Bilge Pump Voltage Issue

[okskeetertzx190]

I have a 2021 Skeeter ZXR 20. The other day my remote drain plug wasn’t seated all the way so I was slowly taking on water. The auto part of the bilge pump didn’t come on so I pushed the manual toggle at the console. The pump came on like it is supposed to and pumped fine. When testing the voltage I am only getting 5-7 volts on the bilge pump wire that is supposed to have 12 volts all the time. I have gotten 12 sometimes when checking it but usually 5-7. Anyone have any ideas of where to look? I tried to check the connections I could find in the bilge area and at the console but didn’t see anything that looked loose or bad. Thanks for any ideas.

[billnorman1]

Where are you hooking the meter ground lead? With voltage this low, is the pump actually running at the time?

[krindgen]

Is there extra wire coiled up going to the pumps?

[okskeetertzx190]

Where are you hooking the meter ground lead? With voltage this low, is the pump actually running at the time?

When I cannot get the pump to run in auto I unplug the connections and test at 5-7 volts. When I can get the proper 12 volts on the “ auto supply wire” the pump does run in auto. I am testing with the 3 wires down in the bilge where the 3 wires connect to the pump wires.

[okskeetertzx190]

Is there extra wire coiled up going to the pumps?

I have not noticed any additional wires just the 3 I am connecting the pump to.

[justinp61]

Check the voltage at the fuse panel. It sounds like you have a bad connection, bad wire or corrosion at the connection.

[krindgen]

I have not noticed any additional wires just the 3 I am connecting the pump to.

Is there extra wire coiled up somewhere in the wires going to the pump. Creating resistance. Not an additional wire.

[okskeetertzx190]

Is there extra wire coiled up somewhere in the wires going to the pump. Creating resistance. Not an additional wire.

I don’t think so. If anything all 3 wires are too short making it difficult to work on.

[bgibson]

Maybe the auto switch internally has a loose or bad connection? Meaning the actual physical switch in the bilge.

[H-D Dad]

the auto wire may go to the main switch in the battery compartment, then the fuse then the battery. the fuse will be in a black waterproof holder. it could also be connected to a bussbar on the back wall behind the battery. good luck

[billnorman1]

When I cannot get the pump to run in auto I unplug the connections and test at 5-7 volts. When I can get the proper 12 volts on the “ auto supply wire” the pump does run in auto. I am testing with the 3 wires down in the bilge where the 3 wires connect to the pump wires.

Make a jumper wire from the Negative battery post to the negative meter lead. You can't trust ground wires in a fiberglass boats.

[okskeetertzx190]

I did find that the fuse that seemingly only goes to the pump auto wire seemed to be not very tight fitting in the holder. I have replaced the fuse holder with a new one and during my testing in the garage it has always worked so far. I will do more testing when I get to the water to see if that might have been the problem.

[okskeetertzx190]

Make a jumper wire from the Negative battery post to the negative meter lead. You can't trust ground wires in a fiberglass boats.

I did consider doing something like this but every time I was checking voltage on the manual wire directly after I tested the auto wire the voltage was good. That is what made me think I was getting a good ground.