Rocker switches / Running light

Two questions for this thread.

This is a 1997 Tracker ProTeam17 with 40hp Tracker (Mercury) bassboat. I bought it used a few years ago, so, don't know all I would like to and I don't have a manual. First, there are four rocker switches on the console. Nos. 2, 3, and 4, I figured out. Bilge pump is 2, live well fill is 3 and running lights are 4. What could No. 1 be? Probably something obvious, lol, but I can't figure it out. The writing is rubbed off, can't read it.

Ok, so, the running lights... the back one works. Front does not. I put the front red/green light in the back receptacle and it works, so, this means it isn't the front light gone bad. I used a multimeter on the back receptacle and I did get 12.5v and I got nothing on the front. I took the front receptacle out and the wires/connections look fine but I can't get a reading. I even stuck the sharp point of the multimeter leads into the wires and got nothing. I then went to the battery and unscrewed everything and put it back together and no change. How could I possibly diagnose/fix this?

The boat didn't get much use at all from the previous owner but he kept it sheltered and I really haven't used it a whole lot either.

It would be shame not to fix the front running light to use the existing front red/green light, wish I could fix it! It appears to me that it is between the bow and the battery. TIA!

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Originally Posted by livemusic

Two questions for this thread.

This is a 1997 Tracker ProTeam17 with 40hp Tracker (Mercury) bassboat. I bought it used a few years ago, so, don't know all I would like to and I don't have a manual. First, there are four rocker switches on the console. Nos. 2, 3, and 4, I figured out. Bilge pump is 2, live well fill is 3 and running lights are 4. What could No. 1 be? Probably something obvious, lol, but I can't figure it out. The writing is rubbed off, can't read it.

Ok, so, the running lights... the back one works. Front does not. I put the front red/green light in the back receptacle and it works, so, this means it isn't the front light gone bad. I used a multimeter on the back receptacle and I did get 12.5v and I got nothing on the front. I took the front receptacle out and the wires/connections look fine but I can't get a reading. I even stuck the sharp point of the multimeter leads into the wires and got nothing. I then went to the battery and unscrewed everything and put it back together and no change. How could I possibly diagnose/fix this?

The boat didn't get much use at all from the previous owner but he kept it sheltered and I really haven't used it a whole lot either.

It would be shame not to fix the front running light to use the existing front red/green light, wish I could fix it! It appears to me that it is between the bow and the battery. TIA!

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Your nav light problem is either a broken wire between the receptacle and the power source or a blown fuse. I’m guessing because the back one works it’s not a fuse. Have you checked the continuity of the wires?

As far as the rocker switch, your guess is as good as mine. My boat has a main rocker switch that kills everything. Maybe that’s it?


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That rocker switch should be a 2 position switch. Push one direction and front and rear lights should come on, then push it in the other direction and only stern light/anchor lite should come on. If you have tried it both directions and no bow lite then problem is from switch to lite. Usually corrosion on those slip on connections creates most problems.

The No. 1 is not a master switch, just tested it. Also, the No. 1 (mystery switch) and No. 3 (live well fill) switch are one-way push rocker. The No. 2 (bilge pump) and No. 4 (lights) switches are rockers that rock/function both ways. The No. 4 (lights) functions regardless which way you press it.

I'm not exactly a mechanical person, if it's between the battery and the bow, how could I figure it out? I mean, I can't see the wires, they are under the deck, obviously.

You may need to replace switch number 4....it is either not working right....or not wired right. My guess is, switch is bad. Also, You would probably get more answers if you post your boat problem and repair questions on the Mechanic board...click here https://www.crappie.com/crappie/mech...-and-trailers/

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Originally Posted by "G"

You may need to replace switch number 4....it is either not working right....or not wired right. My guess is, switch is bad.

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Thank you guys for answering. Are you surmising that No. 4 could be bad and causing the bow light not to work or just saying that it seems bad because it works either way? I note that the stern light works whichever way you press it, and according to what Cray said above, that is the way it should behave, right? The stern light should work whichever way you rock it?

