Dead Battery of dead starter?

[aintmisbehavin]

My boat is failing to start. I was thinking it was the starter was on its way out because the battery has a good charge on it. But I hooked the meter up to it today and the voltage drops to 5v when trying to turn the engine over. Is that a sign of a dead battery?

All connections are clean and it was starting fine last weekend

Is it possible to open the starter up and clean it?

 

[cougar1985]

Re: Dead Battery of dead starter?

test the battery on its own ,good? you might want to look closely at the cables as they might be rotten.ive seen cables go bad in a dozen years or less so it bears a close inspection even to the point of slicing open the cables to look if need be,you cant imagine how much grief a rotten cable can give to the average person looking for a elect problem.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Dead Battery of dead starter?

1976 Johnson 115 probably due new battery cables.

90% of starter problems are bad connections. remove and clean both ends of the battery cables, so that they are shiney, also the cable from the solenoid to starter. check for nicks in the cables. and make sure the connectors are on the wire good. the cable tend to corrode from the inside out, if nicked, corroded wires, and connections, heat up and cause resistance to the follow of electricity, thus the starter doesn't get enough. you can also take jumper cable pos battery post to large post on starter. with a good connection, the engine should spin. then if the starter is good clean everything and retest. then trouble shoot solenoid. starters can be rebuit at a starter/alternator shop, much cheaper than a new one.

also have the battery load tested at the auto parts store, free, i've had new batteries go bad

 

[aintmisbehavin]

Re: Dead Battery of dead starter?

Dead Battery,

took old to Advance and had them check it, was going to go for the Optima, but it was $225. So settled for a house brand.

Engine is running, and went ahead and replaced the terminals while I was at it.

thanks

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Dead Battery of dead starter?

congrats.