Navigation lights troubleshooting

[Sethkins88]

Troubleshooting my navigation lights on my 1999 222. They stopped working when the switch is activated. The green light at the switch lights up but not getting any power to the bow lights. The anchor does power on. I went ahead and replaced the lights with new Perkos as they needed replaced anyway, still nothing.

The wiring for the bow lights looks to go the whole way back to the rear starboard side by the batteries. There is a white 1.5" square connecter that contains the nav light wiring. When I take apart the connector, I clearly see corrosion and broken down connections inside. Is this my culprit, if so, is there a replacement part I could order?

 

[glacierbaze]

Is this a single fixture, with a red and green lens? I think bow lights are supposed to be gray, aft gray with white stripe, and anchor gray w/red stripe.

 

[Sethkins88]

Is this a single fixture, with a red and green lens? I think bow lights are supposed to be gray, and anchor light gray with white stripe.

Mine are set up with red on the portside and green on the starboard side, both separate lens. They both have a black and a grey wire running to them and they wiring goes back to this connector

 

[glacierbaze]

Looks like they run all the way aft, thru the plug, and back through the rigging tube to the switch panel, which is where the chart says they get power. If you have output power at the switch terminals, check to see if it is getting to the plug, then to the light. Or, just test power at the light. You need a test light, preferably a multi meter, to check voltage.

 

[SkunkBoat]

forget replacing the plug. cut it and hard wire them. That plug hasn't been disconnected in 24 years. You don't need a plug.

 

[Sethkins88]

forget replacing the plug. cut it and hard wire them. That plug hasn't been disconnected in 24 years. You don't need a plug.

What do you mean hardwire them?

 

[SkunkBoat]

cut the plug out and splice the wires

 

[kirk a]

Hardwire would mean to use butt connectors to connec the wires from the light to the power wires. Use heat shrink tubing over the connections. Cut off the existing plug, strip back the wire about a quarter inch and verify power is on.

 

[Sethkins88]

Hardwire would mean to use butt connectors to connec the wires from the light to the power wires. Use heat shrink tubing over the connections. Cut off the existing plug, strip back the wire about a quarter inch and verify power is on.

Thanks guys

 

[loubeer]

Those connectors have to be replaced. If you want to keep connectors, I have used the Deutsch waterproof connectors to replace the stock connectors and I have been very happy with them.

 

[seasick]

Before cutting any wires, use a test lamp to see if you are getting juice at the connector and if it is present on both sides. If you get voltage then test at the fixtures. remember that a bad ground connection will cause the same issue.

If the connector is not making a good connection, it may be possible to clean it up and make is work for now. Get yourself a set of small wire brushes like you would use to clean a carb jet and see if you can clean up the outside surface of the male end and the inner surface of the female end.

Test first at the fixtures on the deck . Using a test lamp is important. A digital voltmeter can mislead you.

 

[SkunkBoat]

If the connector is not making a good connection, it may be possible to clean it up and make is work for now. Get yourself a set of small wire brushes like you would use to clean a carb jet and see if you can clean up the outside surface of the male end and the inner surface of the female end.

the pin on the left is gone.

 

[Sethkins88]

There are no wires on the other side of this plug, I assume they should be there

 

[SkunkBoat]

the plugs are there for when they build the boat. They have premade cables at the exact lengths and can plug them together after running them thru pipes. Most of the connectors in the boat will never be disconnected again.

You can re-pin that connector but its more trouble than its worth.

 

[Sethkins88]

the plugs are there for when they build the boat. They have premade cables at the exact lengths and can plug them together after running them thru pipes. Most of the connectors in the boat will never be disconnected again.

You can re-pin that connector but its more trouble than its worth.

If you look at my above post, should this connector have wires running on the opposite of the plug? It seems like they just terminate there

 

[SkunkBoat]

There are no wires on the other side of this plug, I assume they should be there

OH! thats an important piece of info

 

[SkunkBoat]

Looking at the diagram that was posted, I would expect that there was a black and a green to the battery and a blue and gray coming from the main cable bundle

 

[glacierbaze]

Yeah, that shouldn't be a dead end. First pics fooled me, seeing both halves of the plug. Didn't realize the last two were the two sides plugged together.

Your OP said, "They stopped working when the switch is activated." Did they work for you before? Do your cockpit courtesy lights, and your instrument lights work?

 

[Sethkins88]

Yeah, that shouldn't be a dead end. First pics fooled me, seeing both halves of the plug. Didn't realize the last two were the two sides plugged together.

Your OP said, "They stopped working when the switch is activated." Did they work for you before? Do your cockpit courtesy lights, and your instrument lights work?

Gunnel lights stopped working as well, I haven't checked instrument lights. I had some rewiring done so I assume that's when it happened.. I'll have to dig into the boat and see what I can find

 

[SkunkBoat]

The switched power to the grey and blue comes from the dash. It’s a long roundabout way to the gunnels and bow The black is the negative for the bow and gunnel lights. The green is the fuel fill ground