Boat, y u no start??

Outlaw

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Jul 24, 2009
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Went to go start my boat today after pulling it out of storage. It started right up like normal, but died off immediately (normal, carb'd motor) are started again twice just fine. 4th time i went to start and had nothing. No power to starter, blower. Boat has 2 batteries, each control different things. Battery that controls tabs, drive, etc works fine but i'm getting no power off the other. Switch is ok, both batteries have 12 volts.

Sorry i'm on my phone i cant type for shit on here.
 

Outlaw

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On my laptop now and can actually type things out as they come to me instead of forgetting half of the information...

I have a volt meter, both batteries tested out, and are at 12.6 volts. I tested power at the batteries, and past the switch on the main power wire to the starter. Switch is functioning properly. Breaker on the motor is not tripped, checked that out first thing. Starter is new, but doubt that has anything to do with the issue. I know it has to be something between the controls at the helm and the engine bay, as everything is getting power, just not the signal to turn on.

Wierd thing is that I started the boat a few times just fine, blower came on, engine started, ran for a bit and died out, nothing abnormal, I can't rev the engine without putting the propeller into gear, and it was a bit too close to my Jeep to want to risk my tailgate and/ or the cleaver prop.

4th time, went to crank it, and it's dead, as if you pulled the terminals off the battery altogether, no noise, no nothing. I've been scratching my head all afternoon with it.
 

Outlaw

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I checked the blower and ignition fuses, they're convinently located right next to each switch on the dash. I'd like to try and find out if there's a main fuse block on the boat, something between the switches and the device they're connected to. I should have checked all of them now that I think about it, but was just starting with what I knew wasn't working then and there.

I should also add that everything was dead for a minute or two between the 3rd and 4th start... it was doing the same thing, but after checking the fuses and battery terminals I gave it another go and it started for the last time before going dead completley... I'm completley stumped.
 

1quick

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Jan 29, 2008
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so you have it set up ware the one battery only can run the engine and blower motor, is the blower set up to run when the motor is running or is it on a seperate switch, did you check the battery ground are both batterys grounded to the same spot

also why cant you rev it with out shifting into gear
 

hellraiser319

Hellraising since 1986
May 17, 2010
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West Bend, WI
On my laptop now and can actually type things out as they come to me instead of forgetting half of the information...

I have a volt meter, both batteries tested out, and are at 12.6 volts. I tested power at the batteries, and past the switch on the main power wire to the starter. Switch is functioning properly. Breaker on the motor is not tripped, checked that out first thing. Starter is new, but doubt that has anything to do with the issue. I know it has to be something between the controls at the helm and the engine bay, as everything is getting power, just not the signal to turn on.

Wierd thing is that I started the boat a few times just fine, blower came on, engine started, ran for a bit and died out, nothing abnormal, I can't rev the engine without putting the propeller into gear, and it was a bit too close to my Jeep to want to risk my tailgate and/ or the cleaver prop.

4th time, went to crank it, and it's dead, as if you pulled the terminals off the battery altogether, no noise, no nothing. I've been scratching my head all afternoon with it.

Although not a solution to problem at hand, sometimes, on mine at least, you can pull the lever to the left, then forward to give it gas without engaging the prop, but rev with caution on the garden hose, always hear people saying bad things about it, especially for the sterndrive water pump.

As for no power issue, only other thing I can come up with, make sure the emergency kill switch is working properly, if it has one. If it's not active or the terminals are corroded, you won't get anywhere.
 

Lead Pipe

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Nov 4, 2010
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Shit break.

Count them head fuck
Starter%20connection.JPG


I just replaced the starter in my boat and all the wires bolt to the starter. There's either 3 or 4.
 

Turbocharged400sbc

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Jun 16, 2007
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ive seen the neutral switch in the throttle/trans control go bad, alot of controls also have a button at the throttle/gear pivot to disconnect the trans cable from the throttle cable btw.
more commonly a bad ignition switch, no 12v to small solenoid wire (which sounds like you issue since you dont even hear a click)

most of those have the nipondenso style starters so they rarely have the solenoid (from end it looks like a monopoly house profile, a pentagon) fail but the primary contacts brushes arc away enough they wont flow the juice to the motor windings....but they will always click/kick the bendix, you can get new contacts and swap em out no problem.
if its a bosch its the round solenoid thats sealed those ive seen fail to click/kick the bendix but its not a failure id put as "common" they to have the motor winding contacts arc away till it no longer feeds the windings at which point you have to buy the whole starter...some you can swap out the solenoid but there's almost always a rivet at the solenoiud to bendix lever so its a cunt.

honestly with the ease of which water gets into the ignition switch and corodes the brass/copper contacts, id start there and make sure it has constant hot in, acc, and engine/controls power and then power to a wire in the crank position and none at all other positions, then go from there...
 

Chester Copperpot

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May 7, 2010
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I didn't know you were such an expert on boats. There must a huge difference between a 1978 Century Cortez and a 1979 Century 190.

The difference is I will actually admit to being wrong, like I am. You never once said what type of boat you had and I didn't even realize you had a boat to begin with.

Fuck face.
 
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