www.iFourWinns.com

Hello All, first post on the forum

We purchased a 1997 Horizon QX this Spring, love the boat! Cleaned up real nice!

We've worked through most of the issues like bogging down, oil leaks, tune-up etc. However, starting this boat is a challenge! 19 of 20 start attempts results in nothing, turn the key and nobody home. We have figured out a starting procedure for the boat but we know its not correct.
I'll back up a bit. 3.0GS motor VolvoPenta 2bbl Holley carb. Side control.
Starting procedure:
Step 1. Prime carb with one forward steep with control lever.
Step 2. Engage ignition key which usually results in nothing.
Step 3. With ignition key still engaged, move lever a hair forward or back, starter engages.
Step 4. This is the part that sucks, once engine starts you must quickly push the button in on lever to allow
throttle control in neutral. This step has my wife very leery about using the boat!
Talking to our area FW dealer he suggested neutral safety switch in head unit. Actually he was able to come up with one to which we purchased. Its a small micro switch. Looking on line at the lever head unit I'm like wow that's a lot of parts in there! The more I think about it, could it not just be a simple adjustment or is something worn in the lever head unit? Interested in the forums thoughts...
Cheers Trent

Look for the starter relay. Your 4-cyl will have it in a different location than the referenced V8 below. If you find it, remove the relay and note the numbered marks on the relay spade lugs and compare the locations to the socket. Jumper the socket pins 30 and 87 and it should turn over. If so, then take the cover off of the relay and clean the points or just get a new relay:

http://www.smwebhead.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=15544

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gale
'96 200 Horizon
VP Cobra SX 5.7GL

Before starting you should be using the neutral position that allows throttle control WITHOUT engaging the shift system (ie pull the handle out towards you or push in the button, however it works, those are the two different systems you may see).
Pump the throttle all the way forward 3 times or so (this allows the choke to close all or most of the way and squirts some gas into the carb via the accelerator pump)
Then set the throttle control at about 1/3 forward (still in the neutral position though) to set the fast idle. Boat carbs do not automatically set a fast idle like a auto carb will.
Then crank it over with the starter.

If your NSS switch is getting flaky there is no way around it, you have to pull out the control and replace it. I'd take a good look at the mounting of it on the side panel. They can be tricky to remove. And to get it far enough out to change that switch, you will have to disconnect the throttle and shift cables back on the engine...

If you still have this problem after changing the NSS, then the possible trouble causes:
battery cables
ground cable attachment point at engine (clean not rusted)
all three starter solenoid connections (those can get really rusty if the a water drain drips water on them)
if there is an assist solenoid, same thing
lastly, a rusty connection at the ignition switch (yellow/red wire) can cause this....

Ps if its only the NSS you are getting away cheap, a good throttle control is around $300 or so. I really doubt its the control, because the only thing that's related to starting on the control is the NSS. Sometimes the wires for the trim control wear through or break but that's a different problem (trim not working)...

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

Thank you for your reply, will check out the relay.

Thank you so much for your detailed response, I'll try starting the boat in your sequence and report back.