Instrument Panel Problems

[New Horizons]

Just got back from a 2 week vacation at Cuttyhunk and Martha’s Vineyard. Vacation was great but had some trouble with the instruments in the lower NavPod at the end.

The tachometer began acting strangely going all the way to max and then back, but averaging significantly higher than usual.

Volt meter would register 12 then suddenly switch to 11.5 and the blower would slightly decrease at the same time, then after a period of time it would return to 12. This happens without any change to the engine speed. Now the Volt Meter is registering only 10.5. The volt meter on the panel inside the boat , however, was reading between 13 and 14 and the batteries are being charged fine.

One morning I turned the key and nothing. None of the instruments were on and start button would not respond. I checked everything, tried a few times, then hit the NavPod a couple of times with my fist. (The admiral thought I had lost it) Suddenly everything came on. Engine started. We motored out of the harbor fine. Then everything on the panel shut off. The engine was still running fine, so we got to the next harbor.

The next day the engine started fine.

I opened up the NavPod and could not find any loose wire, but was not able to spend a lot of time going into detail with each wire. I was happy to see the inside of the NavPod look almost as good as new even though the boat is a 2004.

If anyone has any ideas, I would appreciate it.

 

[paulj]

Loose ground wire.............



paulj :troll:

 

[JK_Boston_Catalina310]

I would guess corrosion in the plastic euro style terminal blocks that Catalina uses. It's one of the styles where there is round plastic openings that you put a stripped wire into and then tighten the screw to clamp down on the wire. Often these can look fine while having corrosion issues inside. I believe MaineSail (or someone on his forum) posted about this a couple months back (here it is http://forums.sbo.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?t=150327). This winter I will be replacing that terminal block with one of these (http://www.bluesea.com/products/2512/Terminal_Block_30A_-_12_Circuit).

Good luck

 

[pk104]

You can test those connections in the instrument pod pretty easily by using you volt ohm meter and checking continuity on each side of the terminal strip one connection at a time. Mine wasn't the problem but I could see rust on the screws and could not move some of them so I replaced the strip. You need a strip with 12 connections. Shorts re one of the hardest things to find on a boat. Takes a lot of patiences!

 

[2 OLD PIRATES]

I had a slight problem also just this weekend. I turned on the Key and started the engine. Everything is fine. Then a half ass beeping starts and continues. The beep isn't consistent, it is on off until I shut the key off. Then all my instruments shut down but the engine still runs fine.

Any ideas fellow sailors

Cheers & Thanks
Irish Rogue

 

[New Horizons]

Thanks for everyone's comments.

I have ordered a new terminal block and hope to have it by this weekend and will rewire the instrument pod.

 

[Long Story]

I had a slight problem also just this weekend. I turned on the Key and started the engine. Everything is fine. Then a half ass beeping starts and continues. The beep isn't consistent, it is on off until I shut the key off. Then all my instruments shut down but the engine still runs fine.

Any ideas fellow sailors

Cheers & Thanks
Irish Rogue

My quick guess - your key is sticking in the start position. That is your warning buzzer you are hearing that beeping. When you shut the key off, it kills power to the panel, but your engine still runs until you pull up on the red stop lever, stopping fuel flow. The engine will run and run with the key off.

 

[New Horizons]

SUCCESS! Hooked up the new terminal block and everything is working fine. This forum is GREAT, thanks

One question, one of the connections was a dead end. There was a wire coming from the battery side of the terminal and hooked up to the terminal block, but no wire from the terminal block to anything on the instrument panel. Could this just be a wire set up for future use?

 

[pk104]

Same thing on my boat. It was a pink wire. I have not tried to find out it's purpose.

 

[paulj]

This is what mine looks like.




paulj :troll:

 

[JK_Boston_Catalina310]

I had a slight problem also just this weekend. I turned on the Key and started the engine. Everything is fine. Then a half ass beeping starts and continues. The beep isn't consistent, it is on off until I shut the key off. Then all my instruments shut down but the engine still runs fine.

