Boat Won't Start. What Exactly is That Clicking?

[jtw]

Hi All!

My boat won't start. When i turn the key, I get multiple clicks. (Not the single click that is heard when the slave solenoid goes bad.) What exactly causes that clicking I hear?

I know it has to be associated with the starter. I've already charged the battery with a really good 'smart' charger, and then had it tested at AutoZone (with a load). Tomorrow, I'll clean all of the connections. But, again, what are those multiple clicks, and does that point more toward a bad connection, or a bad starter/starter solenoid?

Thanks.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Boat Won't Start. What Exactly is That Clicking?

bad cable, bad ground at the block, corroded connection at the starter

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: Boat Won't Start. What Exactly is That Clicking?

If all connections look good give the body of the starter a good rap with a hammer and then turn the key.

 

[jtw]

Re: Boat Won't Start. What Exactly is That Clicking?

But, what is the clicking noise?

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: Boat Won't Start. What Exactly is That Clicking?

Arcing electric

 

[Joshua Nichols]

Re: Boat Won't Start. What Exactly is That Clicking?

Mine has 2 solenoids.. One up on the engine off by itself and another on the starter

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Boat Won't Start. What Exactly is That Clicking?

But, what is the clicking noise?

As I understand it, if you have low voltage or a high resistance connection (voltage drop) when you apply voltage to the starter it is enough to activate the solenoid, but when the contact closes and the starter motor begins to draw current the voltage drops below the level needed to keep the solenoid closed and the contact opens. With no large current draw the voltage goes back up and the solenoid closes again repeating the whole process. Click, click click. If you know the battery is OK, check your connections. Good luck.

 

[sqbtr]

Re: Boat Won't Start. What Exactly is That Clicking?

Maybe tell us what engine and drive you have, some have relays to energize the starter solenoid as JN stated

 

[wifisher]

Re: Boat Won't Start. What Exactly is That Clicking?

As I understand it, if you have low voltage or a high resistance connection (voltage drop) when you apply voltage to the starter it is enough to activate the solenoid, but when the contact closes and the starter motor begins to draw current the voltage drops below the level needed to keep the solenoid closed and the contact opens. With no large current draw the voltage goes back up and the solenoid closes again repeating the whole process. Click, click click. If you know the battery is OK, check your connections. Good luck.

+1 exactly what is happening.

 

[FreeBeeTony]

Re: Boat Won't Start. What Exactly is That Clicking?

Sounds like a dead battery to me...........

 

[jtw]

Re: Boat Won't Start. What Exactly is That Clicking?

Thanks, everyone. I'm heading out to clean connections.

I thought it was the battery, too. If the cleaning doesn't help, I'll have it checked again somewhere else.

Engine is Mercruiser 4.3LH I/O. The other solenoid, the slave solenoid, has failed twice over the years. When it fails, there is a single click.

 

[pvmtsux]

Re: Boat Won't Start. What Exactly is That Clicking?

In some cases you can bypass the bad solenoid by useing a screwdriver to arch between the back of the starter and the other solenoid...this method is not recommened as a solution to starting your boat because it can be dangerous and if you do it too frequently can damage contacts. This is simply a very quick test to figure out if the solenoid is bad or (if you have 2) which one is bad. You will also find out if your battery is dead or not. I'm sure some of the boating geniuses on here are gonna want to rip me a new one for this post but oh well...nothing beats pokin' around an engine with a screwdriver. LOL.

 

[Joshua Nichols]

Re: Boat Won't Start. What Exactly is That Clicking?

Thanks, everyone. I'm heading out to clean connections.

I thought it was the battery, too. If the cleaning doesn't help, I'll have it checked again somewhere else.

Engine is Mercruiser 4.3LH I/O. The other solenoid, the slave solenoid, has failed twice over the years. When it fails, there is a single click.

whew you would have to have really bad connections.. Doubt that's the problem.. Look at the starter.... That thing with all the wires going to it.. That is a solenoid too.. Is common for it to click and not make enough contact to turn the starter.. Stick your hand on it while turning the key.. You will feel it.. Since you hear 2 I would say your problem is there.. Testing is easily done with a test light.. Starter side should light up when you hit the key.. If it does it's a starter problem...

 

[jtw]

Re: Boat Won't Start. What Exactly is That Clicking?

OK. Kinda embarrassing. I started with the easiest connections to reach. The battery. Cleaned the connections and tightened them real good. Fired right up.

My battery has 3 black wires on the - and 3 red wires on the +. All of the lugs are different shapes. If you don't put them in a good order, they don't lay flat on each other.

Stonyloam's description of what was going on, really helped.

A few minutes after starting, I noticed exhaust coming from a strange place. The exhaust bellows has somehow come off the stern drive end!

 

[Don S]

Re: Boat Won't Start. What Exactly is That Clicking?

Get rid of those stupid wing nuts, replace them with real nuts and use a wrench to tighten them down. NOW, you won't have problems. It would also help to use terminals that are of the proper size for the wire and the terminal it attaches to.

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