4.3.lx starter clicking????

[damie]

Does anyone have any ideas how to fix the starter on my 99 4.3lx mercruiser.<br />when turning key the solinoid clicks but motor wont crank, after 3-4 quick on off movements of the key it will crank.<br />i have checked the connections and all o.k, checked battery connections, all o.k,and ignition key connections all o.k.<br />the boat is a mariah z182 with only 140hrs. engine is mint,you could eat yer dinner of it, so there is no corrosion either...any ideas please.<br />thanks.

 

[Don S]

Re: 4.3.lx starter clicking????

Since you can hear it clicking, the most probable cause is the slave solenoid (c)being bad. Use a test light on the 2 big terminals. One (red/purple) will be hot all the time, the other (Yellow/red) should light when the ignition key is turned to the start possition. If that checks ok, check the small (yellow/red) connection on the starter to see if you have power there. If you have power there, then you have a starter problem.<br /><br /><br />

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: 4.3.lx starter clicking????

I will not argue that you have checked the connections but marine connections are very picky! My forst advice would be to remove the battery connections....then remove and sand each starter connection with 150 sand paper or plumbers cloth. End the entire sequence with the battery connections when you re-connect it. <br />I have even spent time sanding off the nut and washer surfaces.<br /><br />I also would not be surprised if you had corrosion inside the starter itself. Water tends to condensate in the darnest places.<br /><br />If it fixes the problem you are ahead by saving money. <br /><br />Bob

 

[DHPMARINE]

Re: 4.3.lx starter clicking????

mariah 18 Don is setting you right.When I talk to my customers about the 'click' I ask them if it's like a shoe hitting the floor,or two shoes hitting the floor with someone in them.The loudness of the click will tell me if it's the slave solenoid or the one on the starter.<br /><br />The light 'click' is the slave solenoid,the big noise means replace the starter.<br /><br />DHP

 

[waterone1@aol.com]

Re: 4.3.lx starter clicking????

Wow, that was a great diagnosis tool from DHP, never thought of it that way. The coil in the assist solenoid is fairly small.....thus a "click" when the key is turned, but the coil in the starter is rather large...you will hear a "clunk" when it gets power from the slave solenoid.

 

[MrBill]

Re: 4.3.lx starter clicking????

If it clicks a few times, then cranks, or if it sometimes cranks ok, and then clicks...head straight for the inside of the starter, the brushes or spots on the armature are worn. Buy a new for $150 or rebuild. The starter and slave solenoid are simple, almost-never-wear-out- components...everyone always hopes they're the problem but rarely are.

 

[Don S]

Re: 4.3.lx starter clicking????

Sure glad you're not my mechanic MrBill.

 

[muc]

Re: 4.3.lx starter clicking????

Here in Minnesota, 9 out of 10 times MrBill is right.

 

[Don S]

Re: 4.3.lx starter clicking????

Originally posted by MrBill:<br /> If it clicks a few times, then cranks, or if it sometimes cranks ok, and then clicks...head straight for the inside of the starter, the brushes or spots on the armature are worn. Buy a new for $150 or rebuild. The starter and slave solenoid are simple, almost-never-wear-out- components...everyone always hopes they're the problem but rarely are.

The starter may be the problem, but to change it first without even testing the slave soleoid is kind of stupid. It's too easy to test the soleoid first, and on engines that aren't all rusted up and the bilge full of water as the original poster stated ( "engine is mint,you could eat yer dinner of it" ) I find it bad troubleshooting practice to change a $150 starter instead of checking the $20 solenoid first.

 

[lakelivin]

Re: 4.3.lx starter clicking????

Maybe worth restating checking and cleaning connections (including grounds) first. I know it was mentioned earlier in the thread and probably a basic assumption by the mechanics here. Just a reminder for for us novices in case one of us glosses over the first part of the thread and only reads the last few posts.<br /><br />After doing some cleaning and testing I'm almost positive my problem (almost exact same syptoms, but on an OMC) was a grounding problem with the slave. <br /><br />Of course Murphy's law kicked in and when I went to check & clean the connection of the slave to it's mounting bracket the plastic was so fragile it cracked in three places (my boat is an '89). One of the places was a mounting post that broke off when I was loosening the nut on it, so now I need to get a new one.

 

[damie]

Re: 4.3.lx starter clicking????

Thanks everyone i will look closer at the connections.