Loose Battery Cable - Really?

[jolicious]

Anyone had an issue like this?

2008 Mercury 250 Pro-Xs

Buzzer went off after I changed to new batteries. Didn't go into safe mode, so I eased into the throttle and got on plane. Once I hit about 2,500 RPM, buzzer went off and didn't come back on.

Buddy checked it and said it showed an injector open.

Everything fine for the next few weeks.

Three weeks ago, buzzer goes off. while getting on plane (aroun 2,500 ROM again), buzzer quit and everything was fine.

Last Sunday, as we were idling to launch for out tournament, buzzer goes off again. Same deal - get on plane and buzzer quits.
But, about halfway through the day, the boat didn't want to get on plane. Buzzer wasn't going off, but we couldn't get on plane. finally, my buddy hops up on the bow, we tip up on plane, and we're running fine. The rest of the day, he sits up on the bow to get on plane, and then we're good to go.

Took to the local mechanic. He told me that I had a couple "soft" codes showing injectors open, but since they weren't "hard" codes, I don't need to worry. Said they took to lake for a test, and it ran fine. As they were idling to the trailer, the buzzer went off. They looked around and found that my battery cables were loose.

Can a loose cable really cause all of this? Guess that'll teach me to change batteries in a parking lot after dark with only my cell phone as a flashlight!!!!!

[ssv1761982]

Interesting.

[EuropeanAM]

1. In short: the answer to your primary question is YES. Lack of voltage, low voltage, loss of voltage, or simply inadequate battery capacity is one of the #1 causes of a WIDE ARRAY of performance problems.

Battery CAPACITY MUST be sufficient (see: http://www.bbcboards.net/zerot...st-in ).

Battery cables MUST be stacked: ENGINE CABLE FIRST, remaining lugs LARGEST to SMALLEST, and finish off the connection with a STAINLESS LOCKNUT (do NOT use wing nuts).

2. As for the injector faults- these should NOT be ignored. They WILL result in reduced power, and potentially Engine Guardian. More than likely, it's simply caused by corroded/dirty connections at the injector plug (the most common cause).

[jolicious]

OH MY GOSH!
I just rememebered that the battery came with wing nuts! And, As I said, I was changing them in a parking lot. I forgot to pick up some lock washers / nylon nuts.
THank you very much for the thought on the injectors - I'll check them one by one this weekend!