Problem Starting - Key Connection or another issue?

[TOGA]

2 weekends ago the wife was starting the engines on launch and ran into a problem where the starboard engine wouldn't turn over. I hopped in boat, turned key, nothing happened wiggled some wires behind the dash at key connections and she fired right up. No more issues that weekend.

This past weekend the gremlin has spread to both keys. If you just keep bumping the keys, the engines finally make connection and fire right up.

You can hear a click when you turn the key and the starters don't engage. Just a single click.

I checked battery voltage for starting battery and it was 12.3.

Thoughts? Is this a key connection issue or do I have another type of gremlin?

Interesting that it happened once on one engine one weekend but then spread to both and became normal over the course of two days of boating this weekend.

 

[Ilmmct]

I am a consumer of this FAQ forum ... some great information found here:

https://jetboaters.net/threads/engi...engine-codes-and-battery-voltage-states.1835/

 

[tdonoughue]

It took me years to figure this out, but...

If it won't crank, check the cleanout deck first. If that is not closed or the switches are not adjusted right, you will not crank.

If it will crank but won't start, check the lanyard first. If it is not all the way on or the switch is dirty, you will crank but not start.

 

[Papa]

When I had my 05 SX230 I had the same problem. Finally changed out the two switches. That solved the problem.
Papa

 

[the MfM]

Since it’s happening to both engines I’d suspect safety switches not making contact somewhere.

BUT I had the same thing happening on one engine last year, it would sometimes take a few turns of the key and fiddling with the saftety switches and the engine would turn over.

Eventually it got worse and no amount of fiddling would get the engine to turn over. Turns out that a bearing had been going bad in the starter and it finally locked up.

I could hear a slight click or clunk when turning the key when in wouldn’t turn over.

 

[Scottintexas]

make sure your whole switch assembly isn't turning, the locknut on the front of my switch gets loose and if your not looking at it closely it feels like your activating the key but reality is the entire switch assembly is rotating, once you spin it far enough the wires tighten in the back restricting the assembly and allowing the key to activate the starter

 

[Matt Phillips]

I agree...if the engine won't crank, it's usually the cleanout port safety switches. Check the safety switches in the clean out port hatch. If memory serves me correct, they are separate (one for each engine) on the older Yamahs's. Sometimes these switches get out of adjustment and they don't depress far enough to close the circuit and allow the engine to turn over. An easy check on this is to tape a quarter on the under-side of the hatch where the switches touch it. If that solves your problem, then you can go under neath the access port and adjust the switch.

 

[TOGA]

I continue to be baffled by the inconsistent issue of starting my engines.

I can hear a click in the engine compartment when i turn a key. If i just keep twitching the key, the engines eventually crank.

I have checked the clean out port safety switches and they are fine. Engine kill switch is fine.

Battery voltage is good. Terminals are clean.

I have checked the plug connections under the helm. They are clean and tight.

Sometimes after messing with the wiring under the helm where the wires go directly into the switch, the problem stops for a few cranks. That leads me to believe that something is loose or corroded inside the switch itself, but they are sealed, so there no way to check.

The confusing part is hearing the "click" at the engine. It's making some contact, so I am lost as to what to do. I don't want to replace switches in an attempt to rule it out if anyone has any guidance on anything else to check.

Is the another connection at the engine I should check?

 

[MidnightRider]

I continue to be baffled by the inconsistent issue of starting my engines.

I can hear a click in the engine compartment when i turn a key. If i just keep twitching the key, the engines eventually crank.

I have checked the clean out port safety switches and they are fine. Engine kill switch is fine.

Battery voltage is good. Terminals are clean.

I have checked the plug connections under the helm. They are clean and tight.

Sometimes after messing with the wiring under the helm where the wires go directly into the switch, the problem stops for a few cranks. That leads me to believe that something is loose or corroded inside the switch itself, but they are sealed, so there no way to check.

The confusing part is hearing the "click" at the engine. It's making some contact, so I am lost as to what to do. I don't want to replace switches in an attempt to rule it out if anyone has any guidance on anything else to check.

Is the another connection at the engine I should check?

Seems power is getting to the starter solenoid so for me that would eliminate all the switches (key, clean out, lanyard). My next step would be to concentrate on the starter. I'd test the connections on the starter when turning over the key. I haven't looked at the starter on this engine yet but if you can access the starter feeds post solenoid I'd see if you get power to the starter after the solenoid clicks over. If you are getting power then the starter is bad and failing intermittently. If you aren't then work backwards from there. Such as are you getting power on the starter feed to the solenoid, if you are the solenoid is getting power but its failing to close properly. Then start looking at connections from starter to battery. Anyway, that would be my next steps for what its worth but maybe someone else has a better idea to help narrow it.

Edit: Also I'd say my go to for any issue electrical related on these boats would be @Mainah, he may have some ideas.

 

[Gym]

Check the connection on the starter motors. (Make sure your battery switch is off) your starters are very low in the engine bay and have most likely got wet sometime during the boat's lifetime. If they are not corroded or loose I would look at the starter relay in the ECU box. The contacts are probably burnt. I believe the relay is at the lower left corner of each black ECU box on the back engine bay bulkhead. You can try giving it a sharp blow with your fist while someone is holding the key in the start position. If it starts you comfirmed the problem. It's also possible you have dead spots on your starter motors. The same process can be used on them. A sharp blow with a hammer while holding the key in the start position. Just dont hit the wire terminal on the starter.