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1999 201FD Volvo Intermittent Starting/Electrical issue
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cpferris
Member Posts: 6 ✭
Hey all. I've got a 1999 201FD with a 5L Volvo Penta I/O. Great boat, but struggling with an intermittent starting electrical issue. I was out tubing with the kids one day and we turned the boat off to switch riders. I went to restart the boat and got absolutely nothing. Dash gauges were on, stereo was working, but nothing at the starter. I noticed we had lots of slop in the starter switch. I figured a wire might have come loose. We got towed in and called it day.
Following weekend, I focused my attention on the switch. I took it out, re-wired it, and tightened it securely. Boat started right up and ran great.
Fast forward to today. It had been close to a month since i had last used the boat (I was traveling for work). I get up there today and the battery is dead. I wasn't totally stunned by this...as the battery is from 2013. I had a second deep cycle battery as well, so I used some jumper cables to jump from the deep cycle to the starting battery (which was dead). Blower, trim work fine. I turn the key and I get ticking at the starter. I proceed to remove the old dead battery and hook the starter cables directly to the deep cycle battery and it starts right up. I let it run for 20 min or so on the lift with no issue. I then turn the boat off, and attempt to restart and get absolutely nothing....just like when we were tubing.
So my questions are:
1. Could the battery be the issue? I realize deep cycle batteries aren't intended for starting, but it seems like if it did it once, it would do it a second time. Regardless I will get a new starter battery, but I don't think this is my issue.
2. Could the starter be the issue? My guess is no. If it were the starter, I would assume it wouldn't have started after re-wiring the ignition switch or changing to the deep cycle battery?
3. Could it be the ignition switch? My guess is no. I had a test light on board and confirmed that when the boat wasn't starting, I was still getting power through the switch.
4. Could it be a fuse/relay? If so where do I even look? While this would be great...I doesn't explain the intermittent success I have.
5. Anything else?
I love the boat, but hate electrical issues. I feel like it has to be something like a connection to explain the intermittent success.
Please help!!!
Thanks,
Chad
Following weekend, I focused my attention on the switch. I took it out, re-wired it, and tightened it securely. Boat started right up and ran great.
Fast forward to today. It had been close to a month since i had last used the boat (I was traveling for work). I get up there today and the battery is dead. I wasn't totally stunned by this...as the battery is from 2013. I had a second deep cycle battery as well, so I used some jumper cables to jump from the deep cycle to the starting battery (which was dead). Blower, trim work fine. I turn the key and I get ticking at the starter. I proceed to remove the old dead battery and hook the starter cables directly to the deep cycle battery and it starts right up. I let it run for 20 min or so on the lift with no issue. I then turn the boat off, and attempt to restart and get absolutely nothing....just like when we were tubing.
So my questions are:
1. Could the battery be the issue? I realize deep cycle batteries aren't intended for starting, but it seems like if it did it once, it would do it a second time. Regardless I will get a new starter battery, but I don't think this is my issue.
2. Could the starter be the issue? My guess is no. If it were the starter, I would assume it wouldn't have started after re-wiring the ignition switch or changing to the deep cycle battery?
3. Could it be the ignition switch? My guess is no. I had a test light on board and confirmed that when the boat wasn't starting, I was still getting power through the switch.
4. Could it be a fuse/relay? If so where do I even look? While this would be great...I doesn't explain the intermittent success I have.
5. Anything else?
I love the boat, but hate electrical issues. I feel like it has to be something like a connection to explain the intermittent success.
Please help!!!
Thanks,
Chad