Port engine won't start [Solved and Fixed]

[jetboater4life]

Not the best fathers day. Could not get my port engine to start today. Starboard fires up instantly. Battery voltages seem OK. Checked the lanyard and clean out hatch switches and they seem good. Checked all the fuses and no issues. The engines ran great two weeks ago. I changed plugs on the port engine and still no start up. Old irridium plugs with 150hrs on them looked great. Just turns over nicely but will not start.
The engine oil is a little past the full mark when cold but that was the case the previous two times out and it ran fine. It was right in the middle after I changed oil before my first time out this year. Some how it has gone up. I plan to take some out.

Time to swap ecus? I need to look up how to do that.

Any other thoughts?

 

[Acard7]

So you haven’t changed your plugs at all for how long?? When I had troubles starting in our AR230 I changed my plugs and that was the problem, as crazy easy as it seems!

 

[the MfM]

Maybe you bumped a wire harness when you changed the plugs?

do you have a way to check for spark when you crank the engine?

is there seperate fuel shutoffs?

 

[Motorcity John]

Just had this very thing happen to me today.
The rear compartment which contains the cleanout plugs was not closed and latched on one side.
One engine started, the other wouldn’t even crank until I found the issue.

 

[jetboater4life]

Thx guys. I changed the plugs after I couldn't get it started. It exhibited the same behavior of turning over but not starting after the spark plug change. Yes my spark plug change was overdue but the iridium plugs last forever and I make sure to put a small dab of antisieze and do not oveetighten.

Possibly bumped a wire when doing a bunch of mods last weekend. Will need to do a spark check.

I am not aware of any fuel shutoffs in the 2010 212x

 

[HangOutdoors]

Are all of your grounds solid back by the battery and switch? Making good contact?

 

[Mike In Michigan]

Having a similar problem that started on our Father’s Day outing. Please watch/listen to video (if it will upload) No spark to engine I think. Tried disconnecting the lanyard kill switch wiring and same problem- starboard fires, port kerthunks. Pump cleanout hatch safety switches were wired to be bypassed by previous owner.

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[Scarpp]

I had the same thing happen. I checked everything. Then a buddy was looking in the engine when I was trying to start it. He heard a clicking noise. Turned out to be one of the wires from the battery switches was stuck in the {what i think is the throttle cable} and prevented the engine from getting gas. Took us over an hour to figure it out.

 

[jetboater4life]

I tried switching my ignition wires and that didn't change anything. Starboard fired right up with the port ignition switch and port continue to turn over but not start with the starboard ignition. I checked for spark on the #1 port spark plug by removing it and grounding it to the engine and spark was absent. I looked over all the wires and they seem to be secure. I checked all the port fuses and they all looked good. I'm probably missing a bad wire connection somewhere. Not sure what else it could be. I'm probably going to take it to the shop for the first time of my ownership (10years) tomorrow.

 

[Mike In Michigan]

I tried switching my ignition wires and that didn't change anything. Starboard fired right up with the port ignition switch and port continue to turn over but not start with the starboard ignition. I checked for spark on the #1 port spark plug by removing it and grounding it to the engine and spark was absent. I looked over all the wires and they seem to be secure. I checked all the port fuses and they all looked good. I'm probably missing a bad wire connection somewhere. Not sure what else it could be. I'm probably going to take it to the shop for the first time of my ownership (10years) tomorrow.

I am calling one of the local shops tomorrow to see if I can get mine in for service. I did the spark test (failed) also but, not the ignition swap. I have had it for less than a month- only three outings! I wish I coild get the video clip to upload because it may help someone who has a clue know what is going on.

 

[Kaiser211]

From my limited experience have you checked your fuel pump. If you open up your compartment to fuel tank and unlock the tub leading to the engine and go to turn on the boat via turn the key fuel should shoot out. I had and issue where mine wasn’t sending fuel and it was a fuel pump and grounding issue.

 

[the MfM]

I tried switching my ignition wires and that didn't change anything. Starboard fired right up with the port ignition switch and port continue to turn over but not start with the starboard ignition. I checked for spark on the #1 port spark plug by removing it and grounding it to the engine and spark was absent. I looked over all the wires and they seem to be secure. I checked all the port fuses and they all looked good. I'm probably missing a bad wire connection somewhere. Not sure what else it could be. I'm probably going to take it to the shop for the first time of my ownership (10years) tomorrow.

I’d take a close look at the lanyard kill switch. It’s actually two switches in one (one for each engine. I believe that switch kills spark but would still allow the engines to crank.

 

[jetboater4life]

I did the spark plug test again on #2 and still no spark. Double checked all the wires and fuses and everything looks good. I've wiggled the lanyard switch and pulled it out just a tad more while starting and nothing. I ran YDS and did all the tests and everything checked out. Then I saved the data diagnostics file. There were no new codes recorded. If the ECU was communicating data and stored the data diagnostics file does that mean it's not the issue?

This does seem like a lanyard issue. It's not the rear hatch switches because neither engine turns over when the hatch is open. I'm going to give the lanyard switch one more inspection before I haul it into a professional to tear into it.

 

[ripler]

My bet it's the safety lanyard switch as @the MfM described. I'm at work and don't have access to my old Yamaha maintenance manual to post a pic of the wiring.

 

[ripler]

OK, I found a USB stick in my computer bag that has the Yamaha shop manual on it, the manual was for my 2010 SX210, but I'd bet the wiring system was the same. I think the lanyard is item 16.

I can post any other items from the manual if you want, or I can send you the whole manual if you want.

 

[jetboater4life]

I did some more YDS testing this morning and it is certainly engine stop lanyard switch related. The engine stop lanyard switch sensor for the port engine is stuck in the ON position no matter what I do with the engine stop lanyard switch. I tested the starboard engine and just manual pulling the engine stop lanyard switch in and out showed the setting changing in YDS. Now I need to start tracing wires. I'm going to start at the switch. Looks like I will have to remove the throttles to get at it.

 

[ripler]

I did some more YDS testing this morning and it is certainly throttle stop related. The throttle stop sensor for the port engine is stuck in the ON position no matter what I do with the throttle stop. I tested the starboard engine and just manual pulling the throttle stop in and out showed the setting changing in YDS. Now I need to start tracing wires. I'm going to start at the switch. Looks like I will have to remove the throttles to get at it.

Do they call the lanyard switch the throttle stop in YDS? See my above post for wiring and let me know if you need anything else.

 

[jetboater4life]

Do they call the lanyard switch the throttle stop in YDS? See my above post for wiring and let me know if you need anything else.

Sorry I called it the wrong thing and have corrected my post above. It's called the engine stop lanyard switch in YDS. On the back of the switch are 4 wires that go to connectors labeled port and starboard. I switched them and no change in behavior in YDS or engine function. Starboard engine fires right up and port engine just turns over with no spark. YDS shows the engine stop lanyard switch being ON for the port engine and not changing. This must mean the connection is bad at the engine? I have the shop manual for my boat and the wiring diagrams look different. I'll get what I have posted in a minute.

 

[the MfM]

Sounds like you have a short in the wiring.

 

[jetboater4life]

It seems that way. I think I found where the engine stop lanyard switch wires trace back to the engine but everything looks good. Frankly the wiring diagram I posted isn't that helpful but I'm not used to looking at them.