EDIT: Oh... uh... the switch might not be delivering current to the bow.

EDIT 2: I note that there is a small light bulb under each of those four rocker switches, and they all work. The No.4 switch light bulb lights up whichever way you rock the switch. Does that indicate that this switch is good? Probably not, lol. I also checked all fuses and I didn't find any that looked burnt out. And after I got under the console and twisted around on that mass of wires and connections (a big mess is what it is!... that is what a mechanic told me one time) and took all the fuses out and reinserted, I tried the lights again, and nothing changed.

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Originally Posted by livemusic

Thank you guys for answering. Are you surmising that No. 4 could be bad and causing the bow light not to work or just saying that it seems bad because it works either way? I note that the stern light works whichever way you press it, and according to what Cray said above, that is the way it should behave, right? The stern light should work whichever way you rock it?

EDIT: Oh... uh... the switch might not be delivering current to the bow.

EDIT 2: I note that there is a small light bulb under each of those four rocker switches, and they all work. The No.4 switch light bulb lights up whichever way you rock the switch. Does that indicate that this switch is good? Probably not, lol. I also checked all fuses and I didn't find any that looked burnt out. And after I got under the console and twisted around on that mass of wires and connections (a big mess is what it is!... that is what a mechanic told me one time) and took all the fuses out and reinserted, I tried the lights again, and nothing changed.

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Your nav light #4 switch.. Push the top for both front and rear (boat under power) and the bottom for just rear (anchored).

Your bilge is probably an auto-manual. So press one way and it will go manual and run, press the other way and its auto so will kick on when water trips the float.

Your livewell switch... one way is going to be constant on and the other on a timer most likely.

Do you have switches in the nose of the boat? My Ranger has four push button switches up there and one is Labeled Nav Lights. That one turns on just the stern light. If it is in the wrong position, only the stern light works.

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Originally Posted by Kevin22

Your nav light #4 switch.. Push the top for both front and rear (boat under power) and the bottom for just rear (anchored).

Your bilge is probably an auto-manual. So press one way and it will go manual and run, press the other way and its auto so will kick on when water trips the float.

Your livewell switch... one way is going to be constant on and the other on a timer most likely.

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Wow, now, this is interesting! Are you saying that regarding No. 4, the motor needs to be running for both lights to be on when I press the top? Now, that would be 'something' if this is the answer. I hope you can reply because the only way I can do this (run the motor) is drag the boat out of the carport and hook up the water hose!

As for your other comments, that's all interesting, I would never have known that without this thread.

If you're right, all could be working properly?

Whomever asked... I do not have these particular switches up front, they are at the console only.

No, your motor does not need to be running.. When I typed that I was concerned it might come across that way, but I didn't know how else to word it. To be legal, when the boat is moving under power after sunset and before sunrise the front red/green AND rear white need to be on. When you are anchored at night, just the rear white needs to be on. The front are your "under power" lights and the rear is called an "anchor" light.

Go ahead and put the front light in and press the switch forward (top of the switch down) and both the front and back should light up. Then when you press the switch down (press bottom of switch) just the rear should come on.

Switches up front was a Ranger Boats thing, I think they might have actually had a patent on that at one time! My old ranger had it, and I cant tell you how many times the trolling motor cable tripped a switch on accident. I ended up disconnecting all my bow switches.

Found this on a quick search. Tracker Boats Wiring Diagram | TackleReviewer I always hate tackling electrical without a schematic. I would for sure double check the color codes before relied on it completely though.

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Originally Posted by Cray

That rocker switch should be a 2 position switch. Push one direction and front and rear lights should come on, then push it in the other direction and only stern light/anchor lite should come on. If you have tried it both directions and no bow lite then problem is from switch to lite. Usually corrosion on those slip on connections creates most problems.

