All I get is a click

[kevink82]

Reaching out to anyone that can offer up where I should look next. I have a Mercruiser 165 I/O. When the key is turned all I get is a click from the slave solenoid. I used the page http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=167035 to troubleshoot my system and all seems to check out just fine...and yet no starty the boaty...just the click. Any suggestions?

I would be remiss if I did not mention that my blower and bilge don't work. New boat to me but I doubt it is related. Also when I put the probe on some of the contacts, the dash gauges moved.

 

[Don S]

Re: All I get is a click

Also when I put the probe on some of the contacts, the dash gauges moved.

That statement sounds so much like a loose/corroded ground it's scarry.
Go back to the troubleshooting link and look at those big bold word in the beginning. They are not there for window decoration or lawyer speak. That alone fixes a good half the problems of clicking solenoids.

Here it is again if you missed it.

FIRST ON THE LIST:

Start by checking that you have a good battery that is fully charged, clean tight battery connections with good battery cables of the proper size. This includes both the positive and negative cables, and don't forget each cable has 2 ends.
If you don't have this to start with, the rest of these tests are worthless.

 

[anymanusa]

Re: All I get is a click

When this happens to me I just cycle the key repeatedly and sooner or later it will start.

 

[Don S]

Re: All I get is a click

When this happens to me I just cycle the key repeatedly and sooner or later it will start.

That's not really a fix, that is just postponing the inevitable.
Keep an eye on this thread, you will need the troubleshooting info eventually.

 

[anymanusa]

Re: All I get is a click

That's not really a fix, that is just postponing the inevitable.
Keep an eye on this thread, you will need the troubleshooting info eventually.

Pretty sure it's corrosion causing the 'stick'. It's bad at the start of the boating season and then it gets better and goes away after being used a few times.