1995 maxum question

1

1995maxumowner

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Joined
Feb 9, 2006
RO Number
20191
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7
Hi guys i have a 1995 18ft maxum with a 3.0L mercruiser motor. My question is an alternater question. The other day i went out for a boat ride for about fifteen minutes but i had to jumpstart the boat because the battery was dead. After riding on it for a good 15-20 minutes i took it out and went home to flush it. Well at my house I had to jump start it because the battery didn't give it enough power....after 20 minutes of riding shouldn't the battery have some kind of charge to start without being jump started after when i was flushing? its not a question about the starter or anything, everythign is fine im just curious as to maybe the alternater isn't charging up the battery when its running?
 
Battery could be shot. Did you check the water level in it?

Bring it to Sears and have them load test it.
 
Could be a few things. Start with the basics. Check the belt tension, you should have a about 3/8" deflection. Start all wiring, especially grounds. Check for corroision on all connections.
Next While the engine is running measure the voltage on the battery, it should be greater then 12.8volts but no higher then 14.5volts. If the voltage is ok, you may have a bad battery. If not, the alternator or alternator circuit has a problem.

Running for only 20 minutes may not be enough to recharge battery.
 
Even though the battery is new, you have damaged it by allowing it to discharge. A "full" battery will have from 80 to 100 usable amp hours. Probably you have a 60 amp alternator--and even if it was putting out 60 amps (and it was probably less--the engine needed to be reved up to full cruising speed, there had to be no other draws etc)--for 20 minutes that would have only given you 20 amps--no where enough to bring the state of charge back up.

You need to put the battery on a charger for several days. Check the voltage before you do this--and see what it is. After you have charged it, let it sit for at least several hours and then measure the battery voltage--that should be 12.6 volts or more.

There is probably something which drained the battery---radio memory, lights etc. check for battery draw after it is back in the boat and find what has depleated the charage. You may also want to check the voltage when it is being charged (14.4 volts right after starting with engine running at full cruising RPM)
 
where did he say the battery was new?
 
1995 18ft maxum with a 3.0L mercruiser motor
 
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