Key wont start Hunter 26.5 Nissan 9.9 OB

[dknape]

Hello everyone,

I did something and I am not sure what it was. I have a 1987 Hunter 26.5 with a 1993 Nissan 9.9 OB motor.

Two days ago, I was able to start the motor with the ignition key and turn it off with the ignition key. I've been trying to clean everything up on the boat and see what things need repaired and or replaced. I "may" have touched or pushed a couple of the buttons on the back of the OB next to the choke control and I honestly do not have the slightest clue what they even do.

Yesterday and today, I cannot start the motor with the key. If and only if I turn the key into the run position, I can pull the pull rope and start the motor right up. I can turn the motor off with the ignition key.

The battery is good and all electronics and lights are working properly at full strength. I've tried connecting a jump pack to the battery to see if that was necessary, and same result. The motor does not even attempt to try to turn over.

I crawled underneath to take a look at the ignition wiring and I do see some loose wiring. It is possible that I might have turned the key ignition module and perhaps a wire or two came disconnected. I really do not know. There are two loose wires (which I am holding in the photo) coming from the button next to the ignition key which means that this device is not plugged into anything at all. The ignition switch has just one disconnected wire, a RED one.

Please take a look at my wiring and let me know if anything jumps out at you as an obvious issue.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Do you have the full remote control or simply the key switch? How about a photo. Do you still have a key? Not sure from your description.

Now check the wiring attached to the motor under the cowling. It was designed for pull start as you have done that. Is the key turning all the way as in the past.

The Nissan is built by Tohatsu so the manuals were all the same.

 

[dknape]

Do you have the full remote control or simply the key switch? How about a photo. Do you still have a key? Not sure from your description.

Now check the wiring attached to the motor under the cowling. It was designed for pull start as you have done that. Is the key turning all the way as in the past.

The Nissan is built by Tohatsu so the manuals were all the same.

Dave, thanks for helping.

I do have the full remote control as far as I know. I do use the stock Nissan key to turn it over. I am sure that I am turning the key just as far as I always have. You can definitely feel the OFF position, the RUN position, and the full range of the springy START position.

I am embarrassed to say that I do not know how to lift the motor cover. Never removed it before.

Although I have no idea what, I am afraid that I disabled the motor from starting by pressing one of the buttons on the back of the motor or one of the cables may have been pulled a little. I am just saying all of this in hopes that it might point us in the right direction.

Here are the photos of the remote control and the back of the motor. Let me know if you don't see the photos.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

I could not read specifically on the key switch with reference to the left but you do not have the full remote but a shifter and key switch. I can explain in detail later. There is a red clip that either is to be attached to the key switch or the engine with a tether from that clip designed to be attached to the motor operator which is a safety device but not needed here except that the clip needs to be in place. If you do not have one, contact either a Nissan, tohatsu or mercury dealer to see if they have one. The smaller mercury and nissan engines are made by Tohatsu.

Please read the key switch plate for the one on the left and advise. Do you have a red or red faded clip? There should be a lever on the back of the engine to pull down to access lifting of the cover from the back as the cover hooks to the front of the engine.

 

[kloudie1]

Another note.. many of these have a neutral switch that will not let the starter work unless the engine is in neutral. Try truning the key to "Start" and wiggling the shift lever, even going so far as to engage forward and reverse in wiggling..
Brown is the kinda normal color for the start solenoid coil .. My next step would be to put a voltmeter on the red wire from the switch and see if it supplies 12V when the "Start" is engaged from the switch. if it only supplies 12V when the switch is in "start" then chase/trace the brown back to the start solenoid on the motor (under the cowl) .. if it is the "coil" terminal of the solenoid, then the brown to red is the connection that should make it work.
Caution... don't try this until you verify that the red is switched "start" and the brown is solenoid coil energization..

EDIT: The solenoid coil wire may be green under the cowl..

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Kloudie;

I use to be a Nissan and Tohatsu dealer which is why I recognize the issues.

This is why I asked that question first as that is the most obvious before going into other checks. This happened a lot with my customers who failed to put the red clip back in.

 

[dknape]

I could not read specifically on the key switch with reference to the left but you do not have the full remote but a shifter and key switch. I can explain in detail later. There is a red clip that either is to be attached to the key switch or the engine with a tether from that clip designed to be attached to the motor operator which is a safety device but not needed here except that the clip needs to be in place. If you do not have one, contact either a Nissan, tohatsu or mercury dealer to see if they have one. The smaller mercury and nissan engines are made by Tohatsu.

Please read the key switch plate for the one on the left and advise. Do you have a red or red faded clip? There should be a lever on the back of the engine to pull down to access lifting of the cover from the back as the cover hooks to the front of the engine.

Dave,

I've never had a clip before. I understand that it is a best practice and should be there, but why have I never had problems before in the last 3 or 4 years with it working? What might have changed or been pulled or triggered when I was playing with buttons that I have no idea what they do?

Where does "the clip need to be in place" at? Outside on the motor, or inside attached to the wiring in the original photo?

I'm sorry, but I do not understand what I am looking for on the key switch plate?

I am noticing a small relay or something on the top of the shifter control assembly inside the berth area. There is nothing clipped onto this thing at this time. Is there supposed to be?

 

[SFKjeld]

Sounds like it is probably a wire. But if not, you might try moving the transmission selector back and forth. My Nissan is very fussy about the selector being in a very specific part of neutral. I can have the motor in neutral, but the starter will not engage until the selector is in the magic spot. Good luck and please report back. Your problem is probably my problem eventually.

 

[John A12737]

Did you pull out the knob at the shifter? I think it might start manually without the knob pulled out, but will never start with the starter with the knob in.

Or.... Disconnect the cable at the motor (starboard side) shifter. Wiggle the shifter to insure its in neutral. It won't start if the shifter isn't on neutral dead center.

 

[John A12737]

Also... Mine also has a couple of wires that don't plug into anything.

 

[Worldwalker88]

When mine does this, it is usually because I (or a passenger) have hit the knob on the shifter and pushed it in. I'm curious about what your saying about the red clip, because I have never seen a red clip on my Nissan, either.

Curious, as I would like to know what you eventually found out, as I have the same set-up on my 26.5.

WW