Battery or Connection Problem?

[simek3ru]

Hi, new to the forum.  Looking for some suggestions to my recent problems listed below.

Setup - 2007 Tracker 175
Starting Battery size 24 (April 2015) - bow (old stock one) and console (Garmin Striker Plus 9SV) fishing finders and motor
Deep Cycle size 27 (December 2012) - trolling motor

Problem History from my last 2 outings:

First Trip
1) At boat ramp ready to launch - my motor trim would not work. Electronics worked though.  Swapped all my connections from my starting battery to deep cycle, still didn't work. Moved them back to the starting and it worked

Second Trip
2) Motor stalled at idle at launch
3) After first run, motor would not crank at all but when I turned it to "on" position my gauges were active.  Removed battery connections then placed them back again, motor fired up
4) After second run, motor would not crank at all and when I turned it to "on" position my gauges were off and I had no power.  Removed battery connections then placed them back again, motor fired up again.  Made one more run and it fired up after that when I went to head home.


Took the starting battery out of the boat and went to AutoZone to get it tested, they said it was good.  Not sure I really trust whatever test they do.

I'm wondering if my starting battery is going bad or if I just all of a sudden have a bad connection.  Could this be something else I'm not thinking about?

Thanks!
Jason

[Gotsnodooks]

The trim issue could be the trim relay maybe not having a good connection.  I'm not sure were it's located on your particular motor but should be mounted on the block somewhere near the wiring harness.

the other issues...I would check your connections on your ignition switch and any other connections underneath the console.

The battery test they perform at the auto parts store is a load test and is usually pretty reliable.  If the battery itself had a bad cell then disconnecting and reconnecting shouldn't make any difference.  I highly doubt your issue is related to the battery. 

[Oldfart9999]

I agree with Snod, most likely connections. IMHO that starting battery is too small, I'd move up to at least a 27 series. Clean the connections at least once a year, it's not a hard job at all, then use some kind of corrosion protection for the battery, they sell a spray that works and those little felt rings, they work also, both is better. Don't forget to check the water levels and you should be good to go.
Welcome to the site, it's good to have you here, check us out we have a lot of good stuff here and don't forget to enter the new members contest, you could win a really nice prize.
Rodney

[Princeton_Man]

It does sound a lot like connection issues. Clean up and inspect the connections. Do you have a master switch? If so, inspect and clean up those connections as well.

I would also go after the relays too. Relays under the motor cowling can work loose from the sockets. Buy a tube of dielectric grease, pull each relay and inspect the blades and sockets for corrosion, clean them up if necessary, then apply some dielectric grease to the blades and sockets before plugging them back in. If possible use zip ties to secure the relays from working loose.