How should I handle this situation?

[Steve91T]

Our last boating trip of the season last year nearly left us stranded with a dead starter. "click, click, click". Solenoid. So I had the shop that winterized the boat pull the starter to have it rebuilt. Still clicks. This time though, it'll only click if I have the blower running. If I turn the blower off, it'll crank. The battery is fully topped off and it's charging.

So, this tells me the shop that rebuilt the starter screwed up. In case I wasn't clear, the Marina pulled the starter and took it to someone to have it rebuilt.

Normally I would just let them pull the starter again on their dime, but we moved over the winter and I just got the boat back last week. This was our first time on the water since I got it back. I'm not driving 3 1/2 hrs each way to the marina.

I'm going to call them first thing in the morning, but I wanted to ask you guys, what would be a reasonable solution, and also, how could they rebuild a starter yet it still has this problem? Reused old parts?

I'm honestly thinking of just asking for a full refund.

Thanks guys,
Steve

 

[N3UP]

Re: How should I handle this situation?

Not going to discount a defective rebuild, but you may have a problem elsewhere.

Bad solenoid, cables, connections.

 

[dingbat]

Re: How should I handle this situation?

There is nothing in the starter that would cause a problem like that.
I'm guessing you have problem in the blower circuit or the blower itself that is pulling the circuit down.

 

[DBreskin]

Re: How should I handle this situation?

I agree with the previous answers; it sounds like low voltage failing to keep the solenoid engaged. Low voltage at the solenoid may be caused by several things including corroded cables or connections, or high drain elsewhere in the system.

If you told the shop to rebuild the starter, then they did what you asked. Instead, I suggest you tell them what the problem is and ask them to fix it rather than tell them the solution. Then, if their fix doesn't work, it's their problem and not yours.

 

[Steve91T]

Re: How should I handle this situation?

I think I may have been misleading. When hit the starter, I get one "click" and that's it. When I release the starter, I get another click. That's the bendix gear, right? It's engaging the flywheel but the starter isn't turning over. When I flick the starter a couple of times, it'll actually start cranking. When it is cranking, it turns over very quickly, indicating a strong battery and a strong starter. With the blower running, I would get nothing more than a click. When I turned it off, then I was able to get it to start. I didn't mean to imply that it was repetitively clicking when holding the starter.

Does that change anything? Watching my volt gauge, there is a draw while the blower is running, but nothing extreme. The trim pump still have much more of a draw than the blower. Also, if I had weak or corroded wires, wouldn't it crank slowly, as if it had a bad battery?

This is why I wanted to ask here before calling them. And like I said, I'm not bringing the boat back to them, the cost in diesel would pay for another rebuild.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: How should I handle this situation?

"Click, Click, Click" is the clasic symptom of a Weak/Dead Battery or a Marginal Connection.
It is right on the edge. The blower takes it over the edge.

If the starter was so shorted that it could pull a good battery down ...
1. It would not crank just fine a minute later. ???
2. Your wiring would be smoking!


The answers to two questions will locate the problem.

When the key is turned to "Start". (Clicking, Cranking or Otherwise.)
1. What is the Voltage on the Actual Battery Posts? (NOT the Battery Clamps!)
2. What is the Voltage at the Starter Solenoid, relative to the engine Block?

Return with those numbers and we'll tell you where the problem lies.

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: How should I handle this situation?

It is not the starter, it is something in the blower circuit that is drawing way to much amperage. You need to check that circuit to find out what is going on.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: How should I handle this situation?

I tied with you on the last post.
Ignore that!

Is the Starting Solenoid part of the starter or is it a seperate device?

 

[Bondo]

Re: How should I handle this situation?

It is not the starter, it is something in the blower circuit that is drawing way to much amperage. You need to check that circuit to find out what is going on.

Ayuh,.... Or a faulty Ground,... Corroded wiring ends....

 

[jdlough]

Re: How should I handle this situation?

For me, "Click, Click, Click", is the first sign of loose or corroded battery contacts.

Sometimes it's, "Click, Click, Click" - tilt/trim stops working.

Sometimes it's, "Click, Click, Click" - starter dies

Sometimes it's, "Click, Click, Click" - washdown pump chokes.

Every time, for 4 different boats, "Click" means a bad connection at the battery.

While this is going on, minor electrical-draw things, like nav lights and bilge pump, work fine. I only get the click for big-draw things like tilt/trim or starter. And sometimes only intermittently for them too. Like it's just barely on the edge of an OK battery connection, but not quite.

