1999 Sea Ray 190S BR

Jaime

New Member
Aug 1, 2022
2
Boat Info
1999 - Searay 190S
Engines
5.0 L V8 Mercury IO
I have an intermittent starting issue. It seems to be happening more and more. When I go to start my boat I turn the key and get nothing. I turn it over again and the next time it starts. Sometime it takes several times and sometime it starts on the first try. I don’t believe it is a buttery issue because when it does turnover it is turning over fine. I don’t think it is a key issue because when I turn the key the alarm always goes. I don’t think it is a starter issue because there is no noise when I turn it over (no clicking,,). So I am not sure what the issue is?it is a 5L Mercury IO.
 
Funny you say that... I have a '98 185BR w/4.3L that did the same thing last Thursday night when I took it back out onto the lake with my wife. We putt-putted out of the shallows from the dock into the lake and I stalled. I turned the key to engage the starter and got nothing. Turned it to the off position and it started right up again. It happened one more time a few minutes later and then never again for the next 5 days we were on the water (which was constantly).

Has me very concerned that something's up! Last thing I did between outings was to install a depth finder. So maybe the connections behind the dash shorted or something briefly? I haven't climbed behind the dash to see if anything changed. Nor did I check my battery terminals yet. But something's up...

What did you do to your boat since it was last working right? I'm a big believer in troubleshooting via the "what just changed" method...
 
Funny you say that... I have a '98 185BR w/4.3L that did the same thing last Thursday night when I took it back out onto the lake with my wife. We putt-putted out of the shallows from the dock into the lake and I stalled. I turned the key to engage the starter and got nothing. Turned it to the off position and it started right up again. It happened one more time a few minutes later and then never again for the next 5 days we were on the water (which was constantly).

Has me very concerned that something's up! Last thing I did between outings was to install a depth finder. So maybe the connections behind the dash shorted or something briefly? I haven't climbed behind the dash to see if anything changed. Nor did I check my battery terminals yet. But something's up...

What did you do to your boat since it was last working right? I'm a big believer in troubleshooting via the "what just changed" method...[

Started happening two summers ago, but have not done anything to the boat since it has been happening. I am going to take it in to get it looked at but problem needs to be happening for the mechanic to trouble shoot it. My guess is that it is an electrical connection but hoping he can figure out. Was going to live with it but has been happening a lot more lately and I am worried about getting stranded.
 
Sounds like ignition switch or the starter solenoid going bad. Diagnosing it may be the problem.

Could be the ignition switch... But as the original poster said, it's not the starter. It was more like the battery was completely disconnected from the boat electronics for a second. Nothing happened at all when turning the key... Definitely something to play with now that the boat's back on the trailer right now!
 
Actually, it could be ANY of the things you're trying to cross of the list. The battery could be the issue if connections aren't tight (pos, grounds... anywhere in the circuit). The key could be the issue if the start "section" is flaky. The starter could be the issue if the solenoid is flaky/worn. Check/verify all connections, first. Then check for switched power at solenoid/relay... back track from there if need be.
 
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