1999 Sport Nautique - Won't Start!

[Frank Loyd]

Need some help. I have a 1999 Sport Nautique. It has been running great, but now it will not start. I turn the key and get absolutely nothing. Everything else works fine, electrically speaking, and my battery is new with a good charge. It started doing this intermittently, but now it will not start at all. I've replaced the ignition, since that was cheap and easy. I don't think it is the starter, as there was no dragging prior to this happening, and like I said, when I turn the key there is absolutely nothing happening. I've looked through some other posts and am about to go check my battery cable connections and check all the fuses - provided all those are good, any suggestions on where to look next? Thanks!

[H2O]

Starter solenoid (relay). $35 part.

[DanielC]

Lets start off with this. We need to know what motor you have.

There is a breaker (pushbutton) labeled "IGN". Pushing this breaker on seems to do nothing, until you turn the key in to the run position. Then this light will come on. If this breaker is off, all other electrical accessories will be dead.

Make sure this breaker is on.

To be clear, it sounds like you are saying the motor will not crank. While you are trying to crank the motor, does the red "IGN" light by the breaker (pushbutton) switch stay on?
If the light goes off, or gets very dim, recheck the battery cables.

If the light stays bright, and still no crank, check for 12 volts at the large red cable attached to the top of the starter solenoid. If you have 12 volts there, jumping 12 volts to the spade terminal on the solenoid should make the motor crank.

Go see what you can figure out, and report back.

[nautiquesonly]

1999 Sport Nautique Wont Start

Need some help. I have a 1999 Sport Nautique. It has been running great, but now it will not start. I turn the key and get absolutely nothing. Everything else works fine, electrically speaking, and my battery is new with a good charge. It started doing this intermittently, but now it will not start at all. I've replaced the ignition, since that was cheap and easy. I don't think it is the starter, as there was no dragging prior to this happening, and like I said, when I turn the key there is absolutely nothing happening. I've looked through some other posts and am about to go check my battery cable connections and check all the fuses - provided all those are good, any suggestions on where to look next? Thanks!

Is your 99 EFI? Can you hear the fuel pump come on when you turn the key? If not then I would replace the fuel pump relay. This is a common easily fixed problem.

Nautiquesonly
98 Sport Nautique Masters Edition

[steve-o]

Check the safety switch on the right behind the throttle. Usually has a lanyard attached to it. Pull the wires off the back and hold them together and turn the key. If it works, then you found your problem.

[DavidF]

This can be many things...most of which have been mentioned. Such as:

1. Dead or weak battery (you eliminated this one).
2. Failed starter solenoid (assuming PCM Ford 351).
3. Disconnected or failed safety switch (device with lanyard attached).
4. Misaligned transmission selector cable.
5. Failed neutral safety switch (this is my vote). Test by shorting wires together at switch.