am/fm on the boat

[champ]

Need help troubleshooting my am/fm. Sometimes (not all the time) when I listen to the radio with the engine off, like while drifting, the am/fm radio comes in and out. It doesn't turn off, just volume turns out and the lights flicker. However, when I turn the engine on, all if fine.

Thanks

[Capt. Debbie]

Sounds very voltage sensitive. All electronic I assume?

Carry a voltmeter. Read VDC when engine runs. First off VDC. And when it acts wacko- VDC.

If that's the case there a fault tree we can run through.

[Gerry Zagorski]

If it works fine when the engine is running then I think you might have a weak battery....Do you have an engine starting and a separte house battery for your electronics?? If so, I would have your house battery load tested.... Most any auto parts store will do this for you free of charge.

If you only have one battery and the engine starts fine, like Frank said it's proabably something in your wiring that you will need to trace with a volt meter.

[champ]

Thanks guys.

One battery. I plan to check it out hopefully this weekend.

[Gerry Zagorski]

Champ - If you have only one battery and it is able to start your motor, then I don't think that is going to be your issue.... It takes way more power to start an engine then it does to run an AM/FM radio.

[Striper80]

The first place I'd look would be your connections. A lot of times you'll get some corrosion that'll cause a voltage drop, especially on your grounds.