5.0 mercuiser only makes loud "CLICK" sound when turning key

[Tileman2]

Well I changed the solenoid and that didn't fix it. The loud CLICK sounds like it's coming from down by the starter. Do I need to pull the starter. If I turn it enough times, it will all of the sudden turnover. And after it's warm it doesn't do it.

Oh my boat is a 88 Hurricane with an Alpha 1 outdrive

Thank you

Formally Tileman, but I forgot my password and it kept saying it was sent to my email but it never happened

 

[fossill]

Re: 5.0 mercuiser only makes loud "CLICK" sound when turning key

Battery terminal connection corroded or loose?
Loose ground wire?
Battery?

 

[rickryder]

Re: 5.0 mercuiser only makes loud "CLICK" sound when turning key

Check the connections at the starter....

 

[Tileman2]

Re: 5.0 mercuiser only makes loud "CLICK" sound when turning key

Thanks guys, just got her out of the water, and I'm on it. Much appreciated

 

[Tileman2]

Re: 5.0 mercuiser only makes loud "CLICK" sound when turning key

Well guys, I took off every ground and power cable, cleaned them and tightened them back on good. Still clicks. I mean it only clicks for about 5-10 turns of the key, then fires up. I suppose I could live with it, but it really drives me crazy. Sorry to be a pain in the butt, but any last suggestion ? And when it does start turning over, everything sounds perfect.

 

[Don S]

Re: 5.0 mercuiser only makes loud "CLICK" sound when turning key

Pull the spark plugs and see how it cranks over. A hard click (CLUNK) sounds more like a hydrolock than a bad connection.
Crank it over with the plugs out and see if you get water out of any of the cylinders.

 

[TheBlizzard]

Re: 5.0 mercuiser only makes loud "CLICK" sound when turning key

Mine did the same thing at the beginning of the year, I did the same things you did as well and it still did it. Now that I have used the boat a few times this year it does not do it anymore; so it fixed itself somehow. Electrical problems like that are hard to nail down and it costs too much to just throw parts at it until you figure it out. Plus replacing the starter would be a huge pain in the butt to do on a hunch.

 

[Tileman2]

Re: 5.0 mercuiser only makes loud "CLICK" sound when turning key

Thank you Don, I'll try it. But I don't like the way that sounds

 

[Don S]

Re: 5.0 mercuiser only makes loud "CLICK" sound when turning key

Clicks like a cheap ball point pen is what a relay, slave or starter solenoid might sound like.
A clunk like hitting an engine block with a hammer is more like a hydrolock. Which one do you have.

 

[Tileman2]

Re: 5.0 mercruiser only makes loud "CLICK" sound when turning key

Re: 5.0 mercruiser only makes loud "CLICK" sound when turning key

Thanks Blizzard, I like your scenario much better. No offense Don

But I'm certainly am going to try your suggestion Don, just scared of the outcome

 

[Tileman2]

Re: 5.0 mercruiser only makes loud "CLICK" sound when turning key

Re: 5.0 mercruiser only makes loud "CLICK" sound when turning key

A loud CLICK, but definitely not a CLUNK. The motor purrs like a kitten once it cranks over

 

[Don S]

Re: 5.0 mercruiser only makes loud "CLICK" sound when turning key

Re: 5.0 mercruiser only makes loud "CLICK" sound when turning key

Water getting into a cylinder may still be your problem. May be an easy cure, but you need to find out BEFORE it becomes an engine killing problem.

 

[Tileman2]

Re: 5.0 mercruiser only makes loud "CLICK" sound when turning key

Re: 5.0 mercruiser only makes loud "CLICK" sound when turning key

Thanks for your time Don, heading out to to take plugs out now. If I do find water in a cylinder, what's next if you don't mind me jumping the gun

 

[scooper77515]

Re: 5.0 mercruiser only makes loud "CLICK" sound when turning key

Re: 5.0 mercruiser only makes loud "CLICK" sound when turning key

My starter wasn't shooting the gear out far enough. It was an aftermarket starter, and it was just attempting to catch the flywheel. Then it would catch and grind the edges off the flywheel. Got a new starter, different brand, and it shot the gear out another 1/4" and it engages perfectly. No more CLUNKs since the swap.

 

[Don S]

Re: 5.0 mercruiser only makes loud "CLICK" sound when turning key

Re: 5.0 mercruiser only makes loud "CLICK" sound when turning key

If I do find water in a cylinder, what's next if you don't mind me jumping the gun

I would rather not type a bunch of what if's, I'm not that into typing.

 

[Tileman2]

Re: 5.0 mercruiser only makes loud "CLICK" sound when turning key

Re: 5.0 mercruiser only makes loud "CLICK" sound when turning key

Totally understand. Thanks to all who replied

 

[inboardnewbie]

Re: 5.0 mercruiser only makes loud "CLICK" sound when turning key

Re: 5.0 mercruiser only makes loud "CLICK" sound when turning key

Well im mo expert at all on this but my boat did the same made a loud clunk everytine i tried to start it and it wouldnt turn over and i would run the battery dead tryin and i would charge the batt and still the same thing so i tried a different battery and worked fine idk if i had a dead cell or what not but u might try that

 

[Tileman2]

Re: 5.0 mercruiser only makes loud "CLICK" sound when turning key

Re: 5.0 mercruiser only makes loud "CLICK" sound when turning key

well I pulled all the plugs and it still made a click when I first turned the key 3 times, then it cranked. Don't believe any water came out of the cylinders. Also having read a different thread, my boat had the automatic bilge switch fail last year and it filled up with water to the point the starter was definitely in water. Now the problem didn't start right away, but soon after. Don't know if that info makes any difference or not. My battery is new last year. But I think I'll throw a different one in anyway. to give that shot

 

[Don S]

Re: 5.0 mercruiser only makes loud "CLICK" sound when turning key

Re: 5.0 mercruiser only makes loud "CLICK" sound when turning key

Try this the next time it doesn't work.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=167035

 

[dingdongs]

Re: 5.0 mercruiser only makes loud "CLICK" sound when turning key

Re: 5.0 mercruiser only makes loud "CLICK" sound when turning key

aaah!!!!!!! remove starter as the bendix requires lubing as water has rusted something like the shaft etc.a can of wd40 will be your best bet and you can see it working on the bench before assembling back on board.