Bad Ignition Switch?-gctid815759

[shinny_k]

Hi all. I have a 2003 Bayliner 180 with the Mercury 125 outboard that won't turn over or try and start. Started it up with the muffs on at home before getting to boat ramp yesterday, and it ran fine. After getting the boat in the water, i had issues getting it started (it would try and turn over, run for about 15 seconds, then die), until finally, the engine would not turn or try and start from turning the key, just a buzzing noise coming from engine ( kind of like the trim motor going up or down sound). Luckily this happened at the marina, so got some help from the staff jumping the battery, but to no avail. I then bought a brand new battery, still to no avail. I noticed that the fuel gauge would barely go up while trying to start, even though it had over 3/4 a tank of gas in it. Also when I bought the boat ( about a month ago ), the rpm and battery gauges didn't work. I know about the kill switch under throttle needing to be on and the boat needing to be in neutral, which they were. Checked the fuses under steering dash and ones coming off battery, and they are all fine. Also checked the wires coming off the ignition switch to make sure there was no corrosion and that they were attached snuggly. Does this sound like the ignition switch could be faulty?

[builderdude]

Check both possitive and negative battery cable connections and at both ends. Sounds like a possible corroded battery cable. Had a similar issue with my 1800. The negative cable was corroded within its outer insulation, about 4-5" up from where it connected to the battery. If I reached in there and wiggled the cable while somebody turned the key it would fire right up. Ended up replacing the negative cable and had no more issues.

[shinny_k]

Thanks BuilderDude. I bought some terminal wire spray cleaner and cleaned the wires before installing new battery. They were old and brittle and definitely need replacing. I could tell that when I was getting the engine to turn over, it sounded like it was low on juice. The battery was 5 years old, so naturally i replaced it first. I thought maybe the ignition switch finally bit the dust after trying about 10 times to get the engine to start. I talked with someone who says that the ignition switches go about every 2 years or so, and I don't know the last time it was replaced.

[builderdude]

You could bypass the cables temporarily using jumper cables to test.

I never had to replaced the ignition switch on my 1800, had it for 10 years

[ttom]

You can jump the ignition switch to see if that is the problem. easy to do