Autopilot conundrum (only working when engine on)

[Ivanvet]

Hi,

A new (another) problem arouse yesterday in our new (to us) boat. After buying the boat, the autopilot, bow thruster, windlass worked with no problem.
Two nights ago, when docking the boat we realized the bow thruster was not working, and yesterday, when tried to anchor, the windlass was not working… To make things interesting, the autopilot seems to be working when the engine is off, but it gives me a ‘computer missing’ error when the engine is on, and it does not work… I switch off the engine and the autopilot works again. Brilliant.

Has anybody experienced this problem?

When I thought that the problem was the bow thruster I checked the fuse and it was working. Now I realize that it’s not a problem with the bow thruster but most likely wiring, since the other gadgets aren’t working either.

My plan is to check battery voltages and such, but I’m trying to learn where everything is and where every wire goes. These wires are all cramped and not labeled so I expect fun times ahead of me.


I figured I would ask here in case it’s something very simple.

Thank you in advance!

I.