nothing happens when you turn key

[Ed520482]

I want to start by saying that I have never owned a boat outside of a kayak to fish. I do have a little bit of mechanical experience but only with cars. With that said I bought a boat this morning for the first time. It is a 1988 Bayliner. I dont know what model and i was hoping someone could help me with that because the title doesnt say and the HIN look up tool doesnt say exacly either. I added a photo and am hoping that someone could help me out.

OK so the reason i am here. when i turned the key nothing happens. there is power because when i hooked it to the battery charger i did have the stereo working. I checked the all of the fuses under the dash and they are all fine. So i looked at the back of the boat at the engine and tried to find any in line fuse or anything that stood out and didnt see anything there iether. I also found out that there is a kill switch that i thought could be the culprit so i looked at it and they cut the wiring to it and wired the two wires together. I took a screw driver and crossed the starter solenoid and it did spark but there was the starter didnt do anything. no sound no turning no nothing. some of the switches did work like a pump or something and the trim was working so i know there is enough power to at least make the starter click but i couldnt figure it out. Anyoene have any ideas?

 

[harringtondav]

You will get more help from this forum with more information. Start with sharing the engine and outdrive make. Forum members can contribute engine wiring diagrams.

You need to diagnose your entire engine electrical system. You'll need a meter. Start with a known good battery. It doesn't take much to run a stereo, but it takes a good battery to crank an engine.

Check for voltage between the 'B', red wire at the ignition switch and a good engine ground. No voltage means a bad 12V feed to the switch. Then check between the 'B' and 'I', blue ignition wire. Then do the same between red and the yellow/black 'S' start wire. No 12V between either means a downstream open/broken wire. Blue wire generally goes to the coil or ignition ignition module. Yellow/red wire goes to the start slave solenoid.

12V at the ignition switch between both ignition and start may indicate a bad switch. ...I just went through this. If you have voltage at these points, make a jumper and jump between B and Start and see what happens. Engine crank means bad key switch. Click at the slave solenoid means bad solenoid, or starter/starter solenoid.

...this goes on beyond what I can recommend w/o more info.

...except never buy a boat without taking it out for a test drive. Good luck.

 

[Ed520482]

You will get more help from this forum with more information. Start with sharing the engine and outdrive make. Forum members can contribute engine wiring diagrams.

You need to diagnose your entire engine electrical system. You'll need a meter. Start with a known good battery. It doesn't take much to run a stereo, but it takes a good battery to crank an engine.

Check for voltage between the 'B', red wire at the ignition switch and a good engine ground. No voltage means a bad 12V feed to the switch. Then check between the 'B' and 'I', blue ignition wire. Then do the same between red and the yellow/black 'S' start wire. No 12V between either means a downstream open/broken wire. Blue wire generally goes to the coil or ignition ignition module. Yellow/red wire goes to the start slave solenoid.

12V at the ignition switch between both ignition and start may indicate a bad switch. ...I just went through this. If you have voltage at these points, make a jumper and jump between B and Start and see what happens. Engine crank means bad key switch. Click at the slave solenoid means bad solenoid, or starter/starter solenoid.

...this goes on beyond what I can recommend w/o more info.

...except never buy a boat without taking it out for a test drive. Good luck.

i didnt take it for a test drive because i knew it wasnt running. I got the boat for a steal so i bought it. I can resell it if its beyond repair so i went for it before someone else grabbed it. With the key in the on position i did jump the solenoid and it didnt do anything. Just a spark.

 

[mike_i]

sounds like a dead/weak battery