Bought yesterday - wont start today :(

[salmansaifali]

I just bought a 1999 Sea Pro Citation with inboard 3.0 mercruiser. The boat has approx 150 hours, and im the second owner. The boat is in pretty good condition and everything looks good. It was on a trailer when I went to look at it and had been winterized - we were able to put the ear muffs on and upon cranking, the battery was dead. with a portable jump starter, it started right up. a week later yesterday, i went to pick it up - we put it in the water, i notced the ignition was kind of weak but it started right up. I live 3 hours away, trailered it back, put it in the water, it cranked right up (although a weak crank) and i brought it to my slip which after running in the water about 20 mins.

When i tried to start it after about 2 hours, it would not crank. I knew the battery was dead so i went and bought a new battery today and installed it. Now, the cranking is good, the engine turns, lights, pumps work fine.

I used a multi-meter between the two battery terminals, and get full 12V.

This is my first boat and now very upsetting! I pumped the gas a couple of times before starting it - it cranks, sounds like it might want to start but just doesnt.

I tried again after an hour (I thought i may have flooded because I pumped the gas) - to no avail - cranks fine, but nothing else.

SUPER DEPRESSED!!! Please help!!!

 

[Black as]

Re: Bought yesterday - wont start today

I just bought a 1999 Sea Pro Citation with inboard 3.0 mercruiser. The boat has approx 150 hours, and im the second owner. The boat is in pretty good condition and everything looks good. It was on a trailer when I went to look at it and had been winterized - we were able to put the ear muffs on and upon cranking, the battery was dead. with a portable jump starter, it started right up. a week later yesterday, i went to pick it up - we put it in the water, i notced the ignition was kind of weak but it started right up. I live 3 hours away, trailered it back, put it in the water, it cranked right up (although a weak crank) and i brought it to my slip which after running in the water about 20 mins.

When i tried to start it after about 2 hours, it would not crank. I knew the battery was dead so i went and bought a new battery today and installed it. Now, the cranking is good, the engine turns, lights, pumps work fine.

I used a multi-meter between the two battery terminals, and get full 12V.

This is my first boat and now very upsetting! I pumped the gas a couple of times before starting it - it cranks, sounds like it might want to start but just doesnt.

I tried again after an hour (I thought i may have flooded because I pumped the gas) - to no avail - cranks fine, but nothing else.

SUPER DEPRESSED!!! Please help!!!

The first thing I did when I bought my boat was download the workshop manual from the adult section and gave my boat a complete service from top to bottom and now runs really well, in my opinion is get to know your boat
Don't let it get you down there are plenty of people on this forum that have a wealth of information for you.

 

[Don S]

Re: Bought yesterday - wont start today

Did you put the safety lanyard on the kill switch? Without it, no ignition.

 

[salmansaifali]

Re: Bought yesterday - wont start today

I am one of those lazy idiots who doesnt read instruction manuals until needed - after posting, i read the manual. what i was doing wrong is that when i pushed the throttle all the way to give gas before starting, i put it back in neutral and then attempted to start.

it is still really cold here, the manual suggested that i push the throttle all the way, and then leave it pushed 1/4th and then turn the key. after a few tries, it started!

i am at peace for now...

Any advice on precautions, what to check etc. would be he great! Excited to own the boat and be part of this community!

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Bought yesterday - wont start today

Welcome to Iboats!

Every boat has a certain starting procedure that it likes best.
Once you learn the boat it will probably start every time.

Glad you figured it out...

 

[bigskiohio]

Re: Bought yesterday - wont start today

run the blower and dont forget the water and dont rev it on muffs. also need a charge or new battery 12v is not good.

 

[PitchFork]

Re: Bought yesterday - wont start today

Use the the manual study it especially on a used boat. I learned that well. My boat was missing the check balls in the thermostat housing and was running hot during idle. It was also missing a thermostat, blowby hose off the valve cover, had the wrong spark plugs, wrong harmonic balancer, audio buzzer was missing, and many of the gauges did not work. Question everything.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Bought yesterday - wont start today

I am one of those lazy idiots who doesnt read instruction manuals until needed - after posting, i read the manual. what i was doing wrong is

Ayuh,... Amazing how that works,... Ain't it....??

When you're done readin' That,...
Head on up to the Adults Only section of this forum,...
You'll find several more days worth of exciting readin' you really Should see...

 

[Seon]

Re: Bought yesterday - wont start today

Did you put the safety lanyard on the kill switch? Without it, no ignition.

That happened to me once...forgetting to put the lanyard clip back on that is...darn near didn't go fishing that day

BTW I've owned a couple of cuddy boats with an I/O and don't remember them having a safety lanyard (?)