My boat has it located below the cockpit with the exhaust vent at the starboard aft corner. If you've ever had a exhaust elbow failure and the engine compartment fill with fumes you'll know right away. I run mine anytime I use the engine-- keeps the interior odor free.
Now that you have it out, see if you can make it work. Put power on it to make sure it wasn't a bad connection. Check the brushes etc. If massive corrosion isn't an issue then you can probably get it to work.