Turning Key Does Nothing

[aewood21]

First time boat owner (1 week)

Ran fine all weekend. Tried to start with ear muffs tonight to make sure it is ready for the weekend but turning the key does nothing. Read a few posts and thinking it might be the ignition switch.

115999R Evinrude. Test battery - fully charged. No click of any kind when turning key. If I push in key and turn I do hear the choke engaging so that makes me question if it is the ignition switch or not, but I don't know. Connected jumper cables to battery, grounded the black touched the red to the starter and it turned.

Does it sound like I need to replace the ignition switch?

Thanks!
Aaron

 

[Mas]

Re: Turning Key Does Nothing

Kill lanyard??

Otherwise, clean and check all connections.

mas

 

[aewood21]

Re: Turning Key Does Nothing

It doesn't have a kill lanyard. At least I didn't have one running it all weekend... lol.
I also tried moving the throttle around while turning the key but that didn't work either.

Now my connections were underwater the first time I tried to launch because this first time idiot forgot to put the plug in. It ran immediately after draining but perhaps after a few days something messed up due to the water???

 

[BKS72]

Re: Turning Key Does Nothing

I'm not sure on your motor but most have a fuse on the ignition circuit. If your motor has one and it blows you'll get the symptoms you describe. Look for an inline fuse holder on your harness under the cowling.

 

[levi_tsk]

Re: Turning Key Does Nothing

yeah it does ... itll be on the top of the powerhead right by the lifting eye
fuse holder will be about 1 inch long and about half an inch in diameter looks like a bump in the wiring made of rubber itll have a tiny glass fuse inside and you about need a magnifying glass to see if its blown -most likely it is though

 

[trendsetter240]

Re: Turning Key Does Nothing

Kill switch lanyard is not it. the motor will turn over with the kill switch disconnected it just won't start.

You say the motor/battery was submerged. It most likely your battery connections or a fuse. Since it ran after you submerged it I doubt it's a fuse.

Remove the battery cable connections at the battery and the motor and clean with a wire brush. Then reattach and try again. The primer solenoid will click with a slight connection but the starter motor won't turn unless you have a clean, solid connection at both the battery and the motor.

 

[aewood21]

Re: Turning Key Does Nothing

What is the little box next to battery called (wires come into that box - then connect to a panel - then out to the battery)? This box was submerged and it is quite damp and oily in there. I'll get that all cleaned up. There is also a fuse in there on one of the wires. It is soaking wet inside the fuse housing. Would this cause my problem? Letting it dry out now? Thanks so much for all the replies. I know nothing of boat motors but am trying to learn.

 

[F_R]

Re: Turning Key Does Nothing

That box is for the power tilt & trim. You do need to get it cleaned up and dried out, but that is not your starting problem.

The fuse is not your starting problem either, because the choke works.

So, back to the basics. Is it in neutral? Is the throttle not advanced too far?

If it is not something simple like that, the next step is using a multimeter to check out the start circuit. You say you know nothing about boat motors, so I assume you know nothing about electrical circuits either??

You have a couple of choices:
1. Learn about electrical circuits and how to use a meter to check them.

2. Start replacing parts till you get lucky.

3. Get somebody that knows what he is doing to help you check it.

It most likely is NOT the ignition switch, but go ahead if you think it is. It's only money.

 

[aewood21]

Re: Turning Key Does Nothing

Thanks for identifying that box for me. I do know some about car motors and electrical circuits. i have a multi meter so I will go down that route.

 

[levi_tsk]

Re: Turning Key Does Nothing

check part number 21 in this pic please ????
ive been through all the tests you guys are telling this guy to do HOWEVER after i chased my tail i asked the local dealer what it could be he says "have you checked the fuse ?" i said "no what fuse ?" "its on top of the motor" he replies...sells me a box of fuses and i go home and sure as hell its blown i chased it for two weeks and fixed the problem in five mins before that it wouldnt do anything with the key except actuate the choke i could jump the silinoid and it would start and run but the key wouldnt start it so please for the love of bob check the fuse......

my motor was an 81 140 johnson btw same basic engine just two years newer - i have an old harness off of a 79 85hp and the color of the wire is red with a black sheath over it

 

[aewood21]

Re: Turning Key Does Nothing

Thanks... I only see 1 fuse in that area and it was good. With the fuse out the choke doesn't work on mine... unless there is another fuse I'm missing.

