Lights/pumps work, but nothng from the starter - 5.7 Merc

[Saxman]

Hi,

This is my first subject here and unfortunately, it is a long one - and not a positive one (no electrical pun intended).

I just bought an 1989 21' Raven with a 5.7 Mercury engine after the old owner took me out for a ride on Friday.

I got it home an hour later and went to flush the nasty Potomac-water out of the cooling system and she would not start.

When I turn the key to the first position, it will light up the gauges and the sensors work, but when I turn the key to start it, nothing changes. No sounds, but the gauges stay powered. Trim and pumps work just fine.

I charged the battery and it shows that it is fully charged. I even piggy-backed a fully charged car battery to make sure that the battery was not the issue, but no change.

I put a circuit tester on the ingition (key) switch. There are 3 inputs on the back. With no key, one set of them kicked out 12 volts. With the key in the first position, no combination kicked out any volts - and same with the key turned all the way.

Circuit tester showed that power is getting to the other end of the positive battery cable.

Does it sound like the ignition is bad? If not, how would I jump the starter to see if the started will work? It's pretty tight around that starter.

Am I missing something else? (the most likely situation since I am new to boats)

I'll see if you guys have a place here to introduce myself. I am on several performance car forums, but this is my first boat forum.

Thanks in advance!

Saxman

 

[WillyBWright]

Re: Lights/pumps work, but nothng from the starter - 5.7 Merc

Make sure it's in Neutral. There is probably a button in the throttle lever that allows throttle-only. Push that and move the lever if you need to apply a little throttle. Being familiar with cars, I'm sure you are aware of a few pumps before starting to set the choke and squirt a little extra gas. That has nothing to do with your no starter situation, that's why I mention the throttle-only button on the throttle/shift control.

On the switch, red is battery positive, purple is key on, yellow is start.

 

[Saxman]

Re: Lights/pumps work, but nothng from the starter - 5.7 Merc

Thanks for the reply. I did put her in neutral and even moved the shifter around while the key was engaged and got nothing. I don't even get the sound of the starter trying to do anything. I'll look at the neutral switch tomorrow.

If that seems OK, I think I will buy another ignition switch tomorrow. If I could just jump the starter, I could rule that out as a possible problem.

 

[Don S]

Re: Lights/pumps work, but nothng from the starter - 5.7 Merc

Here's a link to a thread that should help you troubleshoot the starting sytsem very easily.

http://www.iboats.com/bbboard/bbBoard.cgi?a=viewthread;fid=24;gtid=1104170;gpid=1104170#gpid1104170

 

[Saxman]

Re: Lights/pumps work, but nothng from the starter - 5.7 Merc

Don S - you are THE MAN!

That is just what I needed. I hope I have time (and weather) to get out there to do this tomorrow.

That's what I was looking for!

I hope I can repay the favor some day-

 

[Saxman]

Re: Lights/pumps work, but nothng from the starter - 5.7 Merc

Thanks again, Don-

I got out there a few minutes before it got cold and SNOWED here in DC last week. Now I have to wait for some warm weather - but:

The back of my ignition switch had one black (fused) and one purple wire on one of the screws. The other two were single wires - one was orange and I can't remember the other.

Anyway, I only had time to check to see if I could jump the started at the solenoid and it worked fine and kept running. Since I had nobody to turn the key, I could not check all the other stuff.

I will get out there as soon as I can to see what is up. I sure hope it is just the cheap ignition switch.

Dd you know of a link to the manual on Mercruisers (5.7) drivetrain from 1989? I saw you provide a link for a II, but I could not find one for mine.

Also, does anyone know where I can find the fuse panel for this '89 Mercruiser on a Raven Bow Rider? I don;t think there is one.

Thanks in advance - from the new guy...

 

[Don S]

Re: Lights/pumps work, but nothng from the starter - 5.7 Merc

Sorry, there aren't any links for your manual. You are stuck with finding a paper manual. Might try ebay, you need manual #9

 

[EarestTBass]

Re: Lights/pumps work, but nothng from the starter - 5.7 Merc

Had the same problem with mine this year. All was good when I put it away last winter but nothing from the starter this spring when I tried to start it.
It ended up being the emergency safety switch for the operator... the one that goes around the wrist. I fiddled with it & pulled it out just a wee bit more & the starter cranked.

 

[Don S]

Re: Lights/pumps work, but nothng from the starter - 5.7 Merc

Had the same problem with mine this year. All was good when I put it away last winter but nothing from the starter this spring when I tried to start it.
It ended up being the emergency safety switch for the operator... the one that goes around the wrist. I fiddled with it & pulled it out just a wee bit more & the starter cranked.

