Here's the problem I'm having. Last week sailing my engine wouldn't start because of a dead battery. Jump-started it and ran. One of the batteries comes in at 13.2 volts, the other zero. Removed the bad battery and tried to start the motor with the one good battery. Nothing not even a click. My question is why would it not start with one battery? I know I need to and will replace the bad one. Any suggestions or recommendations would be greatly appreciated. By the way it is a gas engine.
Battery problem
- Thread starter Sailnobroblem
- Start date
It might be how you had the single battery wired.
I have 2 batteries, not tied together into a single bank. One of the black wires jumps to the other battery. One day I wanted to hook up just one battery, and I grabbed the wrong black wire....no juice.
So, if you hooked it up wrong, you would get no juice to the starter.
I assume if you have a 1-2-Both-Off switch you had it turned to the right battery.
We may need more info... you said you jumped it and it started....how did you jump it? To the battery posts or somewhere else?
Greg
I have 2 batteries, not tied together into a single bank. One of the black wires jumps to the other battery. One day I wanted to hook up just one battery, and I grabbed the wrong black wire....no juice.
So, if you hooked it up wrong, you would get no juice to the starter.
I assume if you have a 1-2-Both-Off switch you had it turned to the right battery.
We may need more info... you said you jumped it and it started....how did you jump it? To the battery posts or somewhere else?
Greg
To answer your question yes I did have the battery switch set to the good battery. I did not change any of the cables, and I jumped it with a quick start battery pack. I guess I'll have to check for a loose connection but I doubt it. The battery with 0 volts only had the positive and negative hook up to it. I jump started hooked to the battery terminal.
Hey,
I don't know if you have a battery problem. I do know that you have a battery CONNECTION problem. No battery is ever at 0 volts. Well, maybe if it was sitting for a few years, but if you used the battery recently, it will not be at 0 volts. The fact that you removed the 'dead' battery and the boat still doesn't start is even more proof that there is a connection issue.
Do you know how to use a voltmeter? If not, then start learning, or find a friend who does. You will need to start checking connections from the battery(s) to the starter, switches, grounds, etc.
My guess is a wire corroded and fell off, or you had a loose nut and the wire fell off.
Good luck,
Barry
I don't know if you have a battery problem. I do know that you have a battery CONNECTION problem. No battery is ever at 0 volts. Well, maybe if it was sitting for a few years, but if you used the battery recently, it will not be at 0 volts. The fact that you removed the 'dead' battery and the boat still doesn't start is even more proof that there is a connection issue.
Do you know how to use a voltmeter? If not, then start learning, or find a friend who does. You will need to start checking connections from the battery(s) to the starter, switches, grounds, etc.
My guess is a wire corroded and fell off, or you had a loose nut and the wire fell off.
Good luck,
Barry
Don't be so sure about that. I was driving to my boat for some spring commissioning. Stopped at a deli, came out and car was dead. Not even a faint light. Fortunately, I had the boat battery in the car and it worked okay. Back at the car store, on the test machine the battery post came out of the battery. Guy said I must have put too much force on it. I pointed out his man installed it, and it was running untouched until it died. He pro-rated the battery based on retail price, not the sale price i paid for it. They're out of business now.
I was out sailing one day with my son. Nice sail, son was at the helm, I was bored so decided to water the batteries. I had never done that before, but had a water bottle full of distilled water. I couldn’t really see the water levels, but dumped a big squirt into each cell.
A few minutes later, my son yells down that all of the instruments went out... I checked the voltmeter at the panel...both batteries are dead
I sailed back to the marina, got a tow into the fuel dock, grabbed my car battery to start the boat, put her on the battery charger and they recovered (for a year or so...then I replaced them).
I still don’t know why, unless I over diluted the acid. Or maybe they should be on a charger when watered (but I do t think that is the case).
But they can go flat pretty quick...if you are stupid like me.
Greg
A few minutes later, my son yells down that all of the instruments went out... I checked the voltmeter at the panel...both batteries are dead
I sailed back to the marina, got a tow into the fuel dock, grabbed my car battery to start the boat, put her on the battery charger and they recovered (for a year or so...then I replaced them).
I still don’t know why, unless I over diluted the acid. Or maybe they should be on a charger when watered (but I do t think that is the case).
But they can go flat pretty quick...if you are stupid like me.
Greg
yes I guess that's probably true I'll be going down to the boat tomorrow with my trusty voltmeter by the way I do know how to use one, And see what I can find out. Thank you for suggestions
You may have diluted them. The electrolyte expands as the battery is charged. You should only water when the batteries are fully charged. And, even then, don't over-water them. Find the manufacturer's recommendation for water level - it's often not obvious. Only exception to this is that you shouldn't charge unless the plates are fully covered with liquid, and then, only add enough water to cover the plates before charging.I was out sailing one day with my son. Nice sail, son was at the helm, I was bored so decided to water the batteries. I had never done that before, but had a water bottle full of distilled water. I couldn’t really see the water levels, but dumped a big squirt into each cell.