I used the multimeter to check start and solenoid while turning key... no juice. I then jumped the large terminal with small terminal on solenoid and it turns over. Correct me if wrong but I think I can deduce from that the connection from battery to motor is fine. It has to be the wiring from ignition to battery. Not sure how exactly to check that. I did double check that the neutral switch is engaged. Still guessing it is a simple fix if I just knew what exactly to look for... I am learning a little in the process so not a total waste.

 

[levi_tsk]

Re: Turning Key Does Nothing

will it start and run with the key switched on and if you jump the solenoid? if so its gotta be that fuse im talking about it only controls the start funtion on the key and because you dunked the engine im thinking it popped that fuse its held down and together by a small bolt and a ss wire clip

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Turning Key Does Nothing

The kill switch controls the IGNITION - not the starter. The SHIFT INTERLOCK controls whether or not the starter spins (shifter must be in neutral). The fuse at the engine is also NOT the problem since the choke/primer solenoid is clicking. You can start by disconnecting and reconnecting the large engine harness plug several times to burnish the connections. If that doesn't work, then you troubleshoot the starter solenoid system. Using a voltmeter, measure the voltage on the small terminal on the solenoid while someone turns the key to START. No voltage says harness problem or ignition switch. This is highly unlikely. If you see 12 volts in that test, that says the start circuit and ignition switch are ok. Next is to make the same measurement on the large terminal going to the starter. If no voltage when the key is turned to START see if there is 12 volts on the other large terminal (the one from the battery). If 12 volts is present, replace the solenoid. If no power to the solenoid, check battery cables and connections. Actually, that should have been done well before you even suspect the ignition switch. Checking cables does not mean looking at them. Disconnect, clean thoroughly and reattach securely -- and that means both ends.

 

[levi_tsk]

Re: Turning Key Does Nothing

ehhh!!!!
i give up !!!!
dont check the fuse
i dont know what im talking about .....
ive never had this exact problem before either

 

[Sixmark]

Re: Turning Key Does Nothing

ehhh!!!!
i give up !!!!
dont check the fuse
i dont know what im talking about .....
ive never had this exact problem before either

He already stated that he checked the fuse.

 

[aewood21]

Re: Turning Key Does Nothing

Silvertip - Meter showed power to the solenoid so going to replace that. Thank you. I was thrown off because I can touch the top and bottom leads of the solenoid and it turns over - i thought that meant the solenoid was fine.

The kill switch controls the IGNITION - not the starter. The SHIFT INTERLOCK controls whether or not the starter spins (shifter must be in neutral). The fuse at the engine is also NOT the problem since the choke/primer solenoid is clicking. You can start by disconnecting and reconnecting the large engine harness plug several times to burnish the connections. If that doesn't work, then you troubleshoot the starter solenoid system. Using a voltmeter, measure the voltage on the small terminal on the solenoid while someone turns the key to START. No voltage says harness problem or ignition switch. This is highly unlikely. If you see 12 volts in that test, that says the start circuit and ignition switch are ok. Next is to make the same measurement on the large terminal going to the starter. If no voltage when the key is turned to START see if there is 12 volts on the other large terminal (the one from the battery). If 12 volts is present, replace the solenoid. If no power to the solenoid, check battery cables and connections. Actually, that should have been done well before you even suspect the ignition switch. Checking cables does not mean looking at them. Disconnect, clean thoroughly and reattach securely -- and that means both ends.

 

[aewood21]

Re: Turning Key Does Nothing

Solenoid - 12.99 at autozone did the trick. Thanks so much for the help in troubleshooting. I learned a lot in the process too.

 

[levi_tsk]

Re: Turning Key Does Nothing

aewood whats the pn# on that solenoid? i didnt know they had em there??

 

[aewood21]

Re: Turning Key Does Nothing

Sorry for the delay... I'll look at the box when I get home tonight. It was a ford solenoid the guy at autozone said. I had to cut the built in bracket off it but then it was good to go. My local marine service center closed at 2 on saturday so I had to try autozone. My dad had told me he bought a solenoid at AZ a couple years ago and it worked fine.

 

[levi_tsk]

Re: Turning Key Does Nothing

oh ok cool thanks for the info .... the ford starters ARE the same plus a bracket i thought you might have found one without a bracket