Mercury 90hp Won't Crank

[mav6759]

2001 Mercury 90hp won't crank... Got full battery 12.7 upon turning the switch my meter shows 12.4. So I know my battery is good. I push in the key I can hear the choke click. But nothing. Went to the starter relay got 12.7 volts to the relay, check for polarity got polarity. The starter was rebuilt so I know it's not the starter. I just can't get it to say nothing. What are the symptoms of a bad starter relay. All I did was test to have 12.7 volts to the relay and I made sure my voltage did not drop well turning the key. So my problem is either in the key switch or the starter relay... is there a test for the starter relay thanks Mav

 

[flyingscott]

You will always have voltage to one side of the solenoid ,because it Is connected right to the Battery. ​​​​​ Do you have voltage at the small wires on the solenoid with the key in the start Position. If not it could be your ignition or your neutral safety switch. If You do have Power at the smaller wires the it is probably the solenoid itself. I would first check all my connections and make sure they are clean Especially the grounds.

 

[lmuss53]

Is the shifter in neutral?

 

[mav6759]

Thanks guys for your reply. The motor is in neutral. I've double-checked that by turning the prop. Also as I stated before I have power to the big wire on the small screw I have power. I have not checked to see if I have power with the key turned because I'm doing this by myself. I'm thinking this is going to be a bad relay issue because when I push the key in I can hear the choke clicking but when I turn the key nothing now Common Sense would tell me and common sense ain't all that common LOL that once I turn the key it discharges to the starter the only thing that's in the way of that would be the relay

 

[GA_Boater]

Jump from the positive battery connection on the solenoid to the small wire on the solenoid fed by the starter switch. It only takes a tap of the jumper to check the solenoid. That's the solenoid test. If the starter engages, trace back to the starter switch and neutral safety switch.

 

[flyingscott]

The neutral safety switch has nothing to do with the motor