View Full Version : more problems....
jixxxer
08-07-2008, 07:21 PM
I swear if I could get what i paid for my 3 week old boat i would sell it. Its been non stop problems. Heres the new one, My radio keeps going on and off weather the boat is on or off! Its killing the battery. The last 4 times I used it, it would turn off with the ignition, then sunday I noticed it stayed on after the boat was turned off. We did nothing different than we did any other time. Any help again plz!
Factory installed radio? What other non-original accessories are in the boat?
Jim@BAWS
08-07-2008, 07:36 PM
Factory installed radio? If the dealer can't fix these things, call MC and tell them. They need to know if their dealers can do the work, or not.
This isn't something you should have to deal with.
Please lets determine whether or not he purhased it from a dealer. His profile says he owns a 97 205...a 12 year old boat. Hardly a MC problem. Has the boat been taken to a dealer?
If the stereo has a removable face plate that could be a problem. Lets not jump to conclusions and blame dealers for nothing they have had to do with
Jim@BAWS
jixxxer
08-07-2008, 07:41 PM
Sorry for not claryfing, the boat is new to me. Thing is seems like things are happening since I bought it. Not blaming anything on bum at all, i trust what he said. Everything worked perfectly the day I bought it.
Its a pioneer radio, its a detachable face! Is that the problem?
I swear if I could get what i paid for my 3 week old boat i would sell it. Its been non stop problems. Heres the new one, My radio keeps going on and off weather the boat is on or off! Its killing the battery. The last 4 times I used it, it would turn off with the ignition, then sunday I noticed it stayed on after the boat was turned off. We did nothing different than we did any other time. Any help again plz!
Is the key in the straight up & down position? not turned to the left.
Sorry, I didn't look at the profile. Good point. I saw three weeks old and responded to that. I'll edit my first post.
jixxer- if you want to nail the source of the problem, remove the face of the radio if it comes off. It can't turn on with that out and if it does, either the radio has a problem or moisture is getting in. If you can provide links to the other threads (since I don't remember any other issue with this boat), that would be great.
TX.X-30 fan
08-07-2008, 08:00 PM
Is the key in the straight up & down position? not turned to the left.
I would check for worn muffler bearings?? :D
jixxxer
08-07-2008, 08:11 PM
I took the face off and it quit. Guess I'll just have to take the face off when I put the boat up. On the other comment about problems, well I guess its not that bad. More of just bad luck.
I bought the boat, and 1 mile from the lake had a blow out along with the trailer guide breaking off. Next I notice the trailer lights have a mind of thier own and to this day I cant figure it out! Lots of rust on the trailer (wasnt expecting that) didnt really look at the trailer when i bought the boat (my bad), ballast pumps went out, then sunday, bent prop, trailer light flew off while in tow and a speaker fell out of the speaker can. All in all the boat is in good shape and runs great, the trailer def. needs work so I guess its not that bad, thing was I spent 7K more than I was planning on, so Im really strapped for cash right now. Thanks for the advice.
brucemac
08-07-2008, 08:38 PM
hang in there jixxer. even people who buy new boats can sometimes have a few headaches to deal with the first few weeks. the prop is a bummer for sure. hang in there and try to enjoy the rest of the summer.
JohnE
08-07-2008, 08:54 PM
Fix the prop and the ballast pump and worry about the rest over the winter. Install a switch for the radio to keep it from draining the battery for now. Imagine how bad of shape you'd be in if you didn't spring for the extra $7G.:D Just kidding.
Barritia
08-07-2008, 09:34 PM
Think your self lucky thats all you had go wrong so far. Esp seeings its an older boat. we just purchased a 08 x-30 and first things first the radio was giving us problems and it took about 3 weeks for dealer to sort the issue. We have had untold amount of problems with the weight of the boat on the boat dock. it is so heavy it bent the 3 2x12 headers, in about a foot either side and snapped a few joists. One night whist we was fishing the boat just fell from the boat dock as a cable had came loose so it just gave way and boat was lucky it didnt get broken bad. Ok this one was not the boats fault but still hassle, the peson in charge of the lift switch left it running and we came back and the winch pole was all bent and the supports were all ripped out. last time we went out both batts were flat as the dealer switched the batt selector to the worng setting and we drained batt whist listening to radio.
the weight of the boat on the boat dock. it is so heavy it bent the 3 2x12 headers, in about a foot either side and snapped a few joists.
Bump :rolleyes::rolleyes:
OhioX14
08-07-2008, 10:14 PM
Master Switch, Master Switch. install one and have the piece of mind that nothing will drain your battery.
