HELP! Starter won't engage when I turn the key.

[rodgeml1]

I'm leaving for a week long fishing trip and was going to take the boat out one last time for a functional checkout. I turned the key to on and got the usual tone, but when I turned it to start the tone changed a little but the starter didn't react. I tried it over and over and messed with the throttle arm to see if that would help at all with no change. I even changed out the ignition switch with a new one....still no change. Can y'all provide some advice on where to start to T/S this?

Boat: 1995 Wellcraft 218 Coastal
Engine: 1995 Mercruiser 4.3L

 

[rodgeml1]

Re: HELP! Starter won't engage when I turn the key.

Ok, I had my wife turn the key while I listened and there is a definite click coming from the ignition. I don't see any obvious signs of corrosion or bad connections.

 

[Fishermark]

Re: HELP! Starter won't engage when I turn the key.

The late, great Oracle by the Sea put together a post in the DIY section at the top of the page. . Here's what to do to troubleshoot the starter.

 

[rodgeml1]

Re: HELP! Starter won't engage when I turn the key.

The late, great Oracle by the Sea put together a post in the DIY section at the top of the page. . Here's what to do to troubleshoot the starter.

Copy that.....Been looking through it and am now trying to find where the starter solenoid is on my boat.

Any tips?

 

[Fishermark]

Re: HELP! Starter won't engage when I turn the key.

The starter solenoid is attached to the starter - it is the silver "can" on top in this picture:

You also have a remote (or slave) solenoid... it will look something like this:

 

[rodgeml1]

Re: HELP! Starter won't engage when I turn the key.

Ok got it. I found the slave soleniod and jumped from the battery and it kicked the starter but it didn't engage the fly wheel. I got a test light and went to do the first test (from C to ground) and the boat starter turned over and the engine cranked. So I pulled the test lead off and tried it again....sure enough the engine cranked. Odd. So I proceeded to try and start the engine but after cranking for a bit then it would stop and go back to doing what it started doing. I'd wait a bit and try it again and it would do the same...crank for a little bit then crap out. I pulled the battery to have it tested....it tested good but showed it needed a charge. I'm charging it now and cleaning terminals and such in the mean time. I'm hoping it was just a low batter not quite having enough juice to do what I needed it to.

 

[Fishermark]

Re: HELP! Starter won't engage when I turn the key.

If charging the battery and cleaning all of your connections solves it, then great. But if there is any doubt... solenoids get corroded inside - they begin to work intermittently. I would put a new slave solenoid on. They are inexpensive and easy to replace.

 

[rodgeml1]

Re: HELP! Starter won't engage when I turn the key.

If charging the battery and cleaning all of your connections solves it, then great. But if there is any doubt... solenoids get corroded inside - they begin to work intermittently. I would put a new slave solenoid on. They are inexpensive and easy to replace.

I'd say that's a great idea. My concern is finding a new one before my fishing trip starting on Tuesday. I may be able to hit up my boat repair shop Tuesday morning and try and replace it when I get down to Virginia Beach.

 

[tank1949]

Re: HELP! Starter won't engage when I turn the key.

MOST of the time, it is corosion somewhere!!!. Clean all contacts!

 

[rodgeml1]

Re: HELP! Starter won't engage when I turn the key.

MOST of the time, it is corosion somewhere!!!. Clean all contacts!

There are A LOT of contacts in there!

 

[bonzoscott]

Re: HELP! Starter won't engage when I turn the key.

It's usually the big copper disc in the solenoid. That is if you have cleaned the cable ends and connectors at the starter / solenoid. But replace that solenoid if so. It's Marine and sealed to prevent explosion.

 

[rodgeml1]

Re: HELP! Starter won't engage when I turn the key.

Ok, charging the battery didn't fix it. If I' jump the "C" terminal on the slave solenoid to ground the boat cranks but won't start. I'm assuming if the solenoid is bad it won't send the signal to the igniter even if I have it jumped to ground. Is that correct?

Also, following Don's troubleshooting tips, I attached the light to ground and to terminal A and it didn't light up when the engine was turned over. Does that mean the solenoid is bad or does it mean there is a bad ground somewhere?

 

[old bird]

Re: HELP! Starter won't engage when I turn the key.

is the key on ?

 

[rodgeml1]

Re: HELP! Starter won't engage when I turn the key.

Yes, I had my wife turn the key to on/run and then to start....nothing.

Also, when I was digging into the problem I found there are two solenoids with a jumper bar between the "B" terminals. Is that normal?

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: HELP! Starter won't engage when I turn the key.

Ok, charging the battery didn't fix it. If I' jump the "C" terminal on the slave solenoid to ground the boat cranks but won't start.

Dosent work that way. the C wire is coming from the ign switch to supply 12v to that solenoid that closes the connection between the large lugs and supplies power to the starter`s solenoid.

Also, when I was digging into the problem I found there are two solenoids with a jumper bar between the "B" terminals. Is that normal?

That sounds like the trim pump

seeif this helps http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Servmanl/18/18E4R2.PDF

 

[rodgeml1]

Re: HELP! Starter won't engage when I turn the key.

Dosent work that way. the C wire is coming from the ign switch to supply 12v to that solenoid that closes the connection between the large lugs and supplies power to the starter`s solenoid.

So I have a bad ground and/or a bad solenoid.

Not sure why the boat wouldn't start once I jumped the solenoid off to ground. I even used starting fluid but it didn't seem to be getting any fire.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: HELP! Starter won't engage when I turn the key.

I cant tell from here. power comes from the starter thru the Red wire, from there thru the 50A circuit breaker. from there thru the main harness plug to the dash.
Red wire goes to ign switch ."on " position supplies power to the gauges and ign circuit. Check for 12v at the purple wire, then go to the + side of the ign coil and check for 12v. you need both to get spark.dont forget the man overboard /safety lanyard switch. report results.
"start" position goes thru the yellow wire to the control box and its neutral safety switch, out the other wire thru the harness to the slave soilenod. 12v here trips the slave solenoid and the contacts close .the larger red/purple supplies power to the yellow/red that goes to the starters solenoid.
Go to that link and look at the wiring, should clear things up some, do those tests and post the results

 

[rodgeml1]

Re: HELP! Starter won't engage when I turn the key.

You're right about the diagram clearing up the solenoid function. I replaced the solenoid and that appears to have fixed the problem of the boat not cranking. Still not getting fire though.

I cant tell from here. power comes from the starter thru the Red wire, from there thru the 50A circuit breaker. from there thru the main harness plug to the dash.
Red wire goes to ign switch ."on " position supplies power to the gauges and ign circuit. Check for 12v at the purple wire

I confirmed that I don't have any power at the coil with the key turned to "run". Where is "the purple wire" you mention above?

 

[Bondo]

Re: HELP! Starter won't engage when I turn the key.

You're right about the diagram clearing up the solenoid function. I replaced the solenoid and that appears to have fixed the problem of the boat not cranking. Still not getting fire though.



I confirmed that I don't have any power at the coil with the key turned to "run". Where is "the purple wire" you mention above?

Ayuh,.... The Purple wire is the Ignition circuit, from the Key, to the Coil's (+) terminal,...

 

[rodgeml1]

Re: HELP! Starter won't engage when I turn the key.

Ok....I have 12v at the ignition switch and 12v measuring at the positive side of the coil and ground but I'm still not getting any spark. What should I try next?