www.iFourWinns.com

My previous boat was an early 1970's I/O with a 4CYL Chevy engine, and the boat had become completely unreliable in the past 2 years. I got my 220H brand new and had it out for the first time on Memorial Day Weekend. Whenever I've had someone out with us who had been in/around the previous boat, it became a fun joke to start the engine on the new boat and then cheer. In early June, about the 2nd or 3rd weekend we had the 220H, I pulled this stunt for my dad-who was seeing the boat for the first time. I sat there, cranking the engine, and it wouldn't start. More cranking, still not starting, so there I am starting to run through the checklist in my mind of what could possibly be wrong. Switched the batteries-still no difference. Confusion. Laughter from dad. The joke was now on me. The old boat getting me one last time, I thought.

Finally, and partially as a credit to all of you here on this forum, I flipped the kill switch and then re-set it. Engine started right up. My 2 year old son had been turning the steering wheel with the engine off while at anchor, and was playing on the floor near the throttle arm. He must have tugged on the lanyard or bumped it accidentally. Having never had an I/O with a kill switch on the throttle, I had no idea that the engine would crank and just not start. I thought that I would get no power whatsoever, so my inexperience with that type of setup caused the confusion. I just figured it killed the battery power to the helm, and that nothing would happen when I turned the key. Turns out it just kills the fuel pump. So, I now push that kill switch up before I even turn the key to make sure it hasn't been bumped.

My brother also bought a 220H at the same time I did and took delivery at the same time. He called me yesterday evening to tell me that he had to be towed off the water on Sunday because it wouldn't start. He told me it just turned over but never fired. I asked him about the kill switch, and he said he didn't check it or even think of it because the engine was turning over. Like me, this was his first I/O with a kill switch- he and I had both assumed the same thing about the kill switch's operations. He, too, was expecting no battery power. After cussing himself, we concluded that the 2 little girls his friends had brought on board who had been playing on the floor under the helm had probably bumped the switch or pulled the lanyard just enough to activate the kill switch. I laughed at him for not calling me right away, since I'd had the same problem.

So, the lesson is to check the simplest things first. Another lesson is to know that those switches are VERY sensitive (and for good reason) and even the slightest movement will activate them.

Thanks to all of you, I did not have to get towed. I wish my brother had a computer, so that your knowledge could have helped him too. We both agreed that the first thing we would do if we had ANY trouble in the future is to call the other and ask if we have had the same problem. If you know anyone with a setup like yours, I'd suggest carrying a cell phone and doing the same thing.

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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)

Wish I had a dollar for everyone I seen go through this.

Me too! I'd have $2!

_________________
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)

Is that from taking the dollars from your left pocket and placing it in your right? Not that this situation has EVER happened to me

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Jvalich
http://www.badcock.com

'04 FW 288 Vista "Mental Floss"

Great post!!

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

Speaking of knowing your boat.

What is the little black toggle switch near the ignition for?

Thanks!

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Jeff

2006 Four Winns Yellow Horizon 30th Anniversary 200 SS
2005 Nissan Titan Crew Cab
2004 Ford F-150 Lariat

http://www.seabrook-services.com

Reset not a toggle

That's the "Mulligan" button...isn't that the correct golfing term?

_________________
Jvalich
http://www.badcock.com

'04 FW 288 Vista "Mental Floss"

OK What does the little black reset button DO

_________________
Jeff

2006 Four Winns Yellow Horizon 30th Anniversary 200 SS
2005 Nissan Titan Crew Cab
2004 Ford F-150 Lariat

http://www.seabrook-services.com

Its like a breaker for the ignition switch

Thanks

_________________
Jeff

2006 Four Winns Yellow Horizon 30th Anniversary 200 SS
2005 Nissan Titan Crew Cab
2004 Ford F-150 Lariat

http://www.seabrook-services.com

My H190 will not even crank if the kill clip is not installed...

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Guns kill people like spoons make people fat.
2007 Horizon 190 Gxi
97 Pathfinder SE 4x4
73 International Scout II

It happend to me with my old sundowner, except it killed the engine completely, It wouldn't crank what soever. Still had electric, just no crank. I pulled the whole ignition switch out, checked over every fuse, etc.

What an idiot I was. Don't you wish we all had a dollar for ever idiotic thing we have done (or forgot to do) with regards to our boats?

We'd all own our boats, free and clear.

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"Where Da Go"
2002 248 Vista
Lafayette, IN
http://blueoceanlife.worldventures.biz

I just bought a new H220 Friday and went straight to the lake. If I had not read your message I would have been one unhappy boat owner. It still took me about a minute or so to figure out what happened and that is very uncomfortable with a brand new boat and your wife staring at you. Thanks for this invaluable information!

The very reason that forums like these exist...Glad it helped someone out.

When this happened to me, I didn't remember hearing the high-pitched BEEP that you get when you turn the key. Turns out, I just didn't remember correctly. After testing things out a bit, on the 2007 220H you get a high-pitched BEEP regardless of whether the kill switch is in its proper position. BUT, you get a very LOUD BEEP when it is in its proper position and a much quieter beep when it has been tripped. I don't know if it is like this on the previous models, but it is now one of my habits to make sure I hear the LOUD BEEP after turning on the key.

_________________
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)