Disclaimer: This assumes you don't leave your boat in the water and that you store it on a trailer or reliable lift.
jixxxer
08-07-2008, 10:15 PM
Thanks guys, I realize its a 11yr old boat, but Im anal about wanting my stuff to work like it should. Luckily i have the stock prop on while the aftermarket gets repaired. I;ll just take the radio face off when not using the boat. It always makes me feel better to come on here and vent and read the replies. I feel better already. And if I wouldnt have sprung for the extra 7K, I'd be in a malibu.........lol
FHMan1905
08-07-2008, 10:18 PM
jixxer these are small problems you are dealing with...all boats even new ones have glitches...and the trailer issues are even more minor...don't let little things get you flustered. Enjoy the boat...at least it is floating and running....I have an 83 S&S and dealt with all kinds of little problems...most of the time it is something simple just be patient. If you want you can look on eBay and find everythign you need from wiring kits to lights to completely rewire your trailer for probably less than 200 bucks...my 82 cost me about 50 to rewire and i just put new LED's on my 83 trailer and they cost me about 100...
don't get frustrated....part of owning a boat is having things pop up that you can work on in the winter...haha...i have a few already....
ENJOY your MC
If you have an air compressor, maybe blowing air into the head unit (not too much pressure) will dislodge whatever is causing the current draw. Otherwise, if it's hooked up to run all the time, find the radio harness and use the red switched lead on the red lead for the head unit. That way, your radio switch will turn it ON/OFF. Or, if you have a spare accessory switch, you can use that.
Re: the trailer lights- look behind the lights, on the bottom of the rails for the ground wires. If those have rusted and loosened, they lights will do what you said. If the wires have chafed, same thing. Trailer wiring is easy, but when it doesn't work for you, it's a huge PITA.
ski_king
08-07-2008, 11:44 PM
I took the face off and it quit. Guess I'll just have to take the face off when I put the boat up. On the other comment about problems, well I guess its not that bad. More of just bad luck.
I bought the boat, and 1 mile from the lake had a blow out along with the trailer guide breaking off. Next I notice the trailer lights have a mind of thier own and to this day I cant figure it out! Lots of rust on the trailer (wasnt expecting that) didnt really look at the trailer when i bought the boat (my bad), ballast pumps went out, then sunday, bent prop, trailer light flew off while in tow and a speaker fell out of the speaker can. All in all the boat is in good shape and runs great, the trailer def. needs work so I guess its not that bad, thing was I spent 7K more than I was planning on, so Im really strapped for cash right now. Thanks for the advice.
Sounds overwelming, but all either minor problems or can be easily fixed. Welcome to owning a older boat.
I think I may have found the source (http://www.mastercraft.com/teamtalk/showpost.php?p=517787&postcount=42) of all your problems.
damaged442
08-08-2008, 09:27 AM
I was told by a wise person...take a $100 bill and flush it down the toilet. If it bothers you, you shouldn't own a boat. After I punched him in the face, I got thinking...maybe he's onto something. Blowouts happen, electrical gremlins rear their ugly heads, props get bent. They've happened to most of us at one point or another. All of these are minor issues in the grand scheme of things. It could always be worse, and could always be more expensive. Hang in there, and the next run behind the boat will make it all worth it!!
I had similiar problems with my 94 225VRS. Trailer in bad shape, radio/stero system in bad shape, Boat was solid though and ran good. Just tackle one problem at a time when you can afford it. This winter would be a good time to work on your trailer. Wiring is easy just takes some planning and time. Look around for some good heavy wiring cable, check with trucking trailer stores ect, you get better parts and prices are not bad. Read around here on stero wiring and make sure when you fix it you wire it right ect and your problems will start going away.
If it makes you feel better I just spent 750.00 dollars replacing a fuel pump yesterday on a 06 that I thought was under warranty.
You have a good boat just gonna take some TLC to get it where you want it to be.
It could always be worse, and could always be more expensive. Hang in there, and the next run behind the boat will make it all worth it!!
Yep this could be you :confused:
Wake boat sinking http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTORp58DZsU&feature=related
Cheer up it's all good :D
B.O.A.T. = "Bring On Another Thousand"!!
It can always be worse.
Loffgren
08-08-2008, 10:32 AM
May sound stupid, but i have a guy tell me (in general) that something will always need to be fixed or repaired on a boat, they are not cars, so treat it like a hobby (fun) instead of dreading it. Made sence to me....
