Inconsistent Starter Problem

[Cornut]

I have a 2000 Air (DD), and have been struggling with getting it to start consistently. I am definitely getting power to the keypad, because the lights always come on & everything else in the boat works fine (stereo, etc.). When I push the start button, I always get the beep sound, and I can hear something whirring in the engine (fuel pump?), but nothing happens. It doesn't even turn over; just dead.

The most frustrating part is that this is totally inconsistent. I have taken it to my dealer at least 3 times for this, and they always call me back & tell me they can't find anything wrong, that it starts for them every time. I was able to duplicate the situation one of the times when I dropped it off, but then they called later & again told me they could not find anything wrong. I asked if I should go ahead & replace the starter or the starter relay, but they advised against it, saying that it may not solve the problem & would thus be a waste of money.

I am at my wits end with this issue. There is nothing worse than inviting friends & family to come out to the lake, just to have the boat refuse to start at the ramp, or even worse, have it die in the middle of the lake & have to flag someone down for a tow. I am about ready to ask my dealer to replace the relay, even though it may not solve the problem. At least it will be one thing I know is not broken, and I will just have to keep replacing parts until this issue goes away.

We love our boat, but we just can't deal with it being so unreliable. Any ideas or suggestions?

[slob02]

Netural Safety Switch???..........Will it start after you wiggle the throttle??

[Cornut]

Nope, not the throttle or the safety lanyard. I got stuck by those years ago when we bought our first boat, so I always double check those when this happens.

[NautiDave07]

My 2000 super air went dead in the water a few times also.

Check the glass fuse holders at the battery. There are plunger type fuse holders that have glass fuses in them. Mine was worn and wiggling loose which left me dead in the water. I cut those out and soldered in the card type auto fuse holders and never had the issue again. I cannot remember if I was getting the lightup you are getting though. When the starter went bad it would do what you are saying as well. Push the button and no run. I would just keep trying and it would start. I changed the starter and relay and never had the issue again. Your issue sounds like the starter and solenoid to me. Check for the melting fuse holder first as it is a cheaper fix. If those are good I would change the starter and relay. Good luck.

[jasper]

What happens when it does not start? Does in click even one time? The inconsistent nature of it in conjunction with the year model of your boat leads me to believe it might be the starter relay. Those relays had issues in 2000 year models. $20 - $25 part that is not hard to replace yourself, but take pictures (or notes) of the wired connections to hook up the new one the same way.

[DanielC]

Your starter on a GT-40 should always have 12 volts on the thick red wire, on the starter solenoid, top terminal, that goes to the large relay that looks like an older Ford fender mount starter relay.

Always. Even if the key is off. Even if the ignition breaker is off.

First, clean your battery terminals.

Check for voltage at the solenoid on the starter when you are trying to crank the engine. You might have to remove the red plastic cap to get to the terminal. Again, the top terminal on the starter solenoid always has 12 volts on it.

If you have voltage there, when trying to crank the engine, check the bottom terminal, on the starter solenoid. If 12 volts is not there, when trying to crank the engine, the starter solenoid contacts are bad. if 12 volts is there, probably the starter is bad.


Check that out, and report back

[johnboyy7]

My vote is relay. It's too cheap not to eliminate it. Take a screw driver and touch it to both polls on the starter, if it turns over, it's not the starter. Call white lake, they are food help.

[td95sport]

Did you find the problem?

I am having similar issues on my 95 sport and wondering if you found the source?

[johnboyy7]

Took the boat out today. Yada. Hit start to crank and all I heard was clicking. Was yours doing this? Anybody know what this is? Relay or starter?

[jasper]

Johnboy, one click or more for each start? If only one, could be the starter relay. If more than one, battery or bad connection on battery cables or elsewhere. Clean connections well and charge battery.

[Cornut]

Follow Up

Thanks for the advice, everyone. I'm no mechanic, so I ended up taking it in & asking the dealer to replace the starter & starter relay. But this time when they tried to start it themselves first, it failed to start for them they same way it had been doing for me at the lake. They had a keypad bypass, and it started every time using that, so I ended up getting a new keypad instead. Finally got a chance to get back on the water yesterday, and the problem appears to be solved. We were starting & stopping all day with no issues.