Engine failing to start, help with Diagnosis

[Cat36Amoore]

Help with Diagnosis

After a lovely October sail on Fisher Island Sound we made our back to the marina. We started the engine to head through Shaw’s Cove railroad bridge and to the poop deck (fuel dock) for our finally pump out of the season.
After the pump out was complete, the admiral attempted to start the engine to head to our slip. turned the key and pressed the glow plug button, nothing. We checked the fuel shut off lever and re-attempted, nothing again. The engine was shut off as normal, by engaging the fuel shut off and turning off the key. The instrument panel did not light up. We checked the battery and had plenty of battery.
After getting back to the slip with dock crew towing us over, we plugged in to shore power and tried again. Nothing again. Still no lights or gauges working on the instrument panel.
I’m thinking it is the ignition switch, can anyone help diagnosis the issue. Not sure what else it could be. Thank you
Amoore
1998 Catalina 36 MKII

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

Obviously an electrical issue - two options - we could guess about it or you could break out the voltmeter and find the cause.

 

[dlochner]

First check all the connections.

How do you know you had plenty of battery? Voltage reading? They are not a good indicator of battery health.

 

[Cat36Amoore]

I checked the batteries with voltmeter one read 13.5 and other 13.6. Plus once I connected to shore power still no starting.

I did not check the ignition switch to see if I had power, but with no gauges or lights seems that there no power to the switch.

 

[Cat36Amoore]

So I just pulled the instructment panel to test the ignition switch and check the wiring. All things looked normal. I pull the tape away from the ignition switch to be able to test the voltage. I turned the key to the on postion, heard the peeping, and the instrument panels lights were on. Held the glow plug switich for 20 seconds and she started right up. Must be a short in the wiring.
Any insignt in to the root cause would be appreicated? Thanks

Any insignt in to the root cause would be appreicated? Thanks

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

Bad, loose or corroded connection. There should be only 3 as I recall. Simply looking at them can’t tell you which. Remove, clean, replace and test each with voltmeter

 

[Calif. Ted]

There is a main engine fuse of 20 or 30 amps that powers instrument pod and starting, usually wrapped in copious amounts of electrical tape in the main loom somewhere on top of engine. Usually not blown but the inline fuse holder itself is prone to shaking loose etc. I've had this happen on Catalina's with both Perkins and Yanmars, I think the fuse is shown on electrical schematic from Catalina, not on the engine schematic.
First time the engine was running and it wasn't until I went to shut down I noticed no gauges, and it wouldn't re-start of course.

 

[NYSail]

Not sure what engine you have but many have an inline fuse near the starter. Also, disassemble your negative connections to engine and clean thoroughly. Those grounds can cause problems and often do.

Good luck
Greg

 

[Head Sail]

Help with Diagnosis

After a lovely October sail on Fisher Island Sound we made our back to the marina. We started the engine to head through Shaw’s Cove railroad bridge and to the poop deck (fuel dock) for our finally pump out of the season.
After the pump out was complete, the admiral attempted to start the engine to head to our slip. turned the key and pressed the glow plug button, nothing. We checked the fuel shut off lever and re-attempted, nothing again. The engine was shut off as normal, by engaging the fuel shut off and turning off the key. The instrument panel did not light up. We checked the battery and had plenty of battery.
After getting back to the slip with dock crew towing us over, we plugged in to shore power and tried again. Nothing again. Still no lights or gauges working on the instrument panel.
I’m thinking it is the ignition switch, can anyone help diagnosis the issue. Not sure what else it could be. Thank you
Amoore
1998 Catalina 36 MKII

It happened to me once . It was the main fuse off the battery bank. Look closely at it, sometimes the break is hard ot see.

 

[Davidasailor26]

Since the engine started fine after removing and manipulating the panel the cause can’t be a blown fuse. Likely a bad connection, and likely close to the panel you were moving around as Don suggested. Start there cleaning all the connections. Once you’ve done that run the engine at the dock for a while then make sure it restarts when hot, to confirm it’s not a temperature related faulty connection elsewhere.

 

[capta]

99% of electrical issues relate to a bad ground connection, most often at the engine. Take every single electrical connection apart in the ground system first, clean them and check that the lugs are securely connected to the wire and that connection is not corroded. Then move on to the positive side, remembering to undo the negative lug from your batteries first.
However, just because your meter shows good voltage without a load does not mean there isn't a spot where the power needed can pass under load. Think back to the days when the lights shined brightly and you wandered why the car engine wouldn't start. Good luck.

 

[rgranger]

Obviously an electrical issue - two options -

You left one out....

 

[rgranger]

Not sure what engine you have but many have an inline fuse near the starter.

It is not the fuse if it started after wiggling all the wires.

 

[leo310]

check the ground wire to the engine

 

[garymalmgren]

Do you have a wiring diagram?
Is so refer to it or post on here so we can follow it.

The instrument panel did not light up.
This means that there is no power coming from the main supply to the instrument panel.
Each boat has a different wiring system but generally it is.
1/ battery.
2/ main fuse
3/ main battery switch.
4/ instrument panel supply.
#This is only the engine start /instrument panel wiring system.

1/ Your batteries are fully charge so we can eliminate that.
2/ The main fuse can have corroded or loose connections = disconnect, clean, reconnect.
3/The main switch can have corroded or loose connections = disconnect, clean, reconnect.
4/ The instrument panel can have corroded or loose connections = disconnect, clean, reconnect.

There are electrical greases and sprays.
I j ust checked and the grease is expensive!

McMaster-Carr

McMaster-Carr is the complete source for your plant with over 595,000 products. 98% of products ordered ship from stock and deliver same or next day.

www.mcmaster.com

The sprays seem to be a better option

Amazon.com : conductive spray

As the system came back on line after you wiggled the back of the instrument panel, that would seem to be the culprit.
nevertheless, for peace of mind I would do all of the four steps that I have mentioned.


All the best

Gary

 

[sailme88]

My ignition recently gave up the ghost.. The fact that the panel illumination failed would indicate that your switch too has failed.. Cheap fix...

 

[Benny17441]

Engine does not crank and the panel has no power is an electrical issue. Make sure the connections at the key switch are tight and clean. If power is not restored get a digital voltmeter and test for voltage and continuity at the switch, continue tracing and testing to the pin connectors of the wiring harness which goes to the engine compartment and check all connections to ground. A visual inspection of the wiring harness especially as it bends around sharp fiberglass corners is always recommended. Older boats after many years of hull flexing have a tendency to chaff the insulation of the wire harness creating shorts and even cutting wires. You either have a short, a broken wire or a bad connection.

 

[RitSim]

No one mentioned the "gummy" plugs. Maybe not on the 27 but used on other models. My 30 had 2 plugs - one behind the instrument panel and one in the engine compartment. If you have them, you should eliminate them.