5.7 mercruiser starter problem

[gustaria]

I installed new starter and it does not work (My wife says atleast I discovered the cause) (I installed) anyway; big red is hooked up and there is a brown and white and a yellow and red and two connections on the solenoid. I put the brown and white one on the near terminal. I ran a seperate wire from batt positive terminal to nearest solenoid connection and sorta whizz''s . Can someone point me in the right direction. the online engine manual does not clarify for me.

 

[Bondo]

Re: 5.7 mercruiser starter problem

Ayuh,...The tiny terminal closest the block is the exciter wire, the 1 with 12v when the key is in the Start position...
The by-pass igntion circuit is powered off the tiny terminal closest to You, the outside 1...
The Big post usually has the Battery wire,+ an alternator wire on it...

I'm absolutely POSITIVE it's shown in the Manual....
With the wire coloring that I'm not remembering at the monent...

Is the block Gound connection Clean,..??

 

[gustaria]

Re: 5.7 mercruiser starter problem

thank you. I am going now to clean everything including the ground and then hook it up. Got the message

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: 5.7 mercruiser starter problem

See if this helps
http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Techbk/97/97hga4.pdf

 

[gustaria]

Re: 5.7 mercruiser starter problem

Thanks. I liked that picture. I could not find nothing like that in the online manual that I bought. I took the starter out and when grounded and with the power wire connected, it engages when I add power to the contact on the solenoid that is closest to the motor (which according to the diagram is the purple and red thinner wire,) when I put a volt meter on these same two wires (one at a time) (with the neg lead directly on the neg batt) and turn the key, I get no voltage reading from either wire? I really, really do appreciate the help.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: 5.7 mercruiser starter problem

Follow the diagram in the link. The red/purple should have power regardless of key position."G" is called the slave and thats what works the starter solenoid.When activated by the key switch in the "start " position it supplies power to the Yel/red that goes to the starters solenoid on the inner most small lug.

 

[gustaria]

Re: 5.7 mercruiser starter problem

perfect. I will start out again in the morning

 

[gustaria]

Re: 5.7 mercruiser starter problem

I wreckon the diagram shows the wire leaving the circuit breaker is red, but mine stays red and purple. No biggie I guess It just makes a junior look through every aspect wrather than trusting colors at any point

 

[gustaria]

Re: 5.7 mercruiser starter problem

I am sorry to trouble you, and dont answer if your busy. I am going to do what you wrote. I am suppose to know how to read electrical diagrams, but I guess I am rusty. On my starter there is a red/purple and yellow/red at the starter. the red that comes in from battery goes out (with other wires) to the alternator.....

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: 5.7 mercruiser starter problem

Main battery cable, red wire, orange wire all go to the main lug where the battery cable attaches. Yellow/red goes to the inner most small lug. There is no red/purple that attaches to the starter.

 

[gustaria]

Re: 5.7 mercruiser starter problem

thankyou

 

[SSSuper83]

Re: 5.7 mercruiser starter problem

I am sorry to trouble you, and dont answer if your busy. I am going to do what you wrote. I am suppose to know how to read electrical diagrams, but I guess I am rusty. On my starter there is a red/purple and yellow/red at the starter. the red that comes in from battery goes out (with other wires) to the alternator.....

Red/purple goes to big terminal on slave solenoid..if you have one. You should. Yellow/red also goes to solenoid. These should be on the BIG terminals, opposite of each other. Lets start here. Is this what you have?

There is also a yellow/red that comes from ignition switch that is a smaller wire, as well as a purple. Can you take a pic of the wiring and upload it?

 

[gustaria]

Re: 5.7 mercruiser starter problem

I just stopped to read your post. I think I have what you say, but before I go there (which I need to do) I need to jump over to the main problem. I am going to post the following: I used the boat (234 tahoe, 5.7 mercruiser) last Nov. took it home flushed washed and lightly sprayed engine compartment. Was going to make one more dive trip and starter seemed not to work. I had the starter completely rebuilt and put it in and it just clicked. I was unable to get it to work. I started out last week trying to get it to work. A mechanic said I my motor might be seized. anyway after about two million hours of trouble shooting, the motor turns fine, I trouble shot the start circuit (with wiring diagram and forum help) I had voltage at the slave and leaving it and right at the starter solenoid (yellow/red), and a clunk sometimes and sometimes nothing. I had a good battery, but still put a booster charger on to verify. so after all this work I think that the starter aint right. It works out of the boat, but must be week. I am wondering it the auto rebuid guy used some automotive brushs or something that is making it not strong enough? I also need to find out why there is no power the small wire (ignition bypass) at the starter when the key is on. There is power at the alternator on the purple wire. I do not think this should effect the starter exciter anyway. I do know the alternator is bad

 

[Bondo]

Re: 5.7 mercruiser starter problem

and a clunk sometimes and sometimes nothing. I had a good battery, but still put a booster charger on to verify.

Ayuh,... You've been chasing the Power,... What about the Ground path,..?? Corrosion,..??

I also need to find out why there is no power the small wire (ignition bypass) at the starter when the key is on.

It's only Hot, while the solenoid/ starter is Engaged....

 

[Don S]

Re: 5.7 mercruiser starter problem

I am wondering it the auto rebuid guy used some automotive brushs or something that is making it not strong enough?

This is where people that really have no clue of how things work, then post their thoughts, can really confuse things for those that don't pretend to know.
There is no difference in the starter itself, same brushes, same armature, same everything. it's in the shielding to make it spark proof, you know so the sparks inside the starter doesn't blow you up if you have a gas leak from an automotive fuel pump or carb installed.

Download the OEM manual for the stickies at the top of this forum and read. Your thoughts of how things work is all wrong.

 

[gustaria]

Re: 5.7 mercruiser starter problem

I just want to make it start. I have power from the main battery at the starter and when I apply 12 volts directly to the small terminal (inside terminal, the one the actuated the starter when it was out of the boat) it does not work. Sure I dont know, that is why I am asking for help. I have and will continue to study the manual and what you referenced. thanks for the referal

 

[gustaria]

Re: 5.7 mercruiser starter problem

Yes I chased the power, but I also chased the ground (to the best of my knowledge) The ground at the slave was good and I thoroughly cleaned the battery cables and at the motor too. Previous post said ignition by pass on solenoid is powered anytime ignition is on. y/r at slave large terminal has power when key is turned and red has constant power

 

[gustaria]

Re: 5.7 mercruiser starter problem

when key is turned starter gets 12.5 volts at solenoid, but does not turn over. rebuilt starter turns over fine when removed. Can the purple/yellow on the other small terminal short or keep it from working. I have intensively studied diagrams and troubleshooting starter system on sticky. all tests good at slave solenoid

 

[gustaria]

Re: 5.7 mercruiser starter problem

I guess I have the yellow/red and purple/yellow crossed. I have the y/r closest to the engine

 

[gustaria]

Re: 5.7 mercruiser starter problem

No. diagram and all posts show I have it right with y/r on inside terminal.