3.0L starting issues

[jthor3277]

Hello everyone. I have a 3.0L mercruiser that was very slow to turn over. Sounded like a dead battery so I replaced it. It still was slow to start, so I went for the starter. After I replaced it my engine will not turn over at all. I get a clicking sound and that's it. I removed the spark plugs and I was able to spin the engine with the flywheel. The number two cylinder plug was slightly oil fouled. I don't understand what's going on here. This a new engine with barely ten hours on it. Any help would greatly be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Lyle29464]

Re: 3.0L starting issues

some times the drive can bind things up. I would check the gear oil. See how that looks, smells. does it have metal, water etc? does the steering jerk a bit when you turn the engine. If so remove the drive and try it.

 

[drkaras]

Re: 3.0L starting issues

It sounds like you are not able to get enough current to the starter. I would check all the wire connections from the battery to the starter and from the battery to ground. Take them off and clean them up. Also check where the wires are crimped to the connectors.

 

[jthor3277]

Re: 3.0L starting issues

I thought about the wiring so I used a jumper pack and went right to the starter solenoid and a ground on the block and got the same click. The oil looks good and the level is always good. Anything else I should look at? The slave solenoid?

 

[saaabe]

Re: 3.0L starting issues

u may want to check the new starter I got one for my 2007 glastron the same engine as yours and the new one was damage too.

 

[Lyle29464]

Re: 3.0L starting issues

sounds like you have bp-passed the slave. So it is out of the picture now.

by click do you mean a light click or a hard click where you can hear the starter engage but not turn?

 

[jthor3277]

Re: 3.0L starting issues

sounds like you have bp-passed the slave. So it is out of the picture now.

by click do you mean a light click or a hard click where you can hear the starter engage but not turn?

It is a hard click that sounds like the starter is engaging but no turn. That click is the only thing I hear. I re-installed the old one with the same result. I have a new battery and a new starter. The engine spins freely as well. I am at a loss here.

 

[lynnboy021]

Re: 3.0L starting issues

remove starter and bench test it so you know its not the starter. if i was you i would test both starters

 

[smartwork]

Re: 3.0L starting issues

Have you tested the starter(s) on the bench (off the engine)? If not and you plan to do so, make sure they're secured when you hit the juice to them.

 

[lynnboy021]

Re: 3.0L starting issues

lol smartwork looks like we post at the same time

 

[fishrdan]

Re: 3.0L starting issues

What's clicking, the slave solenoid or the starters solenoid? Put your hand on the starter's solenoid, then the slave solenoid while someone else turns the key, you will be able to feel which one is clicking,,, they both should. If it's just the slave that's clicking, check your wiring for clean tight conections, could be a bad slave solenoid also.

 

[jthor3277]

Re: 3.0L starting issues

Is there a way to bypass the slave solenoid? I used a jumper pack and went from the starter solenoid to block ground and got the click.

 

[Lyle29464]

Re: 3.0L starting issues

You want to use your battery and the boost. hook booster to battery and jump your starter solenoid. short from little terminal to the large one. This will test the starter. I still think your out drive is the problem. But I would bench test the starter before I removed the drive. Did you look at gear oil?

 

[jthor3277]

Re: 3.0L starting issues

Oh please don't let it be my outdrive. Maybe a dumb question here but would it be my outdrive if I can spin the engine by using the flywheel? The engine was just replaced and I wonder what type of alignment was done. I just changed the gear oil last month when I did my impeller and the old gear oil looked and smelled okay with very little metal. I am going to have the starter bench tested tomorrow. Hopefully they can put a load on it. I ohm'd out the battery cables and cleaned the terminals on both ends. No knicks or corrosion. I removed the case ground and cleaned everything till it was shinny. Nothing seems to be working here. What kind of symptoms does the slave solenoid have? Thanks guys for all the guidance.

 

[bigdan1]

Re: 3.0L starting issues

remove 4 spark plugs .....try to start again

if still stiff,

remove front engine mount , put 3 X 3/8 bolts in damper holes.
take a pry bar try to turn engine ;

after all the starter test you did ?I`m scared that your engine is stuck !

do it ,it takes 10 minutes to do !then you`ll know !

 

[Lyle29464]

Re: 3.0L starting issues

Oh please don't let it be my outdrive. Maybe a dumb question here but would it be my outdrive if I can spin the engine by using the flywheel? The engine was just replaced and I wonder what type of alignment was done. I just changed the gear oil last month when I did my impeller and the old gear oil looked and smelled okay with very little metal. I am going to have the starter bench tested tomorrow. Hopefully they can put a load on it. I ohm'd out the battery cables and cleaned the terminals on both ends. No knicks or corrosion. I removed the case ground and cleaned everything till it was shinny. Nothing seems to be working here. What kind of symptoms does the slave solenoid have? Thanks guys for all the guidance.

Ok I am lost here. What do you mean you can spin the flywheel? If your saying you can turn the engine over by hand with the plugs out then of course it is not the drive. The slave does provide extra voltage to the coil when your starting the engine but will not help spin the engine when you have jumped the starter soleniod

 

[jthor3277]

Re: 3.0L starting issues

Hi Lyle. I removed the the plastic cover on the bottom of the bell housing. I used a screwdriver and put it inside a through hole on the flywheel. What I meant by,"spin," is that I can rotate the engine this way. It moves freely when I apply some force and I can here compression in the cylinders. This is so frustrating.

 

[Lyle29464]

Re: 3.0L starting issues

Back to the starter. time to test it.

 

[jthor3277]

Re: 3.0L starting issues

Hi everyone The problem is solved!! The new starter was defective. Got it tested and the solenoid was bad. Installed the exchanged one and i am back in business. Lyle thanks for pointing me in the right direction. At least everything in the starting system are new or cleaned. Thanks alot guys!