4.3L Mercruiser V6 1990 won't start....Help!

[gardenstatesurfer]

hi guys,<br /><br />pulled my boat out today and tried to start her, its a 1990 4.3L V6 Mercruiser with a Thunderbolt IV ignition. all im getting is a clicking noise. battery seems ok at 12volts. <br /><br />did some reading on the net and noticed that the clicking noise is coming from the slave solenoid (im a newbie so im pretty proud of this) next to the 50 amp circut breaker.<br /><br />does this mean i need to replace the slave solenoid?<br /><br />i had a similar problem last season...put the boat in the water and it would take a few turns of the key before the engine would turn over. after the boat was run for a few minutes, it would always start right up.<br /><br />i should mention that out of at least 100 tries the engine did turn over once today....i forgot that i didnt have the hose turned on to cool the engine and regretably shut it off before it could start.<br /><br />since then im back to the clicking noise.<br /><br />one other question-does the drive have to be in the down tilt position to engage the engine? i tried this just in case but to no avail...<br /><br />and just for the hell of it i will mention it appears my "trim" up button is not working. down<br />is working ok.<br /><br />thanks for all your help guys, i need it!!!<br /><br />dave

 

[DayCruiser]

Re: 4.3L Mercruiser V6 1990 won't start....Help!

After learning on here I replaced the slave solenoid. Same symptoms you have. Easy and inexpensive thing to try first. Worked for me

 

[tommays]

Re: 4.3L Mercruiser V6 1990 won't start....Help!

i assume it ran well last year??<br /><br />12 volts is pretty weak a good battery would hold about 12.6 and it might just need a charge after sitting all winter<br /><br /> but haveing it load tested at a battery place is the only way to really no<br /><br />in general it sounds like you have a few bad conections the grounds are just as inportant as the hots<br /><br />its hard to go forward until your sure the battery is good and fully charged <br /><br />a battery can show 12 volts but if its past its prime or the cables are bad or have bad connections it wont pass enough amps to due much <br /><br />then you need a manual or a wireing diagram to follow to see were the power is stoping <br /><br /><br />you should never run the motor with the drive up<br /><br /><br />tommays

 

[gardenstatesurfer]

Re: 4.3L Mercruiser V6 1990 won't start....Help!

i should have mentioned i charged the battery and was getting 12.6Volts not under load.

 

[bigdaddyofhouse]

Re: 4.3L Mercruiser V6 1990 won't start....Help!

clean your battery posts and make sure all conections are good,clean and tight

 

[gardenstatesurfer]

Re: 4.3L Mercruiser V6 1990 won't start....Help!

guys if i tried jumping the solenoid on the starter and the slave solenoid (at seperate times), and nothing happened but yet another click-is it safe to say my starter is the problem? when you jump the solenoid you dont need to turn the key all the way right?

 

[gardenstatesurfer]

Re: 4.3L Mercruiser V6 1990 won't start....Help!

anybody?

 

[Baloo]

Re: 4.3L Mercruiser V6 1990 won't start....Help!

It could be the circut braker next to the starter soleniod I had a similar problem with my 4.3L.