Boat not starting

[juice69]

OK, so I need some help, as my 2004 Mercruiser won't start. I've read the sticky on starting problems, and I'm getting no light (power) on this first step:

"Now, touch the light to the B terminal on the ignition switch (big red or red/purple wire) the test light should light."

Battery is fine and I have power everywhere else coming into the front panel. Would this be a bad neutral safety switch??


Juice

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,.... Neutral safety switch only effects the starter circuit,....

You ain't gettin' power to the keyswitch for startin', nor ignition,....

Is there power at the battery wire at the starter,..??
There's a little square fuse right there, that could be yer issue,...

 

[juice69]

Well Bondo after looking at the gauges - I'm not getting any power there either, only to the accessories (i.e. bilge, blower, lights, etc).

I removed that little square fuse at the starter a few years ago.

I've got power at the starter as i can jump the solenoid - it just won't stay running. Wonder if it's the ignition key or if I'm missing some other fuse?


Juice

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,..... Start with the basics,.... Clean the battery terminals, 'n connectors shiny metal Clean, put 'em back on, 'n grease 'em,...

Then do the other end of the cables, at the starter, 'n on the block,....

Is there power at the breaker on top of the motor,..??

Pull, 'n clean the cannon plug , where the motor meets the boat,..??

 

[alldodge]

OK, so I need some help, as my 2004 Mercruiser won't start. I've read the sticky on starting problems, and I'm getting no light (power) on this first step:

"Now, touch the light to the B terminal on the ignition switch (big red or red/purple wire) the test light should light."

Battery is fine and I have power everywhere else coming into the front panel. Would this be a bad neutral safety switch??

Your first step says to check for 12V on the Yellow/Red wire on terminal C and your not getting power

In the Pics below you can see the Neutral Safety Switch and the Yel.Red wire passes through it. Since your not getting power to terminal C then check to see if you have 12V at terminal S on the Key switch when turned to start. If you do the key switch is good

If you don't get 12V then check to see if you have 12V at the Red.Purple wire.
12V at Red/Pur connection and no 12V when turned to start on terminal S - need a key switch
12V on Yel/Red connection when turned to start, check Neutral Safety switch and make sure wires are making connection and switch works in on position

 

[Bt Doctur]

are you jumping the main solenoid or the slave solenoid

 

[juice69]

BT - Jumped the main solenoid, but it wouldn't stay running when I removed the screwdriver.

Thanks Dodge - I'll take a closer look after I clean up the battery terminals, which shouldn't be the problem as I cleaned them earlier this year. Next I'll clean up the connections at the ground block and starter, and hope it solves the issue!

 

[Bt Doctur]

you only check the condition of your battery cables and connections that way.In "alldodge`s " post red/purple should always have 12v , that power comes from the 50A circuit breaker. jumping A and B should activate the starter, if not check the 50A breaker or a bad wire at the starter connection.

 

[Bt Doctur]

 

[juice69]

Update: After cleaning the connections at the starter, as I was reattaching - the main positive feed post broke off! I'll need to grab a new starter tomorrow or Wednesday and see if I can't get this resolved and let all know!

 

[juice69]

Update: Swapped out the starter as it was under a lifetime warranty (oops, I probably broke while cleaning and reassembling). Still no power to start or at the gauges. Also, there's no power at the C connection (or any connection) on the slave solenoid. And no power flowing through the 50 amp circuit breaker, which I've bypassed for the moment.

As mentioned earlier, there's also no juice hitting the gauges or ignition key (position S).

Reading dodges post, it sounds as if this is a bad key switch?

 

[Bondo]

And no power flowing through the 50 amp circuit breaker, which I've bypassed for the moment.

Ayuh,.... Is there Power at the Breaker,..??

 

[juice69]

No Bondo. As mentioned, I removed that square fuse on the starter a while ago. There must be another fuse somewhere that I'm missing.

 

[Bondo]

No Bondo. As mentioned, I removed that square fuse on the starter a while ago. There must be another fuse somewhere that I'm missing.

Well, the power goes from the battery, to the starter's solenoid lug where it joins the wire to the breaker,....
And of course, back through Ground,....

It's a short path, 2 wires really,...

 

[juice69]

Well Bondo, sometimes I wish you were closer to where I'm at so I could buy you a beer, or two! That fixed it. It was the connection on the starter going to the breaker, which was heavily wrapped in electrical tape that had pulled lose from the fitting. At least the connection was clean! Thanks again my friend!

Juice

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,.... Happy Boatin',......

 

[joey nathan]

Same problem today for me. Winterizing a client's '95 SkiRay 350 Magnum and wouldn't start - only clicking of solenoid. Long story short, exact same problem, the crimp-on ring terminal of red conductor between starter solenoid and breaker had come loose at the solenoid. Simply stripped off a little more insulation, cut broken copper strands and re-crimp - Voila! Ran it long enough to get Sta-Bil all through, drain block and manifolds, and fog it.

 

[jbcurt00]

Apple, please observe the 90day inactive topic guideline. Not to be posted to.

Thank you