Things that are used on/near water will have a tendency to experience problems. Fortunately, some of the things that fail are easy to repair, like trailer lights. 4 or 5 wires- White, Green, Brown, Yellow and if it's a newer one, Blue. Trailer wire is cheap, if it breaks somewhere in the middle, getting a roll of string and using a vacuum cleaner to suck the string to wherever you need it to come out is easy. Tie the wore to the end and pull it through. No biggie.Solder/heat shrink the connections to mae them reliable.
Props hit things because the boat is going too fast to react in time or the water isn't clear enough to make it possible to avoid. That's what insurance is for. And depth finders.
Get the correct maintenance schedule and do it to the letter. This alone will make a boat last longer. Check the oil cooler before each time the boat is taken out. Change the impeller every year. Not replacing it because spending $25 doesn't make sense can cost thousands.
ShamrockIV
08-08-2008, 10:47 AM
I was told by a wise person...take a $100 bill and flush it down the toilet.
man i would have stuck my arm in after the 100!!! do they even make those anymore??? do not get to see much cash around my house.
man i would have stuck my arm in after the 100!!! do they even make those anymore??? do not get to see much cash around my house.
Yeah me too :eek3: you know how much moses stuff you can get for a 100 bucks? :D
east tx skier
08-11-2008, 04:45 PM
Things that are used on/near water will have a tendency to experience problems. Fortunately, some of the things that fail are easy to repair, like trailer lights. 4 or 5 wires- White, Green, Brown, Yellow and if it's a newer one, Blue. Trailer wire is cheap, if it breaks somewhere in the middle, getting a roll of string and using a vacuum cleaner to suck the string to wherever you need it to come out is easy. Tie the wore to the end and pull it through. No biggie.Solder/heat shrink the connections to mae them reliable.
Props hit things because the boat is going too fast to react in time or the water isn't clear enough to make it possible to avoid. That's what insurance is for. And depth finders.
Get the correct maintenance schedule and do it to the letter. This alone will make a boat last longer. Check the oil cooler before each time the boat is taken out. Change the impeller every year. Not replacing it because spending $25 doesn't make sense can cost thousands.
This ought to be on the first page of the MC manual.
Garsh, (digs toe in ground) ((We need a smiley for this))
Personally, I think all manufacturers and dealers should have events for new and returning boat owners, or a refresher for anyone who wants it. Interactive would be best and a quiz would be mandatory. Refreshments, videos, prizes and it should just be a bunch of fun. I suspect that a lot of people in the industry see dollar signs when a new boater comes in, they sell a boat and a load of accessories, tell the newb that a boater's safety course is a good idea and pat them on the butt as they stumble out the door. The dealers can have discounted goods, service specials and if they plan these for the slow periods, they won't be as slow. either.
Making people remember that, just because things under the surface can't be seen, damage can occur whether they expect it or not. This is no different from driver's ed and seeing 18-20 year olds speeding while they eat, read and yak on their cell phones, or doing all of the things that they recently learned were illegal or unsafe. Nothing stops on a dime, although a helluva lot of people think they can. Waverunners are a prime example of this- once the throttle goes to idle, steering just won't happen.
btriantos
08-11-2008, 05:10 PM
I've got a new '07 x30, and it does the same thing. However, I figured out it was a touchy ignition switch. Give it a jiggle in the "off position" and see if that turns it off. If it does, that can be the permanent remedy, or just have it replaced
mccobmd
08-11-2008, 06:14 PM
Echo above, I bought my X1 new in 2006 and still take the face off my radio, had it run down twice when I left it on. When you get caught up on the cash I took my used trailer to a local trailer shop and for 230 dollars they rewired the entire thing. Was money well spent.
boofer
08-12-2008, 04:26 AM
Loose, worn, or rusted grounds on the trailer. As far as the stereo goes, check for loose wiring. Plus, is it possible that the remote turn on lead to an amp might be fouled up?
TMCNo1
08-12-2008, 08:46 AM
I was told by a wise person...take a $100 bill and flush it down the toilet.