A few minutes later, my son yells down that all of the instruments went out... I checked the voltmeter at the panel...both batteries are dead
I sailed back to the marina, got a tow into the fuel dock, grabbed my car battery to start the boat, put her on the battery charger and they recovered (for a year or so...then I replaced them).
I still don’t know why, unless I over diluted the acid. Or maybe they should be on a charger when watered (but I do t think that is the case).
But they can go flat pretty quick...if you are stupid like me.
Greg
Is it possible that you have (2) six volt batteries wired in series? remove (1) and it surely won't start. Alternator issue? (not charging), Regulator issue (over charging and cooking the batteries), wire connection not allowing a charge. Could be a number of issues that are contributing factors to the dead and dying batteries.
well I've been down to the boat checked all my connections everything seems good check the starter solenoid all fuses everything seems okay. Problem is I took the one battery out and the motor will not turn over.
positive leads were attached to the battery switch. my question is do I need to have a second battery hooked up to complete the circuit?the battery that I removed had continuity between the posts. from my understanding that means there is a short in the battery itself. can anyone clarify that for me?
the thing that puzzles me is my battery number one which is the good one works my interior lights and accessories but will not start the engine.my main concern is why the motor won't start with just one battery and yes battery switch was set to 1. any help would be greatly appreciated.
positive leads were attached to the battery switch. my question is do I need to have a second battery hooked up to complete the circuit?the battery that I removed had continuity between the posts. from my understanding that means there is a short in the battery itself. can anyone clarify that for me?
the thing that puzzles me is my battery number one which is the good one works my interior lights and accessories but will not start the engine.my main concern is why the motor won't start with just one battery and yes battery switch was set to 1. any help would be greatly appreciated.
Never mind the battery selector switch at this point you only have one battery (6 or 12 volts???) first disconnect the battery positive terminal, then take the cable connections off the battery selector switch, with an ohm meter measure resistance from the positive cable end you took off the battery to the cable ends you removed from the battery selector switch and mark that end with and identifier as to what battery it goes to. Next, trace the cable that goes from the starter positive to the battery selector switch and mark that end at the switch. Now land the 2 cables on the same switch post and see if you can turn the motor over. If it works the switch would appear to be faulty, if it doesn't the you have to start looking at the the negative side of the circuit (just as important and the positive side) or the solenoid side of the circuit. With only one battery you don't need the selector switch, once you get a second battery simply put the leads back where they were (if the switch is good).
Thanks for the suggestions I will be at the boat tomorrow and follow your advice. By the way they are 12volt batteries.
My guess is that the selector switch is only selecting the power source for the house power, and that the engine is wired directly to the bad battery. Trace the wires as DayDreamer suggests and see if you can figure out the circuits. If you can't get it working try to report back with the circuit diagram as best as you can figure it out.
What was the good battery doing when you measured it at 13.2 volts? That suggests it was actively charging or very recently removed from a charger. I'm also skeptical about the 0.0 reading on the dead battery. While it is possible for a battery to fail and read that way, it's much more common to just read a low voltage. Was the 0.0 measured with an independent volt meter across the posts, or by some other means.
What was the good battery doing when you measured it at 13.2 volts? That suggests it was actively charging or very recently removed from a charger. I'm also skeptical about the 0.0 reading on the dead battery. While it is possible for a battery to fail and read that way, it's much more common to just read a low voltage. Was the 0.0 measured with an independent volt meter across the posts, or by some other means.
The 13.2 battery was measured at the posts while hooked up but no draw. The 0.0 was measured disconnected at the posts with a volt meter.
I once had a battery read 0 volts. I had also thought that impossible. I was also able to charge that battery back up and use it. Have you tried recharging that battery?
Have you tried putting your good battery in the place of the removed battery and tried starting the engine?
Just some thoughts...
dj
Have you tried putting your good battery in the place of the removed battery and tried starting the engine?
Just some thoughts...
dj
Well I have followed all of the suggestions from daydreamer, and Davidsailor26. I bypassed the battery switch, check resistance in ohms of all the cables, check all of the connections, also put another battery to replace the Dead one, just a little movement in the starter. So I think I have a starter problem. I'm not sure if a bad starter can drain a battery but I'll have to do a little more research. Not a good time for this problem as I am moving from my house to a smaller condo to try and simplify everything. I'm sure I'll correct the problem but it happened at a very inopportune time.
The starter turning at all suggests that the wires are in the right direction. It is a strange coincidence though that the starter and battery would both go bad at the same time.