14-2010 07:54 AM ET (US)
Hello all. We just picked up an [Outrage 17] that is in fantastic shape. It has the original Yamaha 115 with electronic gauges. [The boat] appears to have two [problems]. First, the [electrical] fuel gauge isn't working. Even with a full tank the [electrical fuel] gauge shows only one blinking bar. After examining wires in the access port it appears they're attached. The gauge, for no apparent reason, did seem to register for about five minutes then stopped.
Second, the navigation lights do not work. The indicator on the console lights up but the [sidelights] and [all around] light do not. Any suggestions? Thanks,
Rob
jimh posted 08-14-2010 08:47 AM ET (US)
For help with electrical problems you should use the discussion area SMALL BOAT ELECTRICAL.
In regard to the fuel tank level indicator showing "one blinking bar," it sounds like you may be asking about a non-OEM fuel tank level indicator. Most Boston Whaler boats use a mechanical dial indicator on the fuel tank level gauge which is magnetically linked to the float lever. If your boat has an electrical fuel tank level sender, and it is linked to a gauge that shows tank level in blinking bars, it does not sound familiar.
Is the blinking bar fuel tank level indicator part of the Yamaha gauge package?
jimh posted 08-14-2010 09:02 AM ET (US)
The navigation lights on most Boston Whaler boats are produced by lamps that use incandescent bulbs. Whenever there is a problem in a lighting circuit which uses incandescent bulbs, the first element to check is the incandescent bulb. A break in the filament of an incandescent bulb is frequently the cause of the lamp not illuminating.
After checking the incandescent bulbs in the lamps, the next area to check is the electrical circuitry that provides power to the lamp. Often there are over-current protective devices--fuses or circuit breakers--which may be blown or tripped, preventing flow of electrical current to the lamp.
If you verify the incandescent light bulbs are good, and the current protection devices are not tripped or blown, then the next area to investigate is the electrical circuitry itself.
Circuits for control of lamps are very simple. The circuit consists of a source of power, a control element such as a switch, the lamp, and the wire conductors and connections of the wires that provide a path for electrical current.
A simple technique for analysis and diagnosis of electrical circuits like this is already given in

Basic Electrical Troubleshooting Procedures
http://continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum6/HTML/001139.html
Rob17Outrage posted 08-14-2010 09:24 AM ET (US)
Jim--Thanks very much for all the guidance. Yes, the gauges are part of the Yamaha engine package. Unfortunately, nothing is analog. Tach, speed, fuel, oil, temp, are all digital.
jimh posted 08-14-2010 01:38 PM ET (US)
There is a more-or-less standard for electrical fuel level senders, and it is very likely the Yamaha gauge is just set up to use the standard rheostat fuel tank sender. For advice on repairs to this circuit move to SMALL BOAT ELECTRICAL.
jimh posted 08-14-2010 03:05 PM ET (US)
I am fairly certain that all the gauge circuits and the engine instruments are actually all analog devices, but the meters do not have a moving vane pointer display. The meters might be digital meters or bar graph meters, but I would be extraordinarily surprised if a vintage Yamaha motor had an actual digital instrumentation system. Yamaha introduced their digital instruments fairly recently. It is not something you'd see on a boat from pre-1990 with an original engine.

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Author	Topic: 17 Outrage Fuel: Electrical Problems with Fuel Gauge and Navigation Lights
Rob17Outrage	posted 08-14-2010 07:54 AM ET (US) Hello all. We just picked up an [Outrage 17] that is in fantastic shape. It has the original Yamaha 115 with electronic gauges. [The boat] appears to have two [problems]. First, the [electrical] fuel gauge isn't working. Even with a full tank the [electrical fuel] gauge shows only one blinking bar. After examining wires in the access port it appears they're attached. The gauge, for no apparent reason, did seem to register for about five minutes then stopped. Second, the navigation lights do not work. The indicator on the console lights up but the [sidelights] and [all around] light do not. Any suggestions? Thanks, Rob
jimh	posted 08-14-2010 08:47 AM ET (US) For help with electrical problems you should use the discussion area SMALL BOAT ELECTRICAL. In regard to the fuel tank level indicator showing "one blinking bar," it sounds like you may be asking about a non-OEM fuel tank level indicator. Most Boston Whaler boats use a mechanical dial indicator on the fuel tank level gauge which is magnetically linked to the float lever. If your boat has an electrical fuel tank level sender, and it is linked to a gauge that shows tank level in blinking bars, it does not sound familiar. Is the blinking bar fuel tank level indicator part of the Yamaha gauge package?
jimh	posted 08-14-2010 09:02 AM ET (US) The navigation lights on most Boston Whaler boats are produced by lamps that use incandescent bulbs. Whenever there is a problem in a lighting circuit which uses incandescent bulbs, the first element to check is the incandescent bulb. A break in the filament of an incandescent bulb is frequently the cause of the lamp not illuminating. After checking the incandescent bulbs in the lamps, the next area to check is the electrical circuitry that provides power to the lamp. Often there are over-current protective devices--fuses or circuit breakers--which may be blown or tripped, preventing flow of electrical current to the lamp. If you verify the incandescent light bulbs are good, and the current protection devices are not tripped or blown, then the next area to investigate is the electrical circuitry itself. Circuits for control of lamps are very simple. The circuit consists of a source of power, a control element such as a switch, the lamp, and the wire conductors and connections of the wires that provide a path for electrical current. A simple technique for analysis and diagnosis of electrical circuits like this is already given in Basic Electrical Troubleshooting Procedures http://continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum6/HTML/001139.html
Rob17Outrage	posted 08-14-2010 09:24 AM ET (US) Jim--Thanks very much for all the guidance. Yes, the gauges are part of the Yamaha engine package. Unfortunately, nothing is analog. Tach, speed, fuel, oil, temp, are all digital.
jimh	posted 08-14-2010 01:38 PM ET (US) There is a more-or-less standard for electrical fuel level senders, and it is very likely the Yamaha gauge is just set up to use the standard rheostat fuel tank sender. For advice on repairs to this circuit move to SMALL BOAT ELECTRICAL.
jimh	posted 08-14-2010 03:05 PM ET (US) I am fairly certain that all the gauge circuits and the engine instruments are actually all analog devices, but the meters do not have a moving vane pointer display. The meters might be digital meters or bar graph meters, but I would be extraordinarily surprised if a vintage Yamaha motor had an actual digital instrumentation system. Yamaha introduced their digital instruments fairly recently. It is not something you'd see on a boat from pre-1990 with an original engine.