I turn the key but nothing happens.

[Derekhughes218]

Hello all,
Recently I did some work on my boat. That included greasing my shift and throttle cables on my Mercury 3000 controller. I don’t know if this is related but after I was all done, I would turn the key and nothing would happen. Every light and all of the electronics work but the motor doesn’t even try to start. I have a full battery and good connections. My fuses are all good. When working on my cables did I bump something to make the motor think it is in gear? My starter and solenoid are both newer.
Thanks!

 

[RMClark]

Is your kill switch somehow activated?

 

[Chris1956]

Turn and hold the key and rock the throttle handle. Perhaps the neutral safety switch is not closing.

 

[Derekhughes218]

I’ve looked into the kill switch and it appears to be in the run position. I’ve also tried rocking the throttle while holding the key in the start position.

 

[Chris1956]

Maybe the neutral safety switch has a broken wire inside the control, or it is not activating for some reason? I presume you took the controller apart to grease the cables? Any parts left over?

 

[nola mike]

Check voltage at the yellow/red wire coming into the slave solenoid and at the ignition switch when you have key in start

 

[racerone]

Did you have the control box apart / opened up ?

 

[mike_i]

Does the motor make any noise when you turn the key? Any clicking or buzzing sound?

 

[cyclops222]

Neutral safety switch or the Man Overboard safety switch damaged now.

 

[Derekhughes218]

Maybe the neutral safety switch has a broken wire inside the control, or it is not activating for some reason? I presume you took the controller apart to grease the cables? Any parts left over?

I took it apart to grease cables and no I did not have any left over parts. I was messing with the parts inside to try and get more grease into them so I wonder if I bumped the shifter one too much.

 

[Derekhughes218]

Neutral safety switch or the Man Overboard safety switch damaged now.

I will take it apart after work tonight and take a look!

 

[Derekhughes218]

Does the motor make any noise when you turn the key? Any clicking or buzzing sound?

There is only a click when I put the key in to activate the choke. Otherwise nothing

 

[Derekhughes218]

Did you have the control box apart / opened up ?

Yes I did. I was greasing the parts inside and I’m wondering if I bumped the shifter cable to not neutral.

 

[cyclops222]

I damaged a Microswitch one time. It looked fine. But was damaged on a Ohm Meter check.

 

[Derekhughes218]

I should also mention that when I was installing my new transducer wire that pulling it through was hard so I had to yank a couple times. Could this have disconnected any wires?

 

[mike_i]

Have you measured the voltage on the starter while trying to start it?

 

[Derekhughes218]

Have you measured the voltage on the starter while trying to start it?

I have not just because I figured it was fine since it was relatively new but I will do that.