Nav Lights Squirrely - Help

[Homerun04]

Okay, before I tear open my boat, I figured I'd ask some of the "experts" here what might be causing my problem. As many of you know, I have a small 19" Whaler CC. Here goes:

My navigation lights work intermittently. Some times they work fine, other times they don't. What is weird is that some times the port side light will work while the starboard side will not. And vice versa. As a result of this behavior, I have ruled out a blown fuse, and that the wiring is no good (although this might be the case - shorts in each wire I suppose). I replaced the bulbs at the start of this season. I have also noticed that it seems if I hit rough, pounding water, it will either make them go on or off - depending on the state they were previosuly in before I hit the wave. This has lead me to believe that possibly the bulbs are losing contact with the terminals.

Any ideas? Thanks.

[likwid]

check the entire length of the wiring, it could have been pinched somewhere (hense the on/off when pounding)

there could be a spot in the wiring where you inadvertently put stuff ontop of it and it eventually pounded the wire, or developed a leak at a terminal and corrosion is causing issues.
check all contacts also.

[MakoMike]

HR,
Check the switch. Could be a loose connection there or a bad switch. Take the leads and put them together, if the light work its probably the switch.

[Homerun04]

Check the switch. Could be a loose connection there or a bad switch.

The switch also turns on my gauge lights, and they work fine all the time....so I don't think it is the switch.....

[Tuna Helper]

I had a similar problem recently. It turned out to be a bad connection at the switch (where it goes into a dash-mounted fuse).
You might also want to check if there are any butt connectors in the circuit. Sometime the connection corrodes or loosens over time. Simply cut it off, put on another butt conector, crimp it, and either shrink tube or seal the open ends of the connector with liquid electrical tape.

[MakoMike]

HR,
well, then it has to be loose or corroded connection somewhere in the wiring. I'm afraid you're going to have to trace it all to find it. I'd start at the lights themselves and work backwards to the switch.

[Bill L]

Dont even get me started about freakin lights

My money is on the switch, I have the same problem right now, the compass light will come on, but the lights only work "sometimes", which has turned into hardly ever. Might be a voltage issue with the switch, shorter wires to the gages?

Check the contacts on the bulb, I had a problem with corroded contacts, replaced the bow light and worked until the switch went.

Check any in-line splices or like likwid said look for knicks.

Get a voltage meter and check the swithc contacts first, then check the light contacts. It s a real PIA to figure out without the meter

[beamie]

HR,

If you say sometimes the port works and starboard doesn't the problem is right at the light. Probably the contact points loose and corroded. Clean and put some anti oxidation goop on the contacts.

There should be only 1 pair of wires going to the running lights up to the bow.

[capesams]

anti-oxidation goop= vaseline,,,18 years on my other boat on all connections and not speck of green....one jar and a soft brush and your good to go....

[blue oyster]

i go through this twice a year , on my boat its the contact tabs that hold the bulbs . i just pull the bulb , sand the contacts ,make sure there is good contact and off i go. good luck

[Raven]

equals bad grounds

[Homerun04]

Thanks guys....I cleaned off the terminals (sanded them and used a wire brush), and they work now....damn things are so tempermental.

[Hooper]

Had the same problem with mine. Then I tore everything out and replaced it all with nice clean connections and new wire. Work great now, took about an hour to do.