Malibu Txi startup issue - electronics?

[skibuoy]

I'm wondering if anyone else has encountered this issue.  I've got a 2013 Txi with 5.7 Monsoon with ZO.  It had the touchpad, which I've replaced with a Wake Switch panel.  I've had this problem for a couple of years and I was thinking it was due to the lousy touchpad.  I was hoping the Wake Switch panel would fix it, but it hasn't.  Basically when I power up using the blue button, the system seems to attempt to start up, but then it fails.  It appears to be turning everything on, then the gauges all shut down again.  It then tries again (by itself) to get all of the gauges up and running, then (often) fails again.  Or, it appears that it does all gen up correctly, but the boat will not start (starter will not turn over). 

Then I turn it off using the blue button and try again.  After 2 or 3, sometimes 4 tries it will work correctly.  This only happens at the 1st startup of an outing.  If I shut the boat down between skiers, it starts again fine.  (Although I don't generally shut it down with the blue button between skiers, but if I do, it still starts up just fine.)

Its acting like there is some electronic device that needs to fill up with juice to a point where everything will work.  And it doesn't fill up the 1st couple of tries...it needs a few blue-button switch-ons to fill up.  (I'm sure this isn't what is actually going on, but that's what it seems like.)

The boat battery is about 1 year old and has more than 12.5 ish volts prior to starting.  I've replaced just about every component you can think of in the past couple of years including spark plugs, spark plug wires, coil, distributor and cap.  Fuel pressure is in range at the fuel rail.  Ground and positive wires to the engine are clean and tight.

I have another issue that might be related.  Again at 1st start up, once the starter does work, the engine will turn over many times before starting.  It always starts, but it will turn over 10-15 times before it starts.  Not every time, but most of the time.  Similarly, when I start it later in the same outing, it starts right up.  

Any help appreciated!

[mlange]

On my old '12 TXi I had an issue where the boat would intermittently just shutdown.  Could be choppy, could be glass.  Ended up being that blue power switch.

Your issues sound different, but that switch is cheap (you can find them online) and it's a quick swap out so wouldn't hurt to try.

[skibuoy]

Thanks. Any idea what I should search for to look for that switch?

[mlange]

Someone responded to your post on Malibucrew.

WerFamily Power Symbol 12V Blue LED 22mm Latching Push Button Switch 1NO 1NC SPDT ON/OFF Waterproof Stainless Steel Metal Round with Wire Socket Plug

Looks like that one is a couple of weeks out, but it's a piece of cake to replace so you could get a black one delivered tomorrow and always get the stainless one later on if it does the trick.

 

Edited August 3, 2023 by mlange