Mercrusier 230 GM 305 no starter response, then it works fine

[JackBronson]

1987 Mercruiser 230HP GM 305 I/O. New starter late last season. Today I'm on the lake and the motor is turning over but not starting so I pull the shifter out so I can work the throttle with it not in gear and I still can't get it to start. Turns over very well, plenty of battery power. Give it a minute and try again and now I get nothing from the starter. Again, plenty of battery (tests for 12.7v, runs the outdrive up very quickly) it's just nothing from the starter - no click or anything. Put it on the trailer, take it home, hit the ignition key in the driveway and of course it turns over. Backfires once, spits a little to get going, and then it runs fine.

So, I'm thinking when I was working the throttle to get it going I must have triggered some interlock switch which prevents power getting to the starter if the boat is in gear

Anyone have any thoughts as to what I should look at first? which parts to throw more of my income at? :faint2:

Thanks!

 

[alldodge]

Re: Mercrusier 230 GM 305 no starter response, then it works fine

Its probably your shift interuptor switch. Need to make sure it is adjusted correctly
Mercruiser 260 Shift Cable & Neutral Cutoff Switch Adjustment 2 of 2 - YouTube
Its for a 260 but should work the same

 

[Don S]

Re: Mercrusier 230 GM 305 no starter response, then it works fine

Don't go messing with the shift cable adjustment, I doubt that has anything to do with it. Easy enough to check before you get things all out of whack.

The fact that the starter won't engage or click could be the neutral safety switch, ignition switch or a couple other things.

View attachment Troubleshooting a mercruiser Starting system rev3.pdf

The not starting is something else. Look at the shift plate, is the switch in the neutral position on the switch? Is so, then adjusting the cable isn't going to work.

If the starter is cranking and the engine not starting, do you have spark and fuel?

 

[JackBronson]

Re: Mercrusier 230 GM 305 no starter response, then it works fine

Sorry if I confused things. The motor seems fine NOW - plenty of spark and fuel. Not sure what caused the hard starting on the lake.

What I am doing is focusing on the fact that the starter wasn't responding. I presume the neutral safety switch is in the throttle control. Is this accurate?

When it was hard starting I worked the throttle back and forth giving the motor gas trying to get it started. I'm thinking that when I did this the neutral safety switch became unhappy.

 

[Don S]

Re: Mercrusier 230 GM 305 no starter response, then it works fine

What I am doing is focusing on the fact that the starter wasn't responding. I presume the neutral safety switch is in the throttle control. Is this accurate?

Yes, it is.

When it was hard starting I worked the throttle back and forth giving the motor gas trying to get it started. I'm thinking that when I did this the neutral safety switch became unhappy.

If you has the throttle control in the throttle only position, the neutral safety switch wouldn't be moving. If you just shifted it into gear and tried to start it in gear, of course the starter wouldn't engage, it's in gear.

 

[JackBronson]

Re: Mercrusier 230 GM 305 no starter response, then it works fine

Definitely had it in throttle only mode, because it was turning over with gusto. I'm thinking that when I returned it to the normal neutral position maybe I pushed it slightly forward and maybe the safety switch engaged. In any case, I'm going to look into that.

Thanks!

 

[alldodge]

Re: Mercrusier 230 GM 305 no starter response, then it works fine

Definitely had it in throttle only mode, because it was turning over with gusto. I'm thinking that when I returned it to the normal neutral position maybe I pushed it slightly forward and maybe the safety switch engaged. In any case, I'm going to look into that.

Thanks!

In the original post you mentioned it stoppped turning over that is why I mentioned the netural switch. I f its turning over and will not start that is a different issue

 

[JackBronson]

Re: Mercrusier 230 GM 305 no starter response, then it works fine

In the original post you mentioned it stoppped turning over that is why I mentioned the netural switch. I f its turning over and will not start that is a different issue

You were correct, AllDodge, it wasn't turning over or even clicking. I'm going to examine the neutral switch.

Thanks to you and to DonS for your replies.

 

[JackBronson]

Re: Mercrusier 230 GM 305 no starter response, then it works fine

Great document in your earlier posting, Don. Just got a chance to review it. I'll use it for further troubleshooting. Thanks very much.