Starting Ghost
 

Hello:
Well this one has got me stumped....We were out today on our 1990 185xl with the 4.3.....We started out from the dock taking a stroll around out lake like normal and then we went to our favorite hang outs to let the kids swim around.....Was there about an hour or so the then went to leave to go tubing and went to the key and nothing.... We had everything else tho,,,,radio,bilge blower nav lights everything but the motor was dead....I thought maybe the kids bumped the throttle so I tried that and nothing....I went to the selenoid and tried to hot jump it and the starter turned over great but wouldn't fire....Like the fuel was cut off...Went to the shut off switch and messed with it and the wires and still nothing....I was frustrated as I didnt know what to do....I left the key on the messed with the selenoid again and had the throttle partly open just in case......I started to jump the terminals on the selenoid again and again nothing......I tried the key again and the motor turned right over and started.....Didn't have a problem again and this is the first time this has ever happen....Thinking I'm switching out the original cut off switch and hope for the best....Any thoughts or comments are always welcomed....Thanks in advanced...Ralph

Re: Starting Ghost
 

OK, this has happened to me a few times, I'm guessing it's the same issue, and I'll level with you, it's a stupid mistake on my part, and I always want to kick my own @ss afterwards.

The engine won't start if the boat's transmission is in gear. It could be slightly engaged and you might not know it. I've learned through my experiences to always engage the transmission into drive, back into neutral, then into reverse, then back into neutral before cranking the key. Give that a try. If it doesn't help, try either replacing the cutoff switch, having your transmission cable checked and tightened, or replace the whole throttle shifter itself.

Hope this helps.