Any ideas fellow sailors

Cheers & Thanks
Irish Rogue

My guess is the oil pressure switch that is connected to the buzzer. The terminals can get corrode and either fully break or just not work properly. Cheap, easy fix. See this page from the manual. You might want to consider adding an oil pressure gauge as well while doing this project.

Good luck,

Jesse

 

[JK_Boston_Catalina310]

SUCCESS! Hooked up the new terminal block and everything is working fine. This forum is GREAT, thanks

One question, one of the connections was a dead end. There was a wire coming from the battery side of the terminal and hooked up to the terminal block, but no wire from the terminal block to anything on the instrument panel. Could this just be a wire set up for future use?

I think that unused wire might be for the oil pressure gauge. That gauge was not included with our factory panel but the wiring harness might have it setup for that already.

See attached.

Jesse

 

[Bob S]

I was the one that posted the use of the Euro style terminal block. i had used on in my NavPod. I've swapped it out with a Cutler Hammer terminal block from McMaster Carr. I'm pretty sure that is the same manufacturer Jesse's Blue Seas supplies. i would not use the Euro Style block anywhere on our boats.

 

[rpwillia]

Now you guys have me confused

What is Euro Style vs the other? Is PaulJ's (the one where he exposed himself again publicly) the EuroStyle or the one from BoBS?

My fuel gauge is inconsistent, but I did have a meter one the terminals in the pod when I pulled the sender unit out and moved it and it reads changing voltage/changed resistance. The wiring and connections all appear good so I am leaning toward the gauge being bad. :neutral:

My voltmeter also reads about 15volts all the time. Put a meter on that and the true voltage is about 1-1.5 volts lower than that. I suspect that gauge could be adjusted, but it is a sealed unit so I suspect a new gauge is in my future. :neutral:

 

[New Horizons]

Your issues sound similar to mine. You may want to consider replacing the terminal block like I did.

Paul J's is the original equipment. I guess that is the Euro Style. I removed that and installed a Blue Sea Terminal like below:

[

 

[Witzend]

What is Euro Style vs the other? Is PaulJ's (the one where he exposed himself again publicly) the EuroStyle or the one from BoBS?

My fuel gauge is inconsistent, but I did have a meter one the terminals in the pod when I pulled the sender unit out and moved it and it reads changing voltage/changed resistance. The wiring and connections all appear good so I am leaning toward the gauge being bad. :neutral:

My voltmeter also reads about 15volts all the time. Put a meter on that and the true voltage is about 1-1.5 volts lower than that. I suspect that gauge could be adjusted, but it is a sealed unit so I suspect a new gauge is in my future. :neutral:

What is the Carging E at your Battery, that is what matters.

 

[2 OLD PIRATES]

Thanks a bunch JK Boston & Long Story. I'll give it a try. This is such a great website.

Cheers & Thanks
Irish Rogue

 

[Alansails]

My warning buzzer only works..occasionally, I would guess its a bad connection. Thoughts?
Just open up the instrument panel and clean the connections?

 

[JK_Boston_Catalina310]

My warning buzzer only works..occasionally, I would guess its a bad connection. Thoughts?
Just open up the instrument panel and clean the connections?

I would check the oil sender switch too. See my previous post on this thread.

 

[Long Story]

My Turn for a Problem. Here I was with everything working just fine on the boat, or so I thought..... I started her up to warm the engine for the oil change prior to haulout. All seemed fine, buzzer buzzed, gages are great no problem. So when I am done I go to start said engine, and no buzzer. (well it was there but so weak that this hard of hearing guy could not tell all I saw was the red light - that I expected for a moment or two as oil pressure built up) So I checked all the connections, checked that everything in the terminal switch was tight, check oil sender (reading okay I guess light went out and weak buzzer stopped) but I have this warning now that I can't hear. Any ideas or did the buzzer just plain fail? Also I noted that the unit is marked 24 VDC that I thought was odd, never had issues hearing it before.

On other item. The lift pump, I only hear it if I have my key turned all the way to preheat position not just the normal run position is this correct? I have heard our engines will actually run fun for about 1/2 tank of fuel without a lift pump. Why do I not hear clicking in the normal run position?

Thanks - Russ