That's really strange since that switch is in the ignition wire and has nothing to do with the starter/cranking system. You probably also moved the throttle lever which has a neutral safety switch in it that prevents it from cranking if in gear which allowed the engine to crank.

 

[Saxman]

Re: Lights/pumps work, but nothng from the starter - 5.7 Merc

Per your information, Don S, I did the tests and my ignition is fine as well as the starter.

I can jump the starter and get her going - and I also ran a wire from the S hookup on the ignition to the C bolt on the slave solenoid and both were successful, so it seems that the neutral safety switch is bad.

Now, I took a quick look to see how to disasemble the shifter, but it is a strange setup. Do you know where I can find a diagram to help me work on it?

Mine is a 1989 Raven. I looked behind the wall of the boat but I could not see any switch that looked like it did the job.

Thanks again for your help, everyone. I am really hoping to get the boat out on the water soon!

 

[Don S]

Re: Lights/pumps work, but nothng from the starter - 5.7 Merc

I don't have a clue what shift control you have.
If you see two yellow/red strip wires going into the shifter, they go to the neutral safety switch.
You can test the switch by hooking those 2 wires together. If it cranks, either the switch is bad, or disconnected inside the box.
If it still doesn't crank, there is a problem in the wiring after the switch but before the engine.

 

[Saxman]

Re: Lights/pumps work, but nothng from the starter - 5.7 Merc

Thanks, Don.

On my lever, I have to pull it out away from the wall to get it in neutral. When I look back behind the wall, I can see the plate that is pulled forward against another flat plate when it goes into neutral. The two plates slide against each other, but I can't see a switch.

Is the box you mentioned somewhere away from the lever mechanism?

I know I need to get in there to see where the switch is, but it is a tight area. Taking out the lever looks like my only option. The tough part is disassembling the lever so it can be removed. I don't see what the trick is.

I may just run it down to the marine store tomorrow afternoon and ask them how I can get in there to fix it.

Thanks again for the help.

Andrew

 

[ppagss]

Re: Lights/pumps work, but nothng from the starter - 5.7 Merc

Hello, I have an 89 Sea Ray with the 5.7. Do you have the Mercathode system?. Every once in a while The circuit breaker will pop on that system and I get the same conditions as you describe. Once I troubleshot the wires it led me right to the panel. Mine is on the drivers side of the motor foward, mounted right above the fuel strainer/water seperator. I just reset it and it started fine. This has only happened to me twice in over two years so, I am chalking it uo to gremlins!!! Hope this helps, Pete

 

[Saxman]

Re: Lights/pumps work, but nothng from the starter - 5.7 Merc

Thanks, Pete. I don't know how to tell if I have the Mercathode system or not, but I do have a fuse button right next to the slave solenoid. I have tried pushing it a few times but it seems to be in where it is supposed to be.

I will look around to see if there is anything else like this on the engine.

The wierd thing is that it started just fine a few hours before, then after a 45 minute drive home, this happened.

Thanks again-

 

[Saxman]

Re: Lights/pumps work, but nothng from the starter - 5.7 Merc

Well, I have it narrowed down to the neutral safety switch. I put up a new thread at http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=192089 since it falls under "electrical."

Now the problem is that the switch came out from the controller and I just can't figure where it is supposed to go back in.

When I push the button on the neutral safety switch, the engine will start fine, but I don't know what part of the controller is supposed to push that button for me.

Again, the other question is posted at http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=192089

Thanks again!

 

[Animal223]

Re: Lights/pumps work, but nothng from the starter - 5.7 Merc

Saxman,

In response to your question looking for a service manual, they are available from Mercury at the following address:

https://appcenter.mercurymarine.com/litreq/orderForm.jsp?type=mc

Just put in all your info (model, serial) and they'll send you the right book. Price is a little steep ($72 each for engine, drive) but it's well worth it if you plan to do work yourself, and it's tons better than the Seloc manual.

 

[Saxman]

Re: Lights/pumps work, but nothng from the starter - 5.7 Merc

Saxman,

In response to your question looking for a service manual, they are available from Mercury at the following address:

https://appcenter.mercurymarine.com/litreq/orderForm.jsp?type=mc

Just put in all your info (model, serial) and they'll send you the right book. Price is a little steep ($72 each for engine, drive) but it's well worth it if you plan to do work yourself, and it's tons better than the Seloc manual.

Thanks, Animal123!