Charging system

[K Houser]

Hi all!!!
My Mercury 2002 60HP 4 stroke EFI outboard does not seem to be charging the battery.
Does any one know how I should go about checking this problem??
Hoping this is something I can repair myself, I'm tool handy..
Do to economy, I do not have extra funds to pay the marina ( $85.00per hour ) to fix...
Hope somone can advise!!!!
Thanks, K Houser

[karpbuster]

I have a 2003 Mercury 60hp 4 stroke EFI ... the battery may be just used up, dead. Had a similar problem. Check the battery and the connections. After that do not know, sorry.

[Suzuki]

Turn your graph on the mode that shows voltage. Watch it from engine off to engine on. You should see the voltage rise a few volts. You may have to raise the RPM's. This is a simple way to show you the motor is outputing power. Outside of connections the simplest reason would be shot battery.

[yarcraft91]

When the motor is running, the voltage at the battery terminals should rise above 13 volts if the charging system is working, will be less than 12.7 volts if it does not work. Check with a digital voltmeter, don't trust the accuracy of the internal voltmeters in sonars. You can get a digital voltmeter at Sears for $20, $10 when it's on sale. Report back on the voltages you find.

If the charging system isn't working, hope it is a faulty rectifier, as those are fairly simple to change and not too expensive. In my experience, rectifiers are the most likely charging system part to fail.

If the charging system is working and the battery won't hold the charge, it is probably a bad battery.

[ffishman]

If you current set up is original, 2002, your battery is 7 years old. Most batteries last 3-4 years. 5 if you push it. Get a new battery. Good place to start.

[yarcraft91]

Originally Posted by ffishman

If you current set up is original, 2002, your battery is 7 years old. Most batteries last 3-4 years. 5 if you push it. Get a new battery. Good place to start.

Your advice is very likely correct in this case, but I have two cars and two boats with batteries 6, 10, 8 and 6 years old, respectively, and all still working well. I wait until there is proof the battery has died before I replace one. My experience with OE batteries in new boats or cars is they last at least 6 years, often more. Batteries dying after 3-4 years was common 20+ years ago, but good modern batteries last me much longer than that. Note- I'm only talking about starting batteries. Batteries for trolling motors last more like 3-5 years for me.

[K Houser]

Sorry everyone.. I should have told You that battery was 1 year old as of July 2009...K Houser