Motor Winterizing Warning

[mac]

I went out to top off the charges on the batteries in my boat that I winterized a few weeks back and the starter battery was dead. I knew immediately that when I fogged it to a stop that I had not turned the switch to off. The charger is bringing it back up to full charge now. Hope the rest of you can learn from my mistake.

[Dave in Mpls]

Good advice, mac!

I'm sure glad I'VE never done that while checking the fuel level in the driveway, etc, etc!! :)

Regards

[bobco]

Oh how I know that one, done that a few times, that is why I always try to throw the charger on the day before going to the lake. Better yet, pull the batterys and put them in the garage or basement for the winter. Easier to charge a couple of times in the winter. I know my Merc EFI has a little current draw with key off to the EFI module.

[Tightline]

My Merc. EFI also has a drain when key is off. Was told
that it was normal. I wonder?? I also would like to know,
if it is normal, is there any possibility of damaging the
EFI unit if battery is removed for winter storage.

[perchjerker]

I can tell you from working on cars for a living that, yes, various electronic modules will cause a slight drain on the battery. I can also tell you that common sense tells me that removing the battery wont hurt anything unless you short something out while removing it. I mean, say your battery went dead. Your electronics wont become toast because of it. Think about it. If what you are thinking was true, you could never replace your battery, because when you disconnected it, your efi module would fry.

[bob/co]

Yes the small amount of current to the EFI module is normal, per Mercury Customer service, I imagine it is keeping some memory or information current in the module. As perch jerker said if it hurt anything to remove the battery we would never be able to have a dead battery , while I as an electronic technicain I have dealt with bad designs, I don't think this is the case with the EFI, It has been a solid engine.

[Marble eyes]

I had two Pontiacs, that would run rough everytime a battery went dead, and then was later started.(Wouldn't Idle)

You had to take them in and have the "brain" reprogramed to the proper settings for the gas.

I have heard that the same thing happens with New Caddies and Lincolns.

Have a bad battery and expect a trip to the Car Doctor...

[JBL]

I have a 175 Opti and a 9.9 kicker, they seem to drain the heck out of the cranking battery while sitting around. The dealer added a 5 amp charger and now I keep it plugged in all the time.

Have a dual bank 10 amp on the trolling batteries, noticed the green and red lights coming on at same time on the one bank, took it to the dealer and had it checked, was told the lights were messing up and the CSI charger was fine, not to worry. Guess what, went to do routine battery maintenance this weekend, the one battery was boiled nearly dry. Yea, I'm pissed off with a ruined battery less than 1 year old...

[Hawgeye]

I have the Carbed 125 2+2 Merc and find that it draws when sitting too. When I disconnect the battery, I notice a small spark. Should this motor drain when the key is turned off and sitting? I think not. Should I have my dealer check it out?

[Dave in Mpls]

>Guess what, went to do routine battery maintenance
>this weekend, the one battery was boiled nearly dry.

Define "routine". Sounds like the routine battery maintenance program had a flaw in it. If the charger doesn't recognize a full charge, it will keep right on charging. It will never see a full charge if the battery water level is low. Catch 22!

Regards

[JBL]

Fair enough question, Both Trojan batteries were new in March, water level rechecked during June, sometime later I noticed both the charge and full charge lights coming on at the same time in the bank that is connected to the battery that is now "boiled". I then took it back to the dealer, and since you seem to be pointing the finger back at me, what else do you think I should have done, other than troubleshooting and fixing it myself? If the original problem was caused by low water level, would you expect the dealer to notice that? btw, the other battery didn't even require any water to be added this weekend.

>>Guess what, went to do routine battery maintenance
>>this weekend, the one battery was boiled nearly dry.
>
>Define "routine". Sounds like the routine battery
>maintenance program had a flaw in it. If the charger
>doesn't recognize a full charge, it will keep right on
>charging. It will never see a full charge if the battery
>water level is low. Catch 22!
>
>Regards

[Dave in Mpls]

Actually, I wasn't pointing a finger at anyone! It's just that some folk's idea of "routine" battery maintenance is to check the level once every three years, whether it needs it or not!

Certainly possible there is a problem with the charger. I would contact CSI. They are a very good, reputible company and if there is indeed a problem, I would bet they would replace the battery for ya. Bummer it was a Trojan! What was your dealers response to all this? They should actually be the ones replacing the battery.

Regards

[JBL]

Taking it in next week. Expecting a hassle on the battery, but hoping for the best. The funny part is I have hardly used the electric trolling motor since May, been spending all my time chasing 'eyes on Erie before and after the smallmouth bite went south, and we use the 9.9 for that. Just can't leave those smallies alone in May and June--they are awesome. I'm thinking since the dealer diagnosed the charger as okay, they are sort of responsible for the battery getting roasted.

[bob/co]

Call Mercury customer service and ask them, the number used to be on thier web site, I don't know if it still is. They are very helpfull and should be able to answer your question. Like you I don't think it should unless it is an
EFI.

[Husky]

Yes, the Maer EFI's do drain a very small amount of current when the key is off. It is somewhere around 70 milli amps, I have not looked in my service manual for a while. While this is not usually a concern while the boat is used frequently, over a long perios of time, the starting batt will discharge because of it.