Could be the problem with the moneybags '09 X-80 owner with the holding tank problem that's trying to get the crap out, he wants to make a withdrawal! He been using his crapper as his little piggy bank!:rolleyes:8p:D
Gonzo
08-12-2008, 09:00 AM
Jixxxer,
Speaking from expierence its all worth it. I had quite a time this year myself with a new to me hole in the water, most issues I created by not paying attention early on (not the case here) anyhow hang in there.
jixxxer
08-18-2008, 12:12 PM
Another bad outing yesterday! Got to the dock launched the boat, and battery was dead! Loaded up, went to town got a new one, went ride and pumps didnt work (another realy burned up) 2nd one it 3 weeks, new rope got caugth around the rudder and broke it and now the steering wheels seems to be out of line!!!!!!!!! Does it ever end?? The first thing i need to do is figure out whats eating up those relays; Hopefull nothing is wrong with the steering. We were at idle when we noticed it wrapped around the rudder. Yea and all this happened after I dropped a $100 to put gas in it!!!
How long did it sit after running, before you tried to start it? If it was only a few days, you need to look into rebuilding the alternator unless an accessory is draining it, and there are several threads with info on how to check this. Remove each fuse and connect a test light to the fuse holder clips. If the key is OFF and it lights up dimly, it's not a large drain but if anything makes it go on brightly, it's a major draw.
You live in a location that is very humid and that causes all kinds of corrosion that you'll never see. If you let it sit and the starter doesn't crank fast, don't even bother to try. Cranking with a dead battery is a sure way to kill the starter and the relays/solenoid. The excessive current can also damage the battery clamps that are molded onto the cables. A bad connection at rest makes a terrible connection under load. Battery cables don't last forever.
If you get to the boat and the motor has condensation all over it, you need to find a way to keep this from happening. Whether it's propping the motor box open when it sits, setting up a small fan on AC to keep the air moving, Damp-Rid or whatever, do whatever it takes to keep moisture from settling on anything that can corrode. Use some kind of corrosion inhibitor but make sure it won't damage rubber or plastic.
jixxxer
08-18-2008, 01:39 PM
I had a battery charger on it 30mins before cranking, It has a high output alternator on there now thats a few years old. I personally think something is draining it. Wierd thing is, when i first bought the boat, and u tuned it off, the radio would go off, then a couple weeks later when youd turn the boat off the radio would stay on and that drained it once or twice, now that i have a new battery the radio turns off like it should again. Go figure. If I have a volt/ohm meter and not a test light, can i still check the fuses?? If so what setting would I use?
What electrical accessory was added to the boat after you bought it? An amp? Lights? Perfect Pass? If any of these that are connected to anything else has a bad ground, it will cause the other device to be it's ground. When that happens, that device will draw current and can turn on. If you battery is in a plastic box, dig around, under, over or next to it and look for a loose ground wire. If nothing was added and you have no spare grounds in the battery case, it could be that a ground wire loosened or the terminal failed, assuming one was used.
If all of that fails, do the current draw test I described in my first paragraph below.
Thinking that it has a draw without checking it- huh? A test light is as close to a little red flag as you're going to find. Remember, loose and bad grounds will cause all kinds of weird/intermittent problems. If you suspect the grounds, clean and reattach them. If that means replacing terminals, do it but do it right. This means no twist/tape, no Scotch locks, wire nuts, wrapping bare wires around a screw or bolt. Learn to use a test light and multi-meter. These will save you a lot of hassles in the future.
This kind of stuff is a royal PITA but it's also why a good service tech can justify their rates. The great techs will not only be able to fix the mechanical problems, they also know how to find the electrical ones.
"I had a battery charger on it 30mins before cranking"
How long was the charger connected? If it was only a short time, it didn't charge the battery very much.
If you remove the positive battery cable and connect a test light to the battery post and the cable, it shouldn't light up at all. If it's extremely dim, disconnect the memory lead from the radio or unplug the harness from the stereo. If it goes out, you know what's draining the battery. If that doesn't change anything, start pulling fuses, one at a time. You'll see when one makes a difference. If none of the fuses makes it go out, remove the charging lead from the alternator, which I think I mentioned before. If it goes out, the bridge rectifier is bad.
If the radio is able to be played all the time and without the key or an accessory switch being on, change that. The switched lead is switched for a reason- usually, it will draw too much current with it hot all the time but it depends on the radio's design.
O2BESOHUGE
08-18-2008, 02:18 PM
I Just Bought A 1991 Pro Star And Ive Already Bought 2 New Batteries, New Wheels And Tires For The Trailer, New Stereo, New Wood And Bunk Carpet For The Trailer, Etc....and I Havent Had It But Maybe A Month Or So. So Your Not The Only One
Those Type Things Go With It. Its Like Buying A Used Car...once You Get Used To It, It Will Be Fine. Some Things Just Need To Be Looked At.
Congrats On The Boat Though. Once You Get It Dialed In, You Will Love The Mastercraft