Electrical Problem

[Hallett19]

When my key is off and I turn on my Nav Lights it pegs my oil press guage to the top. With the key on it pegs all guages to the top except the volts, which pegs to the botom, and my nav lights turn on, but it wont turn on my guage lighs :confused: I'm lost, I don't know the first thing about this stuff.

[sleekcraft76]

does the engine start?
sounds like a really bad ground.

[Havasu Hangin']

Like sleekcraft76 said, it sounds like a ground. To make sure, I'd run a jumper wire to the battery ground before I re-wire it.

[Hallett19]

yeah, boat starts and runs fine. What should I run the ground from ? the nav lights switch to the battery ?

[Havasu Hangin']

Hallett19:
yeah, boat starts and runs fine. What should I run the ground from ? the nav lights switch to the battery ? Most boats run one ground wire to the dash. Sounds like you've got some corrosion...try the jump wire from the running light ground to the battery ground.

[Hallett19]

K, thanks HH, I'll do it in the morning and let you know how it comes out.

[bordsmnj]

i'll bet you got a short from one of your gauges to the next. disconnect your battery and get up in the dash wiring and you might see the wire that came off one of the guages and touching another. start at the oil presure and volt gauges. if yuh don't find it there then i hate to say it but i bet your harness got pinched some where.i hope not. just my .02

[Hallett19]

and a pinched harness is pretty bad, ha ?

[JetBoatRich]

Hallett19:
and a pinched harness is pretty bad, ha ? It can be tough to find, but can be corrected.
Check right under the dash first and look for the loose wire mentioned or maybe one that was rubbed raw from rubbing against something.