Boat not starting

[jerry44]

I have a 2002 ski 196 and it is not starting. The battery is charged, terminals are clean. It is the limited edition with the pushbutton key. When I press the start button all of the dash lights come on and I hear a sound in the back of the boat like a thump 5 or so times and what sounds like the blower runs for about 1 second. Then nothing.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

[DanielC]

RE: Boat not starting

How old is the battery? GM or ford engine?

[mrbobolina]

I had a similar thing going on. I found out that there was a bad battery and ground cable. The guy I bought if from took it into salt water so the cables looked okay on the outside, however when I cut them open (after doing a voltage test), I saw that the copper was just beat up. Replaced the cables and the problem was solved.

[M3Fan]

Yep, you've got a low voltage issue. Check the connection from the cable TO the clamp. Check your connection from the ground to the block and from the positive to the starter (the starter is always wired 100% hot on the newer boats). The thump noise is probably the perfect pass servo tightening up and the blower noise is probably coming from your fuel pumps spinning up.

[jerry44]

Thanks for all of the advice. I will check that out.

Thanks again.

[jerry44]

I bought the battery at the first of the summer. It is a Ford engine.

Thanks.

[NautiqueJeff]

Have you checked the starter relay?

[JUST-IN-TIME]

sounds like the starter
u need a remote starter to test things and a test light

[jerry44]

Where is the starter relay located?

Thanks much.

[M3Fan]

Before you start swapping out any parts, check the clamps and cables.