Staring/Neutral Engagement

[ATLTiger97]

I have a 2004 280 DA. I have to play with my shifters on my 5.0 Bravo 3s sometimes to ensure the boat is in neutral before they will start. If I don’t nothing happens when I hit the starter button.

Today it took a few minutes to engage them to get it to start. Any thoughts on what is the cause and possible resolution? Is this a problem the the cables or something in the control unit with the shifter and neutral control.

Any ideas appreciated.

 

[Fill Ess]

Do you have trouble shifting into neutral once the engines are running and you're underway? Or only when you're trying to get the engines started?

I have the same setup (5.0s and BIIIs) and a couple times I've had the same issue -- where they are in neutral but the starter button won't engage. So I just push in the buttons on the side of the levers, move the levers slightly forward (to where it would idle at say 900 rpm) then it will start no problem. I haven't gotten around to adjusting the cables yet.

 

[ATLTiger97]

One shifter take more effort to pull into forward and reverse but no issue engaging neutral.

more a starting issue but no problems today.

 

[scoflaw]

Sounds like the neutral safety switch. I deleted mine so I can start the engine if I shut it off in gear. Not good to muscle the shifter with the engine off.