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That would be a 3 position switch. On-off-on

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Originally Posted by Trapperpete52

Found this on a quick search. Tracker Boats Wiring Diagram | TackleReviewer I always hate tackling electrical without a schematic. I would for sure double check the color codes before relied on it completely though.

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Thanks for posting. Perusing that list, it makes me wonder about the mystery No. 1 switch. Does anyone think that could be depth finder? The depth finder has never worked for me since I bought this boat, which was almost 20 years old when I bought it. Just wondering if they would have assigned depth finder to No. 1 position. Maybe I can see what color wires come out of that switch and check the list.

Number 1 switch could be an accessory switch

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Originally Posted by tlefire

Number 1 switch could be an accessory switch

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Thanks for reply. What does that mean? A bilge pump or livewell fill pump is not an accessory? I guess I don't understand the terminology. Now, I did find an image of a boat like mine after doing an extensive search and I could read "ACC" on one of the switches. But seems to me, every switch is for an accessory, so, I don't get it.

EDIT: Maybe an ACC light would be for something in the future you want to assign it to?

I have run into some adventures over the years and one thing is sure. Anything could of been done to the wiring. I would start by exposing the wire so you can check color code. Mice can cause one much grief as some wire insulation used soybean in it and draws them like a magnet. Take a note book along and make yourself a map that makes sense to you.

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Originally Posted by livemusic

Thanks for reply. What does that mean? A bilge pump or livewell fill pump is not an accessory? I guess I don't understand the terminology. Now, I did find an image of a boat like mine after doing an extensive search and I could read "ACC" on one of the switches. But seems to me, every switch is for an accessory, so, I don't get it.

EDIT: Maybe an ACC light would be for something in the future you want to assign it to?

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Accessory switch would usually power a fish finder, cigarette lighter port, radio, etc. Now with the newer technology fish finders, we have learned that interference comes from connecting them to the dash switches like that so almost all rigging for fish finders goes straight to the battery.

had same problem and it nearly drove me nuts. the switch is wired 12volts to center of switch (pin 2) and jumper to the other side of switch(pin 5), anchor lite is wired to pin 1 and jumper to pin 6, nav.. lite is connected to pin 3. found that my lights are wired backwards and once both are working that's how they will remain. the main trouble was a dirty push on connector on pin 3. if this sounds confusing drop me a PM with your phone number and maybe i can explain it better.---shu

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Originally Posted by livemusic

Thanks for reply. What does that mean? A bilge pump or livewell fill pump is not an accessory? I guess I don't understand the terminology. Now, I did find an image of a boat like mine after doing an extensive search and I could read "ACC" on one of the switches. But seems to me, every switch is for an accessory, so, I don't get it.

EDIT: Maybe an ACC light would be for something in the future you want to assign it to?

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Most likely either left unhooked for add on accessories, or it powers the USB/cigarette lighter ports.

I've also seen it used essentially as a master switch, which turns all the others on.

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Originally Posted by livemusic

Thank you guys for answering. Are you surmising that No. 4 could be bad and causing the bow light not to work or just saying that it seems bad because it works either way? I note that the stern light works whichever way you press it, and according to what Cray said above, that is the way it should behave, right? The stern light should work whichever way you rock it?

EDIT: Oh... uh... the switch might not be delivering current to the bow.

EDIT 2: I note that there is a small light bulb under each of those four rocker switches, and they all work. The No.4 switch light bulb lights up whichever way you rock the switch. Does that indicate that this switch is good? Probably not, lol. I also checked all fuses and I didn't find any that looked burnt out. And after I got under the console and twisted around on that mass of wires and connections (a big mess is what it is!... that is what a mechanic told me one time) and took all the fuses out and reinserted, I tried the lights again, and nothing changed.

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Yes I’m saying stern light should come on in both positions of switch, but bow light should come on in only one position. So if bow is not working and stern is working in both positions then problem is between switch and light. You might try swapping the two wires on out side edge of switch and see if bow comes on. If it doesn’t then that tells me you have a problem in wire to light or in the light connector that light plugs into.