2003 Mercruiser 3.0L no start-just click

[dbok1]

Similar to this post:

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=328229

I have the same exact problem. Started about two weeks ago intermittently. I thought it was corrosion on the battery, I cleaned the terminals last week after it let me sit in the water. Then it started. Then this past weekend I thought I would just see if it cranks before I drop it in the water and just a click. I checked and cleaned the battery side of the cables and bought a new battery. Still the same thing. I orderd a new starter this morning before seeing the above post (link) on my lunch break.

I plan on "bench testing" the old starter tonight to see if it works that way. If it does work then I will check the ground cable as well.

I already checked all the fuses under the dash as well as the 50 amp fuse on top of the engine, I will double check the 50 amp again.

Any help would be great!

 

[Don S]

Re: 2003 Mercruiser 3.0L no start-just click

This ought to help you figure it out.
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=167035

 

[Bondo]

Re: 2003 Mercruiser 3.0L no start-just click

I checked and cleaned the battery side of the cables

Ayuh,.... All those wires have 2 ends that Corrode,....

 

[scott449]

Re: 2003 Mercruiser 3.0L no start-just click

I had the same problem with my 3.0
It started intermittently and then went permanent.
It was the slave starter relay.
I can tell you that it is NOT the main fuse. When the mane fuse goes there will be no CLICK.

 

[mckeemm]

Re: 2003 Mercruiser 3.0L no start-just click

i'm the guy who started the string that you quoted here in your first post.

Based on my efforts this evening I would highly suspect the slave solenoid. These little solenoids are pretty cheap affairs and even though you can here them click and measure continuity it doesn't mean the little bugger is going to work when you want it too. This kept me going for awhile before I finally started doing some voltage measurements to find out what component was dragging down the voltage to the starter solenoid.

Check my update in the other string for more detail.

mark

 

[dbok1]

Re: 2003 Mercruiser 3.0L no start-just click

i'm the guy who started the string that you quoted here in your first post.



Check my update in the other string for more detail.

mark

Mark,

Thanks for the help, I am about a day behind you in working on this. I tried the starter directly to the battery and it worked fine. Then I cleaned "all" battery terminals and wires and still nothing. Then I got the old test light out and started probing while my helper (wife) was turning the ignition and I came to the same conclusion that you did - slave solenoid.

Don S - thank you for your post and reply. Unfortunately I was unable to log on last night - it kept saying "server busy" or something like that. I finally saw your post after I came in from the garage. I basically did testing as your link stated.

I will try to get a new solenoid tonight and put that on and go from there.

 

[PitchFork]

Re: 2003 Mercruiser 3.0L no start-just click

I had the same issue but it turned out to be the battery terminal clamps were just worn out and would vibrate loose. When I tried to start it all I would hear is a click. That click is pretty scary to hear when you are out on the lake and it is just about dark and everyone else has gone in because it is Sunday night. I replaced the battery clamps and have not had a problem since.

 

[mckeemm]

Re: 2003 Mercruiser 3.0L no start-just click

Hi again,

It turned out my problem was not the slave solenoid but a bad fuse at the starter solenoid that is between the the starter high current leed and the starter solenoid circuit.

Check out my story here.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=328229

mark

 

[dbok1]

Re: 2003 Mercruiser 3.0L no start-just click

Well I got her all fixed up last night. I put the new slave solenoid back on along with a new battery and starter and she turned right over. I hope it was just as good tomorrow on the water or my 4th plans are ruined.

I probably did not need the starter, but it was getting a little corroded, so for 70 from DB Electrical out of Tenn I just decided to put it on since I was in there and had it off anyway.

My battery was about 5 years old also, so for 60 I kept that as well.

 

[craigvalk]

Re: 2003 Mercruiser 3.0L no start-just click

Interesting thread and great info. I am about to check out a friends unit that only will start if I jump the solenoid at the starter. Where is the slave solenoid located? I would like to check this out on his. This particular boat has had a starter and a slave solenoid replaced within the last year so I am a tad puzzled.

 

[dbok1]

Re: 2003 Mercruiser 3.0L no start-just click

the slave solenoid is bolted to the plate that the throttle and shift linkage is connected to.

it is right abive the starter.

when i started working on my boat, i did see it until i followed a wire to it, it is slightly hidden
the plat that it is bolted to is bolted to the engine with 3 star bolts, i think i used an 11m deep 12 side socket to get it off since i did not have a star set.

i took the two bolts out at the coil ands loosened th ebolt at the front of the engine and was bale to get to the nuts on the backside of the solenoid, i did not take the whole bracket apart or off of the boat

let me know ho wit goes for ya

 

[mckeemm]

Re: 2003 Mercruiser 3.0L no start-just click

I was able to get the slave solenoid off without loosening the control bracket it is mounted two. I think that the nuts that hold the solenoid in place are threaded inserts in the control bracket, allthough one did spin and I had to slide a thin wrench in behind it to hold it to get the solenoid off.

If you have a spare solenloid just swap the wires onto it and try it before mounting. In my case the solenoid was not the problem. It turned out that the high current fuse was partially blown and would not allow enough current flow to fully actuate the solenoid. This had me going for a couple weeks. I now have a new battery, starter, slave solenoid and fuse in a 2003 boat with less than 200 hours. live and learn.

Check out my link in the post above for more info.

Mark