Engine will run but only with the key cranking the starter

[aggiedave98]

I took my boat (2004 21.5 ft I/O with the 5.0L Volvo Penta) out for the first time since the fall 2 days ago. Everything went fine. I ran it fast, slow, idled, everything was great.

Yesterday I took it out. It started right up, my friend took it around at idle while I put up the trailer. I got in and tried to take off and the engine died. Now it will only "keep running" if I keep the key in the start position (meaning where the starter should be engaged). At idle position of the throttle, it seems "runs" at low rpm and if I have it at full throttle it will accelerate if I keep the key engaged.

Could it be the key itself? A fuel problem? The strange thing is it's actually "catching" not just turning over. Not sure where to go from here. Thanks!


outdrive
TSK-SM-M
3868844
serial #4151056372

engine
3869254
serial #4012120594

 

[Don S]

Re: Engine will run but only with the key cranking the starter

Does it have a safety lanyard switch that may have got turned off? If not, turn the key to run, check for voltage on the purple wire of the coil. If none, check on the purple wire on the ignition switch. If none there you need a switch. If you have power on the switch, you have a bad wire or connection between the switch and the coil.

 

[aggiedave98]

Re: Engine will run but only with the key cranking the starter

Don, thankfully it's been a while for me to have to post on here but YOU GOT IT! My neighbor must have stepped on the lanyard. I'm frustrated I didn't think of that, but REALLY appreciate your help once again. BUT now I have another problem. I think maybe with trying to start it too many times I may have killed the starter. With the lanyard IN, I now get nothing (no cranking). Do you think it's likely that I burned up the starter? It worked great yesterday, but I'm worried that by trying to start it too many times (too closely together) that I ruined it.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Engine will run but only with the key cranking the starter

I now get nothing (no cranking). Do you think it's likely that I burned up the starter? It worked great yesterday, but I'm worried that by trying to start it too many times (too closely together) that I ruined it.

Ayuh,... The lanyard is irrelevant to the starter crankin'...

Is the controller in Neutral,..??

Grab a test light, 'n Check the startin' circuit...
That'll tell ya whether ya gotta pull the starter or not...

 

[aggiedave98]

Re: Engine will run but only with the key cranking the starter

Ok, here's the latest... since the starter wasn't cranking, I tried to find it. It actually took me a while because I didn't realize I would have to basically be upside down and it's on the bottom right looking at the engine. I moved the wires a little bit to try and see how much of a pain it would be to replace and if I wanted to do it myself. On a whim, I tried to start it again, and WHAM, there we go! So now it's working fine. Since the starter takes the most amps (right?) I guess it could just be a corroded/loose connection to the starter wire?? Or do you think the starter could be flakey?

 

[Don S]

Re: Engine will run but only with the key cranking the starter

Here is how to troubleshoot your starting problem, http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=167035

Here is the wiring diagram. View attachment 5.0GLE.pdf

 

[Don S]

Re: Engine will run but only with the key cranking the starter

It could be that you didn't have it in neutral all the way and the neutral safety switch kept it from cranking.

 

[aggiedave98]

Re: Engine will run but only with the key cranking the starter

Don, thanks for the diagram. I'll take a look. What does the neutral switch do? I thought that you could actually start it even if the drive was engaged? Is it possible my '88 Invader (17 foot I/O with a mercruiser) not have that switch?

 

[Don S]

Re: Engine will run but only with the key cranking the starter

Just like a car, the neutral safety switch keeps you from cranking the engine over with it in gear. Your old boat had one to begin with, but it may have failed and someone bypassed it.

 

[aggiedave98]

Re: Engine will run but only with the key cranking the starter

Ok, thanks Don! I asked that because I think one time in my old boat I accidentally starter it in the driveway with it not in neutral. Do you think with me cranking it 6-7 times over a couple of hours (for 5-6 seconds) that it would harm the starter?

 

[Don S]

Re: Engine will run but only with the key cranking the starter

Do you think with me cranking it 6-7 times over a couple of hours (for 5-6 seconds) that it would harm the starter?

That wouldn't hurt it at all.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Engine will run but only with the key cranking the starter

My neighbor must have stepped on the lanyard. I'm frustrated I didn't think of that, but REALLY appreciate your help once again. BUT now I have another problem. I think maybe with trying to start it too many times I may have killed the starter.

Maybe it is best that your neighbor stay home next time . . .

 

[aggiedave98]

Re: Engine will run but only with the key cranking the starter

Just to fill folks in (since I know I always want to hear how things turned out...). I finally got sick of trying to work on it because I had bloody arms from trying to reach in the shifter hole. Turns out, my shift cable had the sheathing worn off in a spot and the shift cable was rusted, not moving smoothly. So Don, the time it worked, then didn't, etc. it must have been like you said and the neutral switch was stopping it. I also didn't want to mess with it because I was worried about if I put a new cable on not having it adjusted correctly and making a bigger problem for myself.

Anyway, it wound up working out well since I didn't know the shifter should have been a lot smoother than it was.