2003 200HO wouldn't start towards end of day?

[JHenry]

I have a 2003 200HO on a 519vx with keypad ignition. Engine has been running great until late yesterday when I went to change spots it would crank for several seconds then make a spinning sound and not start. Voltage was good and I tried it 10 times and it kept doing it. I went to bulb and gave it a few pumps, it seemed hard enough, then I took shifter out of gear and tried that and it roared to life.
I finished the day close to the ramp starting the engine several times and it fired right up. Talked to a guy at the ramp and he mentioned it could be " vapor lock" which I have never heard of. Thoughts?

[Bassmeister]

Fuel pump running when you turn the key on?

[ChampioNman]

They usually don't like to start in gear.

[JHenry]

Fuel pump running when you turn the key on?

I put my code in keypad and fuel pump runs for a few seconds then stops. After that all I do is hit the green start button during the day. You dont really hear it run.

[JHenry]

They usually don't like to start in gear.

Lol, I know that much. There is a knob to pull in middle of the shifter when in neutral that takes it out of gear but you can give engine more throttle, that's what I did.

[mactlman]

sounds like starter is not engaging if starter motor is turning but engine isn't cranking over?

[ChampioNman]

Lol, I know that much. There is a knob to pull in middle of the shifter when in neutral that takes it out of gear but you can give engine more throttle, that's what I did.

LOL they don't like that either, throws the TPS calibration out of whack.

[JHenry]

So I guess I should start with the starter? If I can find a repair shop open do you think what happened may have tripped a fault code or is this purely mechanical?

[mactlman]

sounds to me like you are saying the starter motor is turning but not cranking the engine over to start? purely mechanical issue. might be battery or wires or the starter itself????

[TBOGEYBOGEY]

I dealt with this same issue last fall on a 2007 etec 225ho. It ended up being a voltage drop from battery to solenoid when cranked. I replaced the battery cables and was good. They were 120 bucks from boats.net.

[JHenry]

Thanks to the guys who gave me some info on where to look.