www.iFourWinns.com

Last week I start getting the boat ready to put back in the water...nice weather is just around the corner!!! : ) I charged the battery, cleaned the cables, and tried to get the motor to turn over..nothing. Did a bunch of checks on everything, found that the starter motor was bad - REPLACED. Still nothing when turning the key, however, I was able to get it started by jumping across the posts on the starter solenoid/relay. I know.."it has to be the solenoid/relay" - REPLACED. I'm getting all giddy now at the thought of it starting...turn the key and nothing. The next logical step is to start tracing voltage. I get 12 volts out of the solenoid, but when I turn the key, it drops to 6 volts. "It has to be the ignition in the dash" - REPLACED. Still nothing happens when I turn the key. I get 12 volts into the ignition switch, but when I turn the key to start, it only puts out 6 volts. I'm really at a loss on what to check for...any suggestions? Again, I am able to use a jumper with a push button start across the solenoid and it fires right up...it's just the ignition (key). This is a 1994 20' Horizon that has the 5.0 V-8 Cobra.

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1994 Four Winns 20' Horizon (1st boat!!!)
Frisco, TX (Lake Lewisville usually)

You say you are only getting 6 volts out of the relay when the ignition switch is turned on, what are you getting on the input of the relay. Sounds like a bad battery cable with the info you have mentioned.

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Jeff

'14 Cruisers 380 Express "Simon Sez"
Merc 8.2 Mag MPI 380
DTS B3X, (x2) Axius Premier


(SOLD)
'08 V318
Merc 350 Mag MPI 300
DTS Seacore, B3 (x2)

On the relay, the positive side is getting 12volts. When you turn the key to start (all the way to the right), I am only getting 6 volts on the negative side of the relay. Assuming we are talking about the same relay. Mine is a round, 4 post relay that sits on top of the motor. I will gladly photo and post if I need to. Never thought of a bad battery cable though...hummm???

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1994 Four Winns 20' Horizon (1st boat!!!)
Frisco, TX (Lake Lewisville usually)

I'm no expert on this by any means, but have you also verified a good ground connection at the battery, ignition, and the relay?

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Paul
2007 Four Winns Horizon 220
Mercruiser 350 Mag MPI w/ Bravo III Drive
2004 Ford Explorer Limited (V8-AWD)
Pomme de Terre Lake (Southwest Missouri)

Sounds to me like the ignition switch. I'd check it by trying to use your jumper on the ign switch. I'd pull the wires off the switch, attach them together as if the switch were on, and jump the starter wire. If it works, you know it's the switch. If it doesn't work, you know it's in the wires, solenoid, or somewhere else after the ignition switch.

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2008 Four Winns F224
5.0 Volvo Penta
Towing with Audi Q7 4.2 V8

Thanks for the advice...I'm going to go through and check all my connections and grounds and stuff like that. Hopefully, it'll work! I will report back what I find/or if it works. Thanks again guys, I love this site!

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1994 Four Winns 20' Horizon (1st boat!!!)
Frisco, TX (Lake Lewisville usually)

Hi,
I had the same problem with my old FourWinns.
After playing with it for some time I found it to be a lose connection on the negative binding post on the battery.
I cleaned the post and used some sand paper on the terminal post, and after that had no more problems. It did take a while to figure it out.

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2007 Four Winns H210 SS
1996 16' Lund (fishing boat)
2008 Ford Expedition Max Limited

Unfortunately, I haven't had a chance to mess with it since my last post. Hopefully this week I will be able to spend some time on the problem. I will check that first as that is the easiest thing to start with! Thanks for the advice...I'll post up what I find.

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1994 Four Winns 20' Horizon (1st boat!!!)
Frisco, TX (Lake Lewisville usually)