Blown Fuse - Motor

[surfinjoe]

Last summer, I blew a couple of fuses. One was the re-setable circuit breaker on top of my 350 MAG. I was sitting at the sand bar for a few hours and my motor wouldn't start. Not sure what happened, but the breaker tripped. I reset it and so far no issues.

The second happened while underway on lake michigan. My gages lost power, but the motor still ran. I replaced the fuse and everything is OK now.

Any one have an idea what happened and why? I hate electrical issues

 

[tdappleman]

I had a similar problem on one of my engines. I was told the breakers can corrode and weaken over time and to try another. I checked the main power connections and didn't see anything out of place or loose. I replaced the breaker and haven't had an issue since. Of course - mine is a 96... not sure that should happen on an 07 unless salt water or something else has gotten into it somehow. My local West Marine had the breaker in stock and it was a pretty simple swap.

 

[Lazy Daze]

Tim, I was working on a friends boat the other day and found the orange wire coming off the alternator was just about frayed in half - totally exposing the bare wire. That could of lead to a disaster! I fixed it, but turns out there was a Merc service bulletin put out about this. This was not a Sea Ray, but this is a Merc issue, not boat manufacturer. I believe his boat is a 2008, so it's close to yours. Whether or not you have this issue and whether or not this is causing your problem... I don't know. But I just thought I'd pass it along, nonetheless. You never quite know what electrical gremlins are capable of.

The engine serial numbers that are "possibly" affected are listed below, although I wouldn't assume those are the only ones with 100% certainty. It's very easy to check - just look at the condition of the wire. Check the ground, as well - his ground was also slightly abraded through. The problem was that some of the wires were routed incorrectly and ran between the alt and dipstick tube. The wire should go under the alt.

Engines affected: 5.0MPI, 350MAG MPI (Horizon, as well), 6.2L (Horizon, as well). Check the serial numbers below, based on drive:

Alpha: 0M300000 to 0W387854
Bravo: 0M300000 to 0W386609

 

[surfinjoe]

Thanks for the advice guys. I will replace the breaker and check the alternator wire. I also had a situation where the battery was not charging one day. I thought the alternator was bad (or the battery). I switched from bank 1 to bank 2 and it still didn't charge. Then all the sudden, it started charging again for no apparent reason. I bet it's a frayed wire or a bad ground on the alternator. If I remember correctly, I tracked the alternator wire and it seemed to lead to that breaker on top of the motor. I hate the electrical gremlins.

Tim, I was working on a friends boat the other day and found the orange wire coming off the alternator was just about frayed in half - totally exposing the bare wire. That could of lead to a disaster! I fixed it, but turns out there was a Merc service bulletin put out about this. This was not a Sea Ray, but this is a Merc issue, not boat manufacturer. I believe his boat is a 2008, so it's close to yours. Whether or not you have this issue and whether or not this is causing your problem... I don't know. But I just thought I'd pass it along, nonetheless. You never quite know what electrical gremlins are capable of.

The engine serial numbers that are "possibly" affected are listed below, although I wouldn't assume those are the only ones with 100% certainty. It's very easy to check - just look at the condition of the wire. Check the ground, as well - his ground was also slightly abraded through. The problem was that some of the wires were routed incorrectly and ran between the alt and dipstick tube. The wire should go under the alt.

Engines affected: 5.0MPI, 350MAG MPI (Horizon, as well), 6.2L (Horizon, as well). Check the serial numbers below, based on drive:

Alpha: 0M300000 to 0W387854
Bravo: 0M300000 to 0W386609