Hit Sandbar and Engine Died, woulldn't start back up

[DSmithZ28]

Hello everyone! I have a 1990 17'Sunbird Stinger with a 2.3L Ford OMC Cobra. I have just finsished having everything mechanical fixed on it and took it out. Well, the short of it is I hit a sand bar. No damage that I can tell. Prop, prop shaft were straight. prop spun, so I assume the engine didn't lock up. But after I dug it out of the sand bar and was drifting, I went to restart it and nothing. The battery seemed fine because the trim went up with no effort. But no click, no gauges, nothing. I was half throttle when I hit that sand bar and I can to a stop and the engine shut off. Is there a killswitch or something that killed the engine? The safety switch on the dash is still in place as I was not using it. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Kevin70]

Re: Hit Sandbar and Engine Died, woulldn't start back up

Welcome aboard, Mr. Smith,<br /><br />While you are waiting for an experienced answer from DonS, Rodbolt, etc. I'll throw in my two cents. Have you checked the neutral safety device on your control arm? Or maybe all the connections at the fuse panel?<br /><br />I'm just throwing some random stuff out there.

 

[DSmithZ28]

Re: Hit Sandbar and Engine Died, woulldn't start back up

I appreciate any help! I checked the fuses in the dash, all were good. Where is the neutral safety switch on the control arm? Is it something that can be reset after an impact? I had to dig the lower unit out of the sand to get it free, then I trimmed it up. But nothing when I turned the key. <br /><br />I greatly appreciate your help!

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Hit Sandbar and Engine Died, woulldn't start back up

Try checking all your battery and starter connections.See if your getting full voltage.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Hit Sandbar and Engine Died, woulldn't start back up

Not absolutely sure on your year but here goes! Best if you had a manual with a wirig diagram.<br /><br />From your battery, a cable goes down to your starter. From there 12V needs to get back to your dash. <br /><br />There probably is a cable/wire that goes to a circuit breaker and then to large connector which then goes to your instrument panel. Look for a very large inline fuse or a circuit breaker and check tose. Make sure that large connector didn't come loose.

 

[DSmithZ28]

Re: Hit Sandbar and Engine Died, woulldn't start back up

I looked at all of the connections and did not see any loose connections. I will locate the fuse box and start there. Is there any safety switches that if there is an impact to the outboard that it will shut the power down? Kevin mentioned that there might be a safety switch on the controll arm. <br /><br />Thanks everyone

 

[Doug Durako]

Re: Hit Sandbar and Engine Died, woulldn't start back up

D--do you have insurance? This is a covered loss and they will pay to have a pro go over your boat from stem to stern.

 

[rjherrman_1]

Re: Hit Sandbar and Engine Died, woulldn't start back up

Most newer boat come equipped with a kill switch that is located on your control arm (quicksilver, etc). Usually you will have a wrist mounted lanyard that connects to a cut off switch. However, this should only disable your boat from starting, it will not prohibit it from turning over. If you are experiencing the latter of the two, I would assume you either blew a fuse or a cable came loose somewhere.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Hit Sandbar and Engine Died, woulldn't start back up

Originally posted by ddboater:<br /> D--do you have insurance? This is a covered loss and they will pay to have a pro go over your boat from stem to stern.

Only if it exceeds his deductible is it covered. And they won't pay for a stem to stern, as you put it, inspection. A visual inspection of the prop, underside of the rear of the boat, and maybe check the propshaft for straightness. Other than that, there is no collision related "damage". There is a coincedental mechanical failure here, but they aren't covered.<br />Mariah, I was thinking like you. Check and double check that safety lanyard. They can look in place, but in fact not be. However, the engine usually turns over, but doesn't fire. It almost sounds like a safety neutral switch. But the guages would still work. It's time to physically grab ahold of the Major electrical connections and shake them around a bit.

 

[DSmithZ28]

Re: Hit Sandbar and Engine Died, woulldn't start back up

Thanks everyone, I will start looking for those loose connections tonight.

 

[Doug Durako]

Re: Hit Sandbar and Engine Died, woulldn't start back up

Tilliam---you are misinformed. This is first party contract property damage coverage. The burden of proof is on the insurance carrier. Concurrent causation is covered. If the boat started and operated propely before he hit the sand bar, and it does not do that now, it is part of the loss.<br /><br />The deductible is applied after the damage is determined. Inspection of the loss and any further investigation is on the insurance carriers' tab.<br /><br />If I buried my boat in a sandbar at crusing speed, I would ask for the drive to be pulled and pressure tested, plus transom inspected, motor mounts inspected, etc. Then I would move to the electrical system and have the pros fix it.

 

[Purduebarry]

Re: Hit Sandbar and Engine Died, woulldn't start back up

Read this thread, cross your fingers, hope your in good shape with the "Big Guy" and see what happens...Good Luck!<br /><br /> http://forums.iboats.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=24;t=017580

 

[marunr]

Re: Hit Sandbar and Engine Died, woulldn't start back up

My 2.3 (1988) has 2-50 amp fuses in it.(part # 41 in the diagram) I would check on that as well as the main wiring harness. On mine, the clip (part # 76) that holds the main wiring harness together caused it to bind up sometimes and I ended up taking it out of the clip and mounting it differently. The symptoms were exactly as you describe...does the blower fan work?<br /> http://www.dougrussell.com/partscat...7,748,749,750,751,752,753,754,755,756,757,758

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Hit Sandbar and Engine Died, woulldn't start back up

Ask all you want dd. Not sure how far you'll get. <br />

Inspection of the loss and any further investigation is on the insurance carriers' tab.<br />

Only if it exceeds the deductible. If you have a $500 ded, and the repair facility checks the boat all out, per you, and even your carrier, and they charge $450 for the inspection, and there is "no damage" then you the boat owner pays that, not the insurance carrier. And that is what I meant.