Mercruiser 165 ground is smoking

[wooleydennis]

I have 1987 Merdruiser 165 engine I just bought. I bought a new battery for it, replaced spark plugs, replaced distributor cap, rotor buttons and pins. I have checked all wiring and everything is as it should be. When we connect the battery the volt meter on the dash reads less than 8 volts. Tried to start the motor but it wouldn't start and ground wire got warm. No clicking from starter solenoid either.Today, I tried to start the motor with a screw driver at the solenoid. It turned but did not start. After a few times of trying this the ground wire to the battery starting smoking. Could there be a ground problem? Is it just a starter problem? Thank you to everyone that replies with advice.

 

[JustJason]

Re: Mercruiser 165 ground is smoking

Welcome to Iboats.

Sounds like you have more than just a ground problem. Your going to need a digital multi meter, and an amp clamp (or make a shunt, and I can explain that later), and preferebly a battery load tester also before you start troubleshooting. Do you have those tools?

You probably have a combination of a bad starter, bad/corroded cables etc. But you need the meter to measure out which.

 

[zbnutcase]

Re: Mercruiser 165 ground is smoking

Have you made sure the engine turns manually? A starter trying to turn a locked up engine will draw enough amps to smoke battery cables. 'nutcase

 

[havasuboatman]

Re: Mercruiser 165 ground is smoking

8 volts wont crank a motor, but it's plenty to smoke the cables (amps)
You need to clean and tighten your battery cables (get rid of those wingnuts on the battery and replace them with hex nuts and tighten the cables with a wrench. Fully charge the battery and try again after you do like nutcase said and make sure the motor will turn.
It's very possible that you have charred the brushes to the armerature in the starter ( trying to start with too low voltage will do that) so before you try to start lightly tap on the body of the starter with a hammer. LIGHTLY! Don't pound on it.

 

[wooleydennis]

Re: Mercruiser 165 ground is smoking

Hi all! Thanks for responding so quickly. I took the "new" battery back to the store today and tried to get a new one but they didn't have anymore in today so I'll have to find one at Bass Pro Shop or else where. I am also going to replace the battery cables with new ones. I did try and turn the motor and it does turn. I forgot to post that earlier but I definitely did. I am going to switch the wing nuts for hex heads, that's an excellant idea and I would have never even thought of it or even thought it would make a difference . I did clean the battery connections twice but it still smoked. I think my husband has a digital multi meter but I have no idea what a battery load tester looks like. I do have one of the little glass floater things, is that it or is it something else?

Thanks again,
Tina

 

[havasuboatman]

Re: Mercruiser 165 ground is smoking

Can't test the battery load with a multimeter. But any auto parts store will test it for you for free. The little glass with the floater thing is for testing the battery's acid specific gravity (not what you want)
You didn't by chance hook the battery up backwards, did you? I'm not saying this to insult you. You just always want to verify which cable goes where.
Just because a cable is red, doesn't mean it's positive, or black is negitive.

 

[wooleydennis]

Re: Mercruiser 165 ground is smoking

Havasuboatman: Thank you so much for responding. I am not sure if he hooked the battery up backwards or not, I didn't pay any attention but I do know the black wire is the ground wire because it is grounded to the back of the motor and the red is definitely connected to the starter. Although I've never actually seen it happen, wouldn't connecting it backward cause an explosion or fire? It would be nice if it were something that simple causing it not to start although it would probably cause more electrical damage, I'm not sure.

JustJason: You had mentioned that I would need a digital multi meter and an amp clamp to test the starter I assume. I do have a digital multi meter but I don't have an amp clamp. I live right down the street from ORielly auto parts so I can get one. After I get one, what do I need to do to test the starter and whatever else needs testing? How do I know what to look for when reading it? I have a Seloc and Clymer book.

Thank you to everyone responding. I really appreciate any and all advice!!

Tina