Need help ASAP

[SGY]

Hey guys. I need help on a problem with our 2001 Ski Nautique with GT-40 and am hoping someone here has the answer. Here's what's going on. You punch in the code and press start. The boat goes into ready mode like it's supposed to. You push the start button again and you hear a click and all power goes off. You reload the code, push start and again it goes into standby mode. Push start button and click, nothing. Do this several times and now the battery is dead.

Things we've checked: a. battery cables. These are tight and no corrosion; b. Neutral safety switch. Tight. Seems to be ok.

We did get the motor to start by jumping over the solenoid. But once you take the jumper bar off the solenoid, the motor dies.

Any ideas? If worse comes to worse, can we temporarily jump the solenoid and run the boat that way? Or is he going to burn something up? We are desperate with family and friends up at the cabin for the long weekend.

Thanks for your help.

[NautiqueJeff]

Sounds like the old starter relay problem on the boats from the '90's, although that shouldn't be killing the battery. When you punch in the code, try holding the start button down for a few seconds, even if it doesn't crank right away. It might eventually start cranking if it is in fact the relay. Does your battery have a good charge now? Was an accessory accidently left on overnight or anything?

Did you check the connections on the back of the keypad?

[SGY]

Thanks Jeff. I thought about the starter relay but was hoping against hope that wouldn't be it. The battery probably didn't have a great charge as the boat is only used on weekends up at a friends cabin. I'll try as you suggest. Didn't check the connections on the back of the key pad. I'll see what I can find out.

Thanks again.

[NautiqueJeff]

You should have taken the 206 up there!

[SGY]

Tell me about it. But, the 206 is not registered with the state since we use it on a non public lake. Heck I don't even have a license plate for the trailer.

How tough is it to replace the relay? Can I get one from a automotive store? Or should I have Ski Discount Marine overnight one to me?

[NautiqueJeff]

If it is anything like the relay on my old '94, it is very easy to replace. Shouldn't take longer than about fifteen minutes, and I think the part is less than $30. I'd be careful about using anything except marine parts, especially electrical things like that. Good luck with it!

[Rick]

SGY Check the battery it may have a bad cell. It will power everytrhing up but have no AMPs to crank. I would try a fresh battery or one of these boosteer packs. My 2000 SN did the same thing last week at tahoe and I turned the bilge pump off and tried it again and it started. Low batterys cause really wierd things to happen. If you need to you can use an automotive soleniod in the short term just make sure the engine cover is open and there are no fumes when yopu start it.

[SGY]

Jeff and Rick. Thanks a million. I'll get to work right away.

[skinautique]

SGY,
You have a low battery. There isn't enough power to start up the system. On a boat without keyless ignition, you would be fine but not with this system. I am 100% positive that it is not a starter relay so don't waste your time with that. Charge the battery and you will be in business.

[NautiqueJeff]

Good, I was hoping you would see this one SN. Hopefully he hasn't ordered one yet!

[SGY]

Thanks Guys. Skinautique and Rick, you guys were right on the money. We charged up the battery and the thing started right up. What do you know, you tear the whole thing apart and its the simplist thing. Cars, boats, toys all act very weird when the battery is low.

I just called Ski Discount Marine and cancelled the relay.

Thanks again for everyone's help.

[NautiqueJeff]

Glad you were able to get it worked out. Sounds like it was the easiest fix that it could have been!

[Rick]

SGY I bought a battery booster pak 5 years ago when I bought my 66 Barracuda. I wouldn't be without one ever again. It has save the day so many times. I either leave the bilge pump on or last time I just left the Ign. on overnight. They run about 50-100 bucks and you can throw your jumpers away. I even use mine to charge my cell phone with the car adapter when a plug isn't handy.

[SGY]

Rick, you bring up an interesting point. We used a power pack which didn't make any difference. That's what threw us off the battery trail. The power pack must not have had enough of a charge to get the job done. Once we charged the battery fully, the boat started right up.

Moral of that story is to keep that thing fully charged.

Thanks again for everyone's help.

[efox]

Battery bosters are great. My boat sat in water for a week and the IGN switch was on to keep the bilge pump going. Long story short...we had torrential rain ( about 6 inches in a couple hours) and the boat was full and the battery went dead. I walked down with the pack...stuck it on the battery and it got the bilge pump running. Also, plugged in my fatsack pump and stuck it in the bilge to help out. Worked like a dream...30 bucks at Home Depot! We use it to power my XM Roady when we're out on the boat too.

Eric