2017 GS20 looks great, works great, won't even try to start!

[peteorpeter]

Hello dear readers,

I've got a 2017 GS20 that won't start. By all indications, there's nothing wrong – the computer boots up, no warnings. None of the circuit breakers (that I have found) have popped. Battery voltage looks good from my voltage tester and the onboard console (reads 12.6v). (Also, I just replaced one battery and ran exclusively off the new one for good measure.). Accessories work, pumps pump, fans blow.

The only symptom is that pressing the start button does nothing. There is no sound of the motor turning over, no weak buzz of the motor not quite turning over, no difference in sound at all.

I've wiggled the heck out of the throttle arm, thinking maybe it's the neutral switch, and fussed and fidgeted with the lanyard switch with similar theories. One time, I got about a half-second of vigorous sounding engine turnover during an hour of wiggling and then it cut completely out again.

My local marina service manager doesn't specialize in Nautiques but says he sees faulty neutral switches in other brands pretty often. He also suggested there might be an inline fuse out somewhere on the motor end of things – there's one of those in another brand he works on – but also said Nautiques were probably better designed than that :-)

I've contacted the nearest dealer, who suggested the same set of likely culprits.

Before I bug my neighbor to help me towing the poor thing to the ramp so I can pull it and drive it an hour to the dealer, any other things to try?

I have this aching feeling that I'll spend a half day getting it to the dealer so they can point out a simple, bonehead fix! Ah, boat ownership :-)

[NautiqueJeff]

Is there a click from the starter or anything? Sounds like a likely bad starter relay/solenoid, or maybe an entire bad starter. The fact that you got it to spin once suggests that there's a bad connection somewhere, and the most likely candidate is the relay/solenoid. On the newer engines, you may as well go ahead and replace the whole starter though. The solenoids are a good chunk of the cost of a starter.

If you're brave, you can jump the two posts at the relay with a metal screwdriver and see if it spins. If it does, it is almost certain that the relay/solenoid is bad.

Which engine is in this boat?

The lanyard won't keep the starter from spinning, so knock that off the list.

The neutral safety switch would, but it is highly unlikely that that's the cause. I very rarely hear of that being the issue.

Starter parts can be found here:
https://www.nautiqueparts.com/?s=sta...t_type=product

[peteorpeter]

Thanks for the ideas, Jeff! Yeah, makes sense that the starter itself could be the culprit. The bad connection theory seems to make the most sense because it's an all or nothing (mostly nothing) thing.

> Is there a click from the starter or anything?

No, nothing.

[Sammm724]

Do you have a number pad for the start?

[peteorpeter]

Do you have a number pad for the start?

I do, if I catch your drift. It looks like this:

[peteorpeter]

Quick update: got the boat onto the trailer last night, planning on hauling it over to the nearest dealer today.

[HVL2010]

What about the engine ground? There is a post on the transmission that was loose on mine at one point. Caused the engine to shut down and become unresponsive.

[Sammm724]

I do, if I catch your drift. It looks like this:

Are you putting in the right number on the start pad? There is an original combo number set for the boat and then one that is setup by the owner (so two number combinations). Maybe you aren't putting in the correct combo? Just a thought?

[gschmieler]

Sounds llke the electronic throttle thinks its in gear. Fairly common.

[Tchur1]

Sounds llke the electronic throttle thinks its in gear. Fairly common.

A friend of mine had this same issue on a brand new G. Tightened everything up and the issue was resolved and hasnt had any issues since fixing.