Boat Won't Turn Over. UPDATE 6/14/2022, ALL GOOD!

[Guitarjesus]

Ok, so if any of you read the 190/192/195 forum, you might have read about my sucked up a rock issue with my 2018 SX190 and everything that comes along with that. When I was on the water last weekend, sucked up two rocks. One I was able to get out of the cleanout port just by grabbing, I could not feel the other one at all in the cleanout port. Tried to turn the boat over, NOTHING. At first it said "engine communication failure". I immediately shut everything off, got towed to dock.

My boat has been in my driveway since. Took apart the pump, got the jammed rock out, straightened out the impeller and cleaned burrs as good as I can, smooothed out the wear ring as good as possible. I got it all back together, with a brand new battery to boot. Shut off lanyard connected, cleanout hatch closed and latched, in neutral, voltage good, etc.

I should mention I checked all the fuses in the box above the engine on the back wall of the engine bay. All the fuses are good, not sure how to check the three relays if they are any good.

The screen gives no check engine light or any indication that anything is wrong, but the boat won't even attempt to turn over. With the lodged rock stuck in the impeller, would a code get sent to the ECM to not even try to start? Is there a way to reset the ECM so I can run the boat? Any advice is welcome. Thanks!

 

[Bizywk]

Sorry to hear about your misfortune. Wish I could help, but you've already accounted for nearly all the issues that would cause that.

Many folks on this forum have encountered solid foreign material in the jets and recovered after clearing the obstruction. Typically ECM's don't get a kill code. I think you may have to elevate the problem to a dealer. At least call to see if the service techs have any ideas.

 

[Weeb]

Double check all the battery cables and make sure you didn’t miss one. It happens.

 

[Guitarjesus]

Double check all the battery cables and make sure you didn’t miss one. It happens.

1 big positive cable, 2 negative cables, fastened down tight. Checked the fuses in the battery compartment, all check good.

 

[AZMark]

Can you have someone else check starter for voltage when you’re cranking?

 

[Guitarjesus]

Can you have someone else check starter for voltage when you’re cranking?

That's a damned good idea. Do the starters on these boats have the solenoid on the starter, or is it a relay in the fuse box?

 

[AZMark]

That's a damned good idea. Do the starters on these boats have the solenoid on the starter, or is it a relay in the fuse box?

Relay is in fuse box on my 212 that has 1.8l. Not sure what motor you have or if they’re all the same.

 

[Guitarjesus]

Relay is in fuse box on my 212 that has 1.8l. Not sure what motor you have or if they’re all the same.

1.8, just a single instead of double. Damned service manual shows the 2015 and prior fuse box not the one up until 2018. So I'll have to trace wires.

 

[AZMark]

Mine is very obvious. Big red wires going to the relay box on the back wall of engine compartment. One direct to starter one to batt. switch I assume.

 

[VitaminSea]

1 big positive cable, 2 negative cables

Sorry to hear of your struggles.

I am wondering if both of those “negative” cables are truly negatives. One a single engine boat, wondering why there would be more than a single ground.

 

[Guitarjesus]

Sorry to hear of your struggles.

I am wondering if both of those “negative” cables are truly negatives. One a single engine boat, wondering why there would be more than a single ground.

It does have 2 negative cables, 3 actually, if you count the negative from what looks like a Noco that the previous owner had installed.

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

Sometimes on power sports equipment like this there is a fuse right in / on the starter relay itself.

 

[Guitarjesus]

Sometimes on power sports equipment like this there is a fuse right in / on the starter relay itself.

Which is damned near impossible to get to. Looking at the service manual, no, just the relay. Which has only 4.7 ohms running across the contacts. I think ai found my culprit, someone else actually has this same problem. Suck up a rock, kills the engine, it won't even try to turn over. Bad starter relay.

 

[Guitarjesus]

Got the new starter relay in, fired right up. We'll find out tomorrow on the lake what kind of cavitation if any I'm dealing with on the water.

 

[Julian]

Got the new starter relay in, fired right up. We'll find out tomorrow on the lake what kind of cavitation if any I'm dealing with on the water.

Can you post photos of where the starter relay is for other members who run into this problem?

 

[Guitarjesus]

Can you post photos of where the starter relay is for other members who run into this problem?

Watch this video I posted. At least for my 2018 SX190, it's on the back engine bay wall just to the right of the fuse box. On the earlier AR, SX190 models it was on the left side, behind what I think was a round screw on fuse box cover?

2016-2018 models?

But to throw a wrench in the works, I have a C.A.R.B model since I live in California. The fuse box for mine is on the right, and the battery cable is also on the right. On the Federal models, the fuse box is on the left, with the starter relay being in the middle of the fuse box and the ECM...



Up to 2015 models?

 

[AZMark]

My 212 has the relays behind each engine similar to @Guitarjesus picture. They are in the open with the big red wires going to them - hard to miss for anyone that’s going to know what to do with it once they find it.

 

[Guitarjesus]

My 212 has the relays behind each engine similar to @Guitarjesus picture. They are in the open with the big red wires going to them - hard to miss for anyone that’s going to know what to do with it once they find it.

Absolutely. And another way to look at it, just like an automobile (at least older ones), the big thick battery cable (coming FROM the battery itself), is usually going straight to the starter relay.

 

[Beachbummer]

Perhaps the issue is that with the engine not turning over, any time spent with the key in the start position is time with a very very high amp draw and no movement, so after a few tries it burns the solenoid.

Just a theory, but a good reminder for me, if engine does not turn over, release the key and research before trying again. If the engine is locked up and not turning, it seems the starter solenoid can burn up.

 

[Guitarjesus]

Perhaps the issue is that with the engine not turning over, any time spent with the key in the start position is time with a very very high amp draw and no movement, so after a few tries it burns the solenoid.

Just a theory, but a good reminder for me, if engine does not turn over, release the key and research before trying again. If the engine is locked up and not turning, it seems the starter solenoid can burn up.

Absolutely. I've only had my boat a few months, but I finally got a tool kit with a heavily insulated screwdriver, and a replacement relay, lol. So it will be the first thing I inspect.