2023 Pro XS 115 Blowing Helm Fuse

[Steven H]

Happened this summer and when we got on ramp it was blowing then every time we tried to run the trim motor. Today it just dies on plane and I check that fuse sure enough, blew 1 more fuse ( 15A) then ran enough to get me mile from ramp. Fished a bit and started up fine, close to ramp was at 4900 rpm and gunned it a little and it just died. Back at ramp blew 4-5 more trying to get it on the transom saver. every time I hit the valet switch on the motor. Get home, works fine. Did not see any wires touching any bolts, have not done a thing to it other than cover it, been a 0 problem boat so far except for the summer incident.

Thoughts?

[ifishinxs]

Happened this summer and when we got on ramp it was blowing then every time we tried to run the trim motor. Today it just dies on plane and I check that fuse sure enough, blew 1 more fuse ( 15A) then ran enough to get me mile from ramp. Fished a bit and started up fine, close to ramp was at 4900 rpm and gunned it a little and it just died. Back at ramp blew 4-5 more trying to get it on the transom saver. every time I hit the valet switch on the motor. Get home, works fine. Did not see any wires touching any bolts, have not done a thing to it other than cover it, been a 0 problem boat so far except for the summer incident.

Thoughts?

Glad it was just not mine that did that. Real PITA when your a mile from the Ramp and have to use the TM to get back to the ramp and onto the trailer solo.
Fortunately we have a very good Merc dealer close by. Of course they put a new fuse in it and it worked perfect in the shop. I was insistent, so they traced the entire system and found a short in the ignition harness. They tapped up the issue and it’s been perfect ever since.

[EuropeanAM]

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Very likely that there is a short somewhere in the boat wiring harness... quite possibly in the control handle or wiring to the trim switch IN the control handle.

[Steven H]

Tech ( who saw this post and mentioned to me) went thru it and found nothing out of shape on it. Said there was a small area on rigging tube that might have rubbed a little but he saw no bare wire. Ignition and trim system all checked out fine, and engine had no fault codes stored. Picking it up today and will run this weekend. He said if it happens again to take it to dealer that I bought at new and have them trace all of it which requires taking a lot of it apart according to him. When it happened in summer I checked as many wires as I could and connections and seems like just moving it around solved it first time and maybe the same solved it this time but it concerns me that there is something against the block. Tech mentioned everything was VERY tight in the wiring all around, on the block and at the helm.

[EuropeanAM]

Wiring on the block is mega-tight. Idea was snug-tight and tied where it couldn't move to chafe.

Helm end... should be strain-reliefed (but tied up). I would be removing the control handle and inspecting it, and the trim switch wiring harness that comes out of it.

[Steven H]

Thanks AM

SN3B354715 in case this one gets brought back to life for another member!

[Steven H]

Well she ran fine yesterday then end of day got it up and was trimming out to get a little more speed and she fell on her face...again. Same thing, blows multiple fuses. What I did discover though is after replacing it will start back up, hit the valet or handle trim and it blows fuse. Even the front trim switch so its something with that trim wiring. She goes to dealer tomorrow.

[EuropeanAM]

Sounds like the blue (or blue with white-stripe) wire is shorted to ground. While that could be anywhere between the bow and the engine harness... the most common locations include:

-Wiring exiting the control handle chafing against metal
-Blinker-trim Wiring chafed against steering components or other grounds
-Pinched or chafed cowling switch wiring
-(Numerous other possibilities... could even be a rub-rail screw).

[Steven H]

Main harness was not connected all the way is what they tell me. Got it today and will water test this weekend. They said it was not something they would have really messed with during rigging.

[EuropeanAM]