won´t crank or turn over

[Gabele83]

Hello, I´m new on here and fairly new to boats too. So in advance sorry, if my info or questions sound a little weird. Anyhow I have a 1997 18ft Sunbird Coral with a 4.3L Volvo and a Cobra sx outdrive. A couple weeks ago and actually since a few times, I had the problem that I try to start the boat, it cranks but won´t turn over. As soon as I try it the 2nd time, nothing happens anymore. Gauges and all go on but it´ll not even crank. I shift for and back, try it again and it starts. Sometimes I need to do that a few times and I did flood it before. But eventually it cranks again and starts. So today now, for sure not at the dock, out on the lake, it didn´t want to start anymore at all. Just like before I tried it a few times, but nothing. I´m now researching for a couple hours already and kind of get the direction of a transmission neutral safety switch being bad. I don´t even know where it sits and certainly not sure if that could even be the explanation. Any idea? Thanks

 

[TyeeMan]

If there is a nuetral safety switch I would say it's either in the shift/throttle control box, or it could be located back on the engine. Follow your shift cable at the back of the boat and see if it connects to some "thing" that might contact a switch that would lock out the starter.

When you say it "cranks but wont turn over", do you mean that the starter engages and the engine will not rotate? Or do you mean that the engine rotates but will not start.

I would think if there were a neutral safety switch, if the boat was in gear you could turn the key but the starter motor will not engage.