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-   -   Dead battery / Can't open engine cover (https://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/general-q/382193-dead-battery-cant-open-engine-cover.html)

AZBAJA 04-17-2024 05:05 PM

Dead battery / Can't open engine cover
 
After two days of plugged in shore power, my port motor battery is still dead. The starboard and center motor battery are charged at 12V on the console gauges and all 4 battery disconnects are on.
The engine hatch is not working, Assuming the engine hatch is wired to the dead port motor battery.
How do you get power to open the engine hatch if that battery is shot?

bajaman 04-17-2024 05:55 PM

There will be a remote battery connection under the rear seat or similar area, typically.

AZBAJA 04-17-2024 06:07 PM


Originally Posted by bajaman (Post 4895923)
There will be a remote battery connection under the rear seat or similar area, typically.

Noted: I'll look for that
Thanks!! .

jeff32 04-17-2024 06:11 PM

Worst case open from the back hinges of the engine hatch!

bajaman 04-17-2024 06:29 PM


Originally Posted by jeff32 (Post 4895925)
Worst case open from the back hinges of the engine hatch!

It's been my experience that these piano hinges are often 'trapped' inside the hull...meaning no access from the back.

bajaman 04-17-2024 06:31 PM


Originally Posted by AZBAJA (Post 4895924)
Noted: I'll look for that
Thanks!! .

Also, what year? From about 2000 on, maybe slightly before, they made the 'slider' on the hatch ram have some travel in it, to where you can usually lift the hatch (they ARE heavy!) enough to get your arm through with a ratchet and socket, and take out the bolt that secures the hatch to the ram.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...60cdd27e93.jpg

jeff32 04-17-2024 07:37 PM


Originally Posted by bajaman (Post 4895927)
It's been my experience that these piano hinges are often 'trapped' inside the hull...meaning no access from the back.

you may be right... on my sonic there are4-5 exterior hinges so it is very easy to do...

Kefurr 04-17-2024 07:59 PM


Originally Posted by bajaman (Post 4895928)
Also, what year? From about 2000 on, maybe slightly before, they made the 'slider' on the hatch ram have some travel in it, to where you can usually lift the hatch (they ARE heavy!) enough to get your arm through with a ratchet and socket, and take out the bolt that secures the hatch to the ram.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...60cdd27e93.jpg

my 2000 is the same setup as yours

Griff 04-18-2024 12:57 AM

If the hatch ram is not on a relay, you can just apply 12 Volts to the back of the hatch switch

Brad Christy 04-18-2024 06:12 AM


Originally Posted by AZBAJA (Post 4895918)
After two days of plugged in shore power, my port motor battery is still dead. The starboard and center motor battery are charged at 12V on the console gauges and all 4 battery disconnects are on.
The engine hatch is not working, Assuming the engine hatch is wired to the dead port motor battery.
How do you get power to open the engine hatch if that battery is shot?

AZBaja,

If you can't find a way to directly apply 12v to the lift jack, check to make sure you can't just lift the engine hatch by hand. The lift jack on our PQ is not actually held to the hatch by a pin. It's heavy as farq, but I can lift it, and we keep a "stilt" in the engine bay, off to the side, for popping it up, in the event of an issue. Short of that... I've heard of people removing the cover or grill, going in through a side vent and pulling the pin holding the hatch to the lift jack with a hook. Hopefully, it's a detent pin and not held in with a cotter pin.

Thanks. Brad.


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