Just when I think I need to throw another $thousand at the boat, I clean and tighten connections, especially the battery connections, and all is fine again.

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: How should I handle this situation?

I would say its a connection or may be the starter solenoid.

 

[cpubud]

Re: How should I handle this situation?

as unclewillie said .a couple readings will tell you where the problem is

 

[Silvertip]

Re: How should I handle this situation?

A click as you put it when you turn the key to START does NOT always mean the Bendix is hitting the flywheel. You are probably hearing the solenoid click. The Bendix makes a pretty solid clunk when it engages the flywheel, even if the starter doesn't turn the engine. If you would have bothered to take the cowl off the engine and looked at what the issue is, you would would have been able to determine this. I also agree that if you told the shop to rebuild the starter, any further work is on your dime. Heck, you can even jump the solenoid to see if the starter spins. If not, use jumper cables right from the battery to the starter. All of this costs you nothing and if you are not able to perform the repairs, at least tell the shop what you did -- not what YOU "think" they should do.

 

[Leosantanalg]

Re: How should I handle this situation?

Not trying to jump on your thread but I m new here and just dont know how to start a thread. Funny thing is: I have exactly same problem but in my case it clicks few times and then start or not I just keep trying, click, click, .... I give few minutes and click, start!!! Can a starter go bad slowly or will it die for good? Sorry guys

 

[jdlough]

Re: How should I handle this situation?

Leo,

Boats+water=connection corrosion.

I would check and clean (with sandpaper on the wire ends and battery posts) all your connections before futzing with expensive parts.

And the connections usually don't go bad all at once. You can get a few clicks, then all is ok, then more clicks, then ok, etc.


BTW, you had the same problem, so it's cool to post in this thread, but to post a new thread, at the top left, just click the "+Post New Thread" tab while you're in any main forum. (That button disappears while you're in a specific thread, like right now. While in a thread, it turns into a "+Reply To Thread tab)

 

[N3UP]

Re: How should I handle this situation?

I'm starting to think bad solenoid with your further description.

You statemant that the starter cranks fast when it does work, seems to rule out a bad conection.
try jumping the solenoid with a jumper cable.

 

[jdlough]

Re: How should I handle this situation?

Heck, you can even jump the solenoid to see if the starter spins. If not, use jumper cables right from the battery to the starter.

Silvertip, sorry to be dense, but to some of us this is like McGiver starting a helicopter with a paperclip and a gum wrapper.

Like, connect the two posts of a solenoid together (while the key is turned on?) should make it turn over?

If that does not work, and battery cables to the starter makes the starter turn over, that means the solenoid (or ignition switch or switch wiring) is bad?

Please explain in tiny words. I know enough not to jump electrical connections that I don't understand. I don't want to make expensive bits go poof!

 

[Fireman431]

Re: How should I handle this situation?

I had the same issue. It was the battery. Requires a full 12.5+ volts to engage the bendix. Although my battery seemed fully charged and was charging fine, I had a bad cell. New battery, problem immediately gone. A simple test would be to trickle charge your battery and see if the problem goes away.

 

[jdlough]

Re: How should I handle this situation?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems these "Click" problems usually mean that not enough juice is getting to the device, right?

So, USUALLY, its either a connection problem, or a crappy battery problem.

At any rate, connections and battery are the first things to check, right?

Then, check the solenoid.

Only then, check the starter.

Does this sound about right for a troubleshooting?


Bonus points for a simple explanation of a solenoid.

 

[SigSaurP229]

Re: How should I handle this situation?

my thought was first to check all the cable connections, and battery cables.

Jumping the solenoid is a pretty simple process.

Take a set of Jumper cables (like you would start a car with)

Take the black part of the jumper cables and hook one end to the ground on the battery and the other end directly to a metal part of the engine block.

Take the positive side (red) side of the jumper cables and hook one end directly to the positive side of the battery. NOW the other side will go DIRECTLY to the positive hookup on the starter (where the RED CABLE) bolts directly to the starter. DO NOT HIT ANY EXPOSED METAL with the positive cable when hooking up.

I am not overly familiar with i/o motors but if you follow the red battery cable directly out of the battery it should go to directly to the starter solenoid. It should be square on the bottom with what looks like a a round back to it. There should be 3 or 4 posts on it 2 larger ones and one or 2 smaller ones. YOu can trace it from the battery cable to the solenoid or from the POSITIVE side of the starter (red wire coming out of the starter) back to the solenoid.