I've got a 2004 GX185SF Glastron with a Volvo Penta 4.3GL-D (carb) stern
drive that suddenly decided not to start. This was the first time out
this year (Colorado) and everything was fine for most of the day. The
boat started fine, ran fine, temp, oil pressure normal, etc. We were
fishing, so were moving around the lake at various times, probably
had started up the engine 8 to 10 times without problems. The motor was
only being used 5-30 minutes at a time to move to different locations on
the lake. The last time it started, the engine ran just a couple of
minutes, at very slow speed. Then it just decided to not start.

When I turn the key, all it does is one click sound, and what I assume
to be the low buzz of the fuel pump. The alarm also sounds normally as
well - one for indicating the transom is not in the water. The motor
has less than 100 hours on it as its used more for fishing, using an
electric trolling motor, than other activities. Lubricants changed, new
plugs, filters, freshwater coolent drained as prescribed before winter,
and garage stored.

The battery reads 13+ volts. I havn't been able to find a blown fuse
that might be causing the problem - have looked under the dash, and in
the box above the motor in the engine compartment, where the two relays
are. The relays don't "look" bad, but don't know how to test them.
The starter looks clean, no corrosion, but havn't tested it. The
throttle is in the neutral position, and the ignition interrupt clip is
in place when trying to start.

Any ideas as to what I might look for? I called the boat dealer to get
them to take a look, but they are 4+ weeks out on work, and really not
looking to wait that long. No experience with boat motors, lots of
experience with cars over the years though and seems like it ought to be
something simple enough to fix if I can figure out what it is.

Five miles with an electric trolling motor, partly in the dark kinda
ruins a good day fishing, but guess thankfully we had an extra battery.

Ron

"rr" wrote in message
t...
I've got a 2004 GX185SF Glastron with a Volvo Penta 4.3GL-D (carb) stern
drive that suddenly decided not to start. This was the first time out
this year (Colorado) and everything was fine for most of the day. The
boat started fine, ran fine, temp, oil pressure normal, etc. We were
fishing, so were moving around the lake at various times, probably
had started up the engine 8 to 10 times without problems. The motor was
only being used 5-30 minutes at a time to move to different locations on
the lake. The last time it started, the engine ran just a couple of
minutes, at very slow speed. Then it just decided to not start.

When I turn the key, all it does is one click sound, and what I assume
to be the low buzz of the fuel pump. The alarm also sounds normally as
well - one for indicating the transom is not in the water. The motor
has less than 100 hours on it as its used more for fishing, using an
electric trolling motor, than other activities. Lubricants changed, new
plugs, filters, freshwater coolent drained as prescribed before winter,
and garage stored.

The battery reads 13+ volts. I havn't been able to find a blown fuse
that might be causing the problem - have looked under the dash, and in
the box above the motor in the engine compartment, where the two relays
are. The relays don't "look" bad, but don't know how to test them.
The starter looks clean, no corrosion, but havn't tested it. The
throttle is in the neutral position, and the ignition interrupt clip is
in place when trying to start.

Any ideas as to what I might look for? I called the boat dealer to get
them to take a look, but they are 4+ weeks out on work, and really not
looking to wait that long. No experience with boat motors, lots of
experience with cars over the years though and seems like it ought to be
something simple enough to fix if I can figure out what it is.

Five miles with an electric trolling motor, partly in the dark kinda
ruins a good day fishing, but guess thankfully we had an extra battery.

Ron


My guess?
Neutral switch not making. (Wiggle the gearshift while trying to start).

Or ....

Your starter needs a little friendly tap with a hammer.

RCE

"RCE" wrote in message
news

"rr" wrote in message
t...
I've got a 2004 GX185SF Glastron with a Volvo Penta 4.3GL-D (carb) stern
drive that suddenly decided not to start. This was the first time out
this year (Colorado) and everything was fine for most of the day. The
boat started fine, ran fine, temp, oil pressure normal, etc. We were
fishing, so were moving around the lake at various times, probably
had started up the engine 8 to 10 times without problems. The motor was
only being used 5-30 minutes at a time to move to different locations on
the lake. The last time it started, the engine ran just a couple of
minutes, at very slow speed. Then it just decided to not start.

When I turn the key, all it does is one click sound, and what I assume
to be the low buzz of the fuel pump. The alarm also sounds normally as
well - one for indicating the transom is not in the water. The motor
has less than 100 hours on it as its used more for fishing, using an
electric trolling motor, than other activities. Lubricants changed, new
plugs, filters, freshwater coolent drained as prescribed before winter,
and garage stored.

The battery reads 13+ volts. I havn't been able to find a blown fuse
that might be causing the problem - have looked under the dash, and in
the box above the motor in the engine compartment, where the two relays
are. The relays don't "look" bad, but don't know how to test them.
The starter looks clean, no corrosion, but havn't tested it. The
throttle is in the neutral position, and the ignition interrupt clip is
in place when trying to start.

Any ideas as to what I might look for? I called the boat dealer to get
them to take a look, but they are 4+ weeks out on work, and really not
looking to wait that long. No experience with boat motors, lots of
experience with cars over the years though and seems like it ought to be
something simple enough to fix if I can figure out what it is.

Five miles with an electric trolling motor, partly in the dark kinda
ruins a good day fishing, but guess thankfully we had an extra battery.

Ron


My guess?
Neutral switch not making. (Wiggle the gearshift while trying to start).

Or ....

Your starter needs a little friendly tap with a hammer.

RCE


I like the starter or loose battery cable. Banging on the starter will
surely break a magnet. Remote possibility of hydrolock so pull the plugs.
Make sure you can roll the engine over by hand.

In article ,
says...
I've got a 2004 GX185SF Glastron with a Volvo Penta 4.3GL-D (carb) stern
drive that suddenly decided not to start.

When I turn the key, all it does is one click sound, and what I assume
to be the low buzz of the fuel pump.

The battery reads 13+ volts.

Any ideas as to what I might look for?

Yes.

Most likely culprit is a poor connection from the battery to the
starter.

Get a helper and meter the battery while trying to turn the engine over.
If connectivity is good, voltage should drop to right around 12 as soon
as the key is turned to the "crank" position and return to some nominal
value of 12.5-14 as soon as it's released.

If that test is non-conclusive, there's never any harm done in removing
the battery cables and cleaning all contact points, and it isn't a bad
idea to clean the positive cable connected to the starter solenoid, as
well as the negative connected to the block (heavy cables only - you
don't care about the light ones).

Mark