Need help! 2017 AR190 won’t start on the water

[HoosierDaddyAR190]

I am having some issues with my 2017 AR190 starting on the water. A few weeks ago we were on the water having a good time. I stopped the engine to go wakeboarding and the engine would not start back up. We had to be towed in by a nice kid on a jet ski. Thank goodness for good samaritans like him. thought it was to kill switch because the boat started after messing with it in the restaurant parking lot. Like 15 minutes after pulling it out of the water. Planned to for out today thinking all was good. Just to be safe checked to see if it would start in the driveway which it did. Good deal, hitting the water then today. Launched at the dock and it stated right up at first. To be safe I wanted to turn it off and start it at the dock. Killed the engine and tried starting and it would not start. Pulled it out of the water and when I got home 20 minutes later it started in the driveway. Something is causing it not to start only on the water. I am a little stumped on what would cause this and did some research on it and not much on the forum. So reaching out seeking help from the forum on trouble shooting this. Any thoughts or ideas on what would cause this? Again it will start on when not in the water but does not turnover when in the water? Thanks in advance for any help anyone can provide.

 

[sgust]

Did you check your cleanout hatch? It or the switch could need adjustment. Maybe the hatch is moving just enough to not depress the switch, causing the engine not to turn over.

 

[HoosierDaddyAR190]

Did you check your cleanout hatch? It or the switch could need adjustment. Maybe the hatch is moving just enough to not depress the switch, causing the engine not to turn over.

Thanks for the quick response and idea on this. I did think of that and checked it. I ruled it out because it has started when out of the water multiple times. In the water only it does not start. Correct me if I am wrong with my logic.

 

[Hot2Go]

When you have the issue, is it turning over at all when trying to start, or not at all? The lanyard kill switch will allow you to turn it over but won't fire, pull the lanyard and replace it. The cleanout hatch safety switch will not allow the engine to turn over at all, you can test it by having someone compress it to see if maybe the switch needs adjustment. Make sure your throttles are in neutral obviously. Check your battery connections.

 

[HoosierDaddyAR190]

When you have the issue, is it turning over at all when trying to start, or not at all? The lanyard kill switch will allow you to turn it over but won't fire, pull the lanyard and replace it. The cleanout hatch safety switch will not allow the engine to turn over at all, you can test it by having someone compress it to see if maybe the switch needs adjustment. Make sure your throttles are in neutral obviously. Check your battery connections.

When I am having the issue only on the water it will not turnover at all. Good to know that the lanyard switch will turnover but the kill switch will not at all. That leads me to the kill switch to trouble shoot more. Thank you!

 

[HoosierDaddyAR190]

When I am having the issue only on the water it will not turnover at all. Good to know that the lanyard switch will turnover but the kill switch will not at all. That leads me to the kill switch to trouble shoot more. Thank you!

Checked the battery connections and nothing looked incorrect there. Pulled the plugs and those were dry.

 

[Hot2Go]

Yes, if the lanyard is pulled it will turn over but wont start. Definitely troubleshoot the cleanout hatch kill switch since it won't turn over at all on the water, have someone compress it and if it starts every time on the water if someone pushes it down then you know you need to adjust it to have the hatch compress it more. While also making sure your throttle is in neutral, lol.

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

Agree sounds like the rear hatch switches see if there is an adjustment for them or glue a Nickle over the switch on the hatch surface that was the old reliable way to deal with it

 

[HoosierDaddyAR190]

@Cobra Jet Steering LLC @Hot2Go Gentlemen, you are correct about the kill switch. That seems to be the culprit. I was able to reproduce the problem in the driveway out of the water which leads me to another question. Holding it down does not lead to it starting. Seems to be intermittent. Should I replace the switch as a next step to resolve this? Thank you for very much for you help on this.

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

I would look for the electrical connection to the switch and make sure it is clean and test the switch with a meter.

 

[HoosierDaddyAR190]

@Cobra Jet Steering LLC @Hot2Go or anyone else that may be helpful. The boat won’t turnover and I am pretty sure it isn’t the clean out switch. It won’t turnover at all now. Batteries are charged and other accessories have power. There is a clicking noise coming from the area where fuses and switches are located. What would you recommend for next steps?

 

[Hot2Go]

You can try jumping the solenoid with a screwdriver to see if it'll turn the engine over, sparks will happen so make sure it's well ventilated. If the engine turns over then you likely have a bad solenoid. If it still doesn't turn over then you probably have a bad starter.

Is the clicking noise when you're trying to turn it over? Or is it just clicking when you turn the battery switch on? Do you charge your batteries with a maintainer? Is that why you say they are fully charged? Or did you test their voltage with a meter? Check all your fuses, maybe it's as easy as one of those!

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

Make sure the pump is not locked up and the solenoid for the starter is good as suggested also clean the main ground wire connection at the engine from the battery

 

[HoosierDaddyAR190]

You can try jumping the solenoid with a screwdriver to see if it'll turn the engine over, sparks will happen so make sure it's well ventilated. If the engine turns over then you likely have a bad solenoid. If it still doesn't turn over then you probably have a bad starter.

Is the clicking noise when you're trying to turn it over? Or is it just clicking when you turn the battery switch on? Do you charge your batteries with a maintainer? Is that why you say they are fully charged? Or did you test their voltage with a meter? Check all your fuses, maybe it's as easy as one of those!

@Hot2Go Thanks for the suggestions and support. The clicking noise is when I am trying to turn it over, not when I turn the battery switch on. Yes, I maintain my batteries on a charger. I will double check them. I have dual batteries so find it unlikely that both batteries went bad at the same time. Will check fuses and starter solenoid next as well. Appreciate the support and will update as I troubleshoot further.

 

[HoosierDaddyAR190]

make sure the pump is not locked up and the solenoid for the starter is good as suggested

@Cobra Jet Steering LLC I’ll double check the pump and solenoid as a next step. Thanks for your help.

 

[Hot2Go]

Clicking while turning the key makes me think bad batteries, or not enough charge, or bad starter. How old are the batteries?

 

[HoosierDaddyAR190]

Clicking while turning the key makes me think bad batteries, or not enough charge, or bad starter. How old are the batteries?

Batteries are 3 years old. It isn’t a continuous clicking. Just a single click when I turn the ignition key and it will not turn over. Do you think it is possible that both batteries would go bad at the same time? I’ll double check them to rile them out and report back.

 

[Hot2Go]

Batteries are 3 years old. It isn’t a continuous clicking. Just a single click when I turn the ignition key and it will not turn over. Do you think it is possible that both batteries would go bad at the same time? I’ll double check them to rile them out and report back.

Ah just a single click okay, doubt the batteries are bad but worth a check. Report back with what you find after doing everything discussed!!

 

[Neutron]

As recommended before did you jump between the 2 terminals of the solenoid? You need to start there.
Have you taken the plugs out and tried cranking.
Whats the volt readings on batteries with a volt meter.
Is there 12 volts on the starter side of the solenoid when the key is in the cranking position.

You are not checking the basics. Doesn't matter how new the batteries are, you need to start with one component and eliminate it from the problem list.
If you dont have a service manual. You need one.