Got her out of the garage...nothing.

[Joe Reeves]

Re: Got her out of the garage...nothing.

Did you check that fuse yet?

 

[samo_ott]

Re: Got her out of the garage...nothing.

I see nowhere where you have straight jumped directly the battery to the starter. You must do this first to ensure the starter actually works before back testing the wiring and solenoid in my opinion.

 

[KewlBird]

Re: Got her out of the garage...nothing.

One thing that sometimes works is wacking the starter with a mallot while someone is turning the key to start. It's worked for me on several occasions. Use a rubber mallot or a block of wood so you don't scratch the paint. You can also tap the starter solenoid with the back of the screw driver while turning the key to start. If something is stuck in there this tapping will help free it up and then you'll know what the problem was.

 

[freddyray21]

Re: Got her out of the garage...nothing.

check the connections at the key switch also. A bad connection will often times click like you said then stop at the tenuous connection it had failed. I think you just have bad connections. If it ran last year it is not wired wrong. Take each connection off one at a time clean it and replace it. That way you don't get any wires crossed.

 

[bds85466]

Re: Got her out of the garage...nothing.

Did you check that fuse yet?

I checked one fuse yesterday. It was a smaller fuse. See on the picture where the 2 is, to the very right of that, there's a rope of wires in black tape. A black wire comes out of that, has the rubber boot plug with a fuse in it, and then the wire goes back into the tape. Looked at it, looked fine. How do you tell a busted fuse? Should be charred or at least the lead is fractured, right?

There was also a fuse that was between the remote control and the battery or motor. I think it was on a red wire but am not sure. This was a couple days ago. It was dark, but I got the fuse out and in my eyes, it looked ok. Too be sure, I'll check it again tonight after work. I'll take some pics, too. Might this be the one being referenced? I'll pull out the schematic again to really try and get to the bottom of it. Otherwise is there a specific location I should be looking for this 20A fuse?

 

[bds85466]

Re: Got her out of the garage...nothing.

check the connections at the key switch also. A bad connection will often times click like you said then stop at the tenuous connection it had failed. I think you just have bad connections. If it ran last year it is not wired wrong. Take each connection off one at a time clean it and replace it. That way you don't get any wires crossed.

By "tenuous" connection, do you mean the connection where it eventually may have failed?

Tonight I'm just going to go through all of the connections once again, and try jumping the starter directly.

Can anyone clear up in JB's "motor won't start" troubleshooting guide on where you're supposed to be grounding your meter in the instance where your solenoid does not click? I get different readings based on if I ground my meter to the motor ground or battery ground.

Thanks again for bearing with me. I appreciate all of the help.

 

[KewlBird]

Re: Got her out of the garage...nothing.

I get different readings based on if I ground my meter to the motor ground or battery ground.

Thanks again for bearing with me. I appreciate all of the help.

If that's the case, I would be checking the battery to motor ground cable. Try adding a temporary additional ground cable from battery to the motor, via jumper cables and see if that solves your problem.

 

[bds85466]

Re: Got her out of the garage...nothing.

Is there a conventional location where the motor to ground usually exits the motor so I could follow it back?

ps...nice avatar, what motor is that?

 

[KewlBird]

Re: Got her out of the garage...nothing.

Is there a conventional location where the motor to ground usually exits the motor so I could follow it back?

ps...nice avatar, what motor is that?

There should be two heavy gauge cables, one will go to the starter solenoid and one will be bolted to the engine block somewhere. The one at the solenoid is positive (+) and the one on the block is negative. Find the negative and you can go from there. On my 1975 85hp (avatar) the ground cable is just below the starter solenoid next to the red bulk connector.

 

[bds85466]

Re: Got her out of the garage...nothing.

From there, this cable then then sould exit the motor casing and head for the battery, correct? If I follow that back with a meter I may be able to find where the bad connection may be. (?)

 

[KewlBird]

Re: Got her out of the garage...nothing.

From there, this cable then then sould exit the motor casing and head for the battery, correct? If I follow that back with a meter I may be able to find where the bad connection may be. (?)

That's correct, if you check the resistance of that cable it should be virtually 0 ohms

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Got her out of the garage...nothing.

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

 

[bds85466]

Re: Got her out of the garage...nothing.

Decided to take some more time tonight with my boat instead of going out. Was drinking some beers, listening to my beloved Wild on their way to getting eiliminated by the Avs from the playoffs. Checked all the connections once again...nothing there. Brought out my meter again and began checking resistance along that negative cable between motor ground and battery ground. I got no reading to register from the motor ground to the end of the cable, when I should've gotten a 0.xx or something. That meant that my cable had a continuity problem somewhere. I began in the most logical place, right next to the battery where the cable gets removed/jostled the most. Underneath layers upon layers of electrical tape and plastic conduit, I found a ring terminal where the large cable had completely sheared away (I'll leave a picture that I took later) from the crimp. Duh. Went to the hardware store, stripped and repaired the clamp, and Ta Da! The starter solenoid and starter turned! Unfortunately it's dark and a bit late, so I wasn't about to see if the remainder of the motor was working. 72 125hp motor on muffs is quite loud for 11pm. Thanks everone, especially KewlBird for realizing there shouldn't be a difference between motor ground and battery ground. Now I get to watch the Wild quietly end their season.:redface: