I'll do my best to keep this question as short as I can, as there are many symptoms, and I'm stumped. Last August I bought a 2005 Lund with a 2006 Optimax 150 SN #1B263629, and a 9.9 Pro Troller kicker, I don't have the SN on me right me now. Anyways, I test drove the boat when I bought it in August and both motors ran just fine. I knew the boat needed a new transom, so I took it in, in October last year to have that work done. When they did the transom, they did not disconnect any of motors, they said they were able to just unbolt them from the transom, and move them enough to get the work done. I ran the motors in my driveway before and after I had it in storage and they both ran fine.
I took it out on the water Saturday for the first time. Maiden voyage since bringing it home. The Optimax started fine and ran great. After a short ride, I shut it off and started the Kicker. All is fine, until I go to restart the Optimax. It acts like a dead battery, clicking at the solenoid, and it barely has enough power to trim up or down. Everything else connected to the battery though seems fine. The 9.9 starts, its trim is normal, boat accessories all normal. I limp back to the launch on the 9.9, there I hook up a set of jumper cables from one of the trolling motor batteries, and nothing changes. I then jump it from the truck, same results. I figure bad battery. I had it checked at 2 Parts stores, both say good battery. Now what.
I go back, check wires and batteries for corrosion and tightness, everything appears normal. Hook it all back up no change. Everything works but Optimax. I Switched batteries, no change. I call a Merc dealer and he asks if the Fuel Pump is kicking on when I engage the key, it is. He ask if all connections are clean and tight, correct connections, yes. He tells me to disconnect everything except the 2 leads from the Optimax. This is where things get weird. When I did this, The Optimax now has no power at all. Likes it not even connected, and yes lead are correct. The Merc guys ask's if there is a tie bar between both motors, and he suggest I disconnect it to see if this helps, i disconnect it and it does not. At this point its his closing time and there's nothing more he can do with out looking at it. Its Saturday 5:30 pm and I'm 200 miles from home. I hook up all the other wires and it returns to previous state. Optimax clicks, fuel pump kicks on and Trim works with low power, and everything else has normal power. I fish the following day using only the 9.9, and then head for home.
When I get there, I have to trim the motors down to get the boat in the garage. Trim down the 9.9 no problem. I then trim down the Optimax with the low power, and suddenly the bonding wire on the 9.9 burns the paint and insulation off and makes a smokey mess out of the garage.
I've looked at all the wires I possibly could, and couldn't find any noticeable damage or wear. I did remove the Shift/Throttle control panels to run some wires for electronics. I wonder, could it be related to something there when I reinstalled it. I have not taken it back off to look.
I'm no dummy, but I'm definitely not a Boat Mechanic. Is there anyone out there that can give me some direction. I have no problem taking it in for repairs, but I'm afraid of getting raped on cost to troubleshoot it, and then only to find that wasn't it, and have to take it in again and again. I had the ECM go out on my last Optimax. That's no cheap fix. Does anyone think its damaged or the culprit.
I'll be greatly appreciative of any response and suggestions
Thank All
Brown
I took it out on the water Saturday for the first time. Maiden voyage since bringing it home. The Optimax started fine and ran great. After a short ride, I shut it off and started the Kicker. All is fine, until I go to restart the Optimax. It acts like a dead battery, clicking at the solenoid, and it barely has enough power to trim up or down. Everything else connected to the battery though seems fine. The 9.9 starts, its trim is normal, boat accessories all normal. I limp back to the launch on the 9.9, there I hook up a set of jumper cables from one of the trolling motor batteries, and nothing changes. I then jump it from the truck, same results. I figure bad battery. I had it checked at 2 Parts stores, both say good battery. Now what.
I go back, check wires and batteries for corrosion and tightness, everything appears normal. Hook it all back up no change. Everything works but Optimax. I Switched batteries, no change. I call a Merc dealer and he asks if the Fuel Pump is kicking on when I engage the key, it is. He ask if all connections are clean and tight, correct connections, yes. He tells me to disconnect everything except the 2 leads from the Optimax. This is where things get weird. When I did this, The Optimax now has no power at all. Likes it not even connected, and yes lead are correct. The Merc guys ask's if there is a tie bar between both motors, and he suggest I disconnect it to see if this helps, i disconnect it and it does not. At this point its his closing time and there's nothing more he can do with out looking at it. Its Saturday 5:30 pm and I'm 200 miles from home. I hook up all the other wires and it returns to previous state. Optimax clicks, fuel pump kicks on and Trim works with low power, and everything else has normal power. I fish the following day using only the 9.9, and then head for home.
When I get there, I have to trim the motors down to get the boat in the garage. Trim down the 9.9 no problem. I then trim down the Optimax with the low power, and suddenly the bonding wire on the 9.9 burns the paint and insulation off and makes a smokey mess out of the garage.
I've looked at all the wires I possibly could, and couldn't find any noticeable damage or wear. I did remove the Shift/Throttle control panels to run some wires for electronics. I wonder, could it be related to something there when I reinstalled it. I have not taken it back off to look.
I'm no dummy, but I'm definitely not a Boat Mechanic. Is there anyone out there that can give me some direction. I have no problem taking it in for repairs, but I'm afraid of getting raped on cost to troubleshoot it, and then only to find that wasn't it, and have to take it in again and again. I had the ECM go out on my last Optimax. That's no cheap fix. Does anyone think its damaged or the culprit.
I'll be greatly appreciative of any response and suggestions
Thank All
Brown