Click at the starter, No crank. Good battery.

[shotgundexter]

Battery is a year old, full charge and tested good. Starter clicks. My question is --if it was something like the fuse on the starter, would it even click. I would assume that it would be totally dead. The boat is a 99 Caravelle, with the 3.0 mercruiser outdrive. My plan is to remove the starter and have it tested. I suppose ill try cleaning all the connection points real good first. Tell me if anyone disagree's but at this point I am thinking bad ground connection, or my starter just went bad sitting over the winter. I would appreciate any input and any opinion on this problem. Part of my assumption is that the block looking thing that is attatched to the starter, near the battery wire is the high amp fuse I have seen mentioned in other posts. Thanks for reading.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Click at the starter, No crank. Good battery.

a soft clicking might be the slave solenoid, at the starter jump from the main battery cable to the small lug closest to the block.that should spin the motor ,if not start checking the cable connections, both pos ang neg including the neg block connection.

 

[Another retired guy]

Re: Click at the starter, No crank. Good battery.

Agree with checking/cleaning all connections first. Then, if still just a click, have the starter tested but I'm going to guess that a new solenoid will fix the problem.

 

[shotgundexter]

Re: Click at the starter, No crank. Good battery.

Thank you much, I will post my progress this weekend.

 

[shotgundexter]

Re: Click at the starter, No crank. Good battery.

Some additional info that kinda puzzled me. My volt gauge stays up around 13volts -- if i flip the kill switch to the "Run" position i notice the voltage on the gauge drops to around 10. That seems like a large voltage drop for an inline switch. Maybe its dropping it at the solenoid.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Click at the starter, No crank. Good battery.

seems more of a corroded connection issue. jump the solenoid as suggested, spinning the motor will rule out battery cable corrosion

 

[Bondo]

Re: Click at the starter, No crank. Good battery.

Ayuh,.... Corroded connections,...

 

[shotgundexter]

Re: Click at the starter, No crank. Good battery.

That would be awesome.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Click at the starter, No crank. Good battery.

bondo, what do you say to the both of us writing a book for newbies. We`d include all our tricks and tips for servicing.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Click at the starter, No crank. Good battery.

bondo, what do you say to the both of us writing a book for newbies. We`d include all our tricks and tips for servicing.

Ayuh,... It'd be easier than typin' it out over, 'n over, 'n over, 'n over 'n.........




probably pay better too,....

 

[Another retired guy]

Re: Click at the starter, No crank. Good battery.

Ayuh,... It'd be easier than typin' it out over, 'n over, 'n over, 'n over 'n.........




probably pay better too,....

Ah, but would the newbies read the book, or still post the question?

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Click at the starter, No crank. Good battery.

I`d reply to that but would get banned.More things get destroyed from ignorance than anything else.Only after the fact do they ask for help.Like this one that complained of a bad vibration.

 

[shotgundexter]

Re: Click at the starter, No crank. Good battery.

Update.. Cleaned all terminals on wires going to solenoid. I have continuity through the fuse block. Cleaned terminals on starter, fuse block, battery-- all battery wire terminals. I took the ground stud out and cleaned block side and wirebrushed the stud. When i hit the key, the starter clicked hard enough it sounded like it at least engaged the bendix to the flywheel. This engine was running when i winterized it, so i hope that helps eliminate a seized block. I am going to run through the troubleshooting guid that Don posted, to check the solenoids. It seems that if solenoids were the problem it wouldnt throw the bendix out. If all looks good with solenoids, Ill remove starter and take it to be tested. It only engaged the flywheel the first time i hit the key, the next time it just clicks.

 

[IGeeky1]

Re: Click at the starter, No crank. Good battery.

If you jump across the two large terminals on the slave solenoid it should at minimum throw the bendix out (technically should spin starter as well...)
If you jump across the two large terminals of the starter solenoid it should spin the starter motor but not throw the bendix out

assuming everything has passed the tests so far...

pull plugs on engine to make things easier
now on starter solenoid jump across large terminal with positive battery cable attached to smaller terminal with yellow red wire attached
this should both throw bendix and spin starter

if not
then either that battery is not truly good under load
the starter needs rebuild and is not at full strength
the engine or stern drive is frozen (maybe pour an once or so of marvel mystery oil into each cylinder and let it sit a bit to lube and dissolve a ring to cylinder wall rust ring
or in my case, I had a long throw solenoid on a starter that required a short throw

 

[shotgundexter]

Re: Click at the starter, No crank. Good battery.

Ok slave solenoid tests ok, I think --haha. On Dons troubleshooting guide he says to turn key to run position and test at "A". My "A" is hot even with switch off. It stays hot when switched to on and in "Run" position i do get power to terminal "B". Should "A" get power even if keyswitch is off?

 

[IGeeky1]

Re: Click at the starter, No crank. Good battery.

Yup A is a solid red wire = hot
same with A on the starter solenoid. Solid red = hot

 

[shotgundexter]

Re: Click at the starter, No crank. Good battery.

jumping accross slave terminals, i get a click from the slave terminal but nothing else.

 

[shotgundexter]

Re: Click at the starter, No crank. Good battery.

Yellow wire with orange tracer on solenoid gets power when key is turned to run position. When turned to run, i just get a weak click from the slave solenoid, nothing from starter solenoid.

 

[IGeeky1]

Re: Click at the starter, No crank. Good battery.

what do you get when you jump from A to C on starter solenoid? That would be the two large terminals? does starter spin?

 

[shotgundexter]

Re: Click at the starter, No crank. Good battery.

sparks but does not do anything, not even a click.