GotMyAlly
Well-Known Member
This may save someone a little troubleshooting time in the future.
Yesterday I got to the lake, dropped the boat in, trolling motored to the dock, and parked the truck. When I came back, I pushed off the dock and turned the key. The smartcraft gauges all had power, the horn beeped as usual, but the motor would not start. Didn't even try to turn over. I could hear the fuel pump running. There were no alarms on the smartcraft. I pulled it out and checked fuses. I did find one blown fuse, but it was for the smartcraft circuit. That sent me down a rabbit hole troubleshooting the wrong thing I believe. I replaced that fuse to no avail. Finally gave up and went home. Got out the service manual and volt meter. Everything on the motor checked out fine.
Two hours to the lake, two hours home, and a 5 minute fix. The sliding door had caught one of the wires to the neutral safety switch and pulled the spade connector off. Bad thing is, I had actually suspected the neutral safety while i was at the lake. I've had it act very similar of the shifter wasn't in the notch good, but a little pressure on the shift handle always fixed that. At the ramp yesterday, I stuck my finger down in the notch and held the neutral safety switch in, but didn't go as far as checking the wiring.
Yesterday I got to the lake, dropped the boat in, trolling motored to the dock, and parked the truck. When I came back, I pushed off the dock and turned the key. The smartcraft gauges all had power, the horn beeped as usual, but the motor would not start. Didn't even try to turn over. I could hear the fuel pump running. There were no alarms on the smartcraft. I pulled it out and checked fuses. I did find one blown fuse, but it was for the smartcraft circuit. That sent me down a rabbit hole troubleshooting the wrong thing I believe. I replaced that fuse to no avail. Finally gave up and went home. Got out the service manual and volt meter. Everything on the motor checked out fine.
Two hours to the lake, two hours home, and a 5 minute fix. The sliding door had caught one of the wires to the neutral safety switch and pulled the spade connector off. Bad thing is, I had actually suspected the neutral safety while i was at the lake. I've had it act very similar of the shifter wasn't in the notch good, but a little pressure on the shift handle always fixed that. At the ramp yesterday, I stuck my finger down in the notch and held the neutral safety switch in, but didn't go as far as checking the wiring.
