Boat won't start up again

[scgirl6]

Last Sat. we took the boat out and all was fine, until we stopped and shut the engine off. We tried to start it up and the whole key ignition was turning so you couldn't tell if it was on, acc., or off. So I tightened it and no alarm, nothing. I checked the fuses in the fuse box and they were ok. Then I checked the ones behind the fuse box and they were ok. Lifted the engine cover and checked the fuses near the starter and battery all ok. I reset the 50 amp fuse still nothing. I thought it may have shorted out the ignition switch so I changed that. Still nothing. Any suggestions where to start looking?
scgirl6
Cadet

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#2
Today, 01:31 PM


Also nothing else on the panel works except the blower. No bilge, no lights, just blower .

2008 Tahoe Tracker deck boat I/O Mercruiser

 

[scgirl6]

see above add on

 

[littlerayray]

Did you check the emergency kill switcheck and did you check the wires to the ignition maybe when it was free spinning the wires broke loose also clean and tighten the connections on your battery

 

[Silvertip]

The kill switch does not kill the gauges and other stuff on the boat -- it merely kills the ignition and the engine stops. Go back to the battery and look carefully at the smaller red wire attached to the POSITIVE terminal on the battery. Follow that wire and you should find a circuit breaker or fuse. Check that fuse. That circuit feeds things at the helm but the gauges are fed by the large battery cable via the engine to helm harness. So it appears this may simply be a loose or corroded battery cable. Remove them, make them shiny bright and then tighten them securely -- with a pliers or wrench. Remember, there are two ends to both battery cables.

 

[scgirl6]

I did check the kill switch and made sure the battery terminals are tight and no corrosion. Tomorrow I will try to follow the positive terminals.

 

[alldodge]

At the key switch trace the Red/Purple wire, you should find a inline 20amp fuse

 

[bruceb58]

The kill switch on my boat connects right after the ignition switch before the gauges. I am sure some boats are wired differently than others.

 

[scgirl6]

Well you were right on the fuse at the battery it was blown as well as one by the coil. I replaced both but still nothing.

 

[bruceb58]

Will the ignition switch operate the starter?

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,..... Welcome Aboard,..... Do ya have a Test Light,..??

See if ya got power at the Batt terminal of the key switch,....

See if ya got power on both sides of the breaker on the motor,....

See if there's power at the starter's solenoid,....

Probably oughta start by cleanin' the battery terminals to shiny clean metal, 'n reinstallin' 'em,....
Then do the other ends of those wires,....
'n any other wirin' ends yer testin',....

 

[scgirl6]

The ignition switch does not do anything. Not even the alarm.

I don't have a test light but my son does and he is suppose to be here Sat., if I can't find it before then.

 

[alldodge]

The ignition switch does not do anything. Not even the alarm.

I don't have a test light but my son does and he is suppose to be here Sat., if I can't find it before then.

The 20 amp fuse attached to the Red/Pur wire

 

[scgirl6]

My son finally figured it out. The relay solenoid was bad and after resetting the 50 amp reset button it fired up. 5 min later we are back on the water. Yeah!!

 

[alldodge]

My son finally figured it out. The relay solenoid was bad and after resetting the 50 amp reset button it fired up. 5 min later we are back on the water. Yeah!!

Glad your back in the water, but the solenoid does not control the power to your gauges, or the ECM. You stated you had no power to nothing. Hope you have many days of happy boating

 

[bruceb58]

I think she meant resetting the 50A circuit breaker.