Key Switch?

My 98 sport turns over and starts immediately but won't stay running as soon as I let go of the key.. If I hold it on start it will run fine, as soon as I let it go to run, it dies. I've checked the killswitch and that is fine. Anything else to look at first, oror replace the key switch because it's probably bad?

8122pbrainard wrote: Get the VOM out and make sure you are getting 12 volts out of the R terminal when the key is in the run position. If not, then change the key switch. Report back. Don't change parts without testing first becoming just a "parts changer"!

Pete, I didn't have the meter handy so I changed out the cap and rotor, plugs, ignition relay, exhaust risers, and just to be safe I replaced the drain plug.

Mr. Brainard, I think I've been around here a few minutes, long enough for you to know I'm not a "parts changer"! Give me a little bit of credit!

Thanks for the suggestion. Right after I posted this our guests showed up so I wasn't able to do any troubleshooting, will get to it tomorrow. Had to take them around the lake in the Glastron, oh well.

While you're swapping out the drain plug (ok
Humor attempt over), I had a similar problem, start, then stall. All I did was bleed some air out of the pressure test port on the fuel line (Shrader valve). It
Must have gotten into the system when the fuel filters were changed. It solves the problem for me.

If it's a GT40, there is a diode in the harness where the ignition wire comes off the start relay to feed the ignition circuit. If that diode fails, it will behave as described. I would investigate the kill switch circuit thoroughly before getting into the harness.

Pete, no offense taken! I'm actually pretty hard to offend.

This was one of those weekends where the kids events never seemed to end, had no time to get to the boat. Looked a bit this morning, found that my cheapo Radio Shack multi meter won't read resistance, changed the battery for a new one and still nothing. But, I have power to one side of the kill switch, not the other, so hopefully that's the issue. I have to leave now but will get back to it tonight, it's possible the 2 leads are connected to the wrong prongs on the kill switch, there are 4 available, I think one pair are for 2-stroke's. I can't see well enough so have to get a mirror to see if the prongs are marked on the switch. I'm wondering if when the upholsterer had that coaming pad off this winter to put the new skin on he may have pulled the leads from the kill switch and put them back on the wrong studs. I'm hoping it's that easy ....

Sleepyone wrote: was it the drain plug ?

I don't think so, but I installed a drain plug relay to take the load off the plug just in case.

63 Skier wrote: I installed a drain plug relay to take the load off the plug .

Great idea but I hope the relay contacts are rated at 30A. The plugs really pull the juice!

Just wanted to wrap this one up a few weeks later.

It was the kill switch, wires were attached to the wrong terminals. Like I said above I'm assuming the upholsterer had to disconnect it and reconnected it wrong. But, while I was at it with the meter it seemed to me that the switch was hit and miss even with the lanyard connected, like the plunger wasn't activating it early enough in the stroke. The boat has run fine since but I just got a new kill switch in and will replace this one shortly.

It is faded and almost looked like some stress around the bend in the plastic. I'm going to toss this one now that I have the new one that came with the switch. I keep a spare lanyard in the tool box as a just in case, though I made up a short jumper wire with female spade connectors at both ends while I was waiting for the new switch to arrive, will put that in the tool box as well.

Maybe a new lanyard would cure the switch, but for the few bucks a new switch cost I'm happier just changing it out.

When you're in a pinch with these lanyard switches, a penny inserted between the button and the plastic finger that holds it down will cause the finger to hold the button down a bit more firmly. I've done this many times. The rich folks can use a dime.