Intermittend starting problem

[Peterbreit]

I have a 2000 Beneteau Oceanis 461 with a Yanmar 4JH3TE engine.

I believe the starter switch on the panel is giving me a problem. When turned on there is the high pitched tone but then every so often it will not start the engine. There is no clicking noise just dead silence when turned in the start position. Then suddenly it works perfect, actually it does most of the time.
Could it be a low voltage problem? Or a linkage problem, not being in neutral ? Sometimes it helps when I jiggle the gear shift lever. BTW where is the neutral starter cut-off switch located? At the pinnacle or at the transmission ?
Any help is very much appreciated.

Peter
s/v Belvedere
Kent Narrows, MD

[hobopacket]

I guess is at the binnacle or shifter. The neutral safety switch. Easy to find. First look at the transmission. See a switch? Wires? If not there. Look at the shift lever it self. Wires going in? Just had this issue with my older powerboat. Giggle giggle it would crank right up. Replaced the shifter (needed to anyway as it was super stiff) and started right up.

[Jeanneau 45.2]

Search the forum. There a numerous exhaustive threads about this problem specific to Yanmar.

[Peterbreit]

Thank you all. lot's of food for thoughts.
On older cars we used a broom stick to hit the solenoid and get it started, hmm.
Before I install another solenoid I will replace the starter switch, cheaper and easier and it's 18 years old...
But it probably is a voltage drop in the wire from the starter switch to the solenoid, which on my boat is very long 10+feet maybe 15.

Thanks again
Peter Breit
s/v Belvedere
Kent Island, MD

[Vasco]

Common Yanmar problem. Voltage drop in wiring harness. Solution available. Do a search.

[Vasco]

Don't waste your money on a new switch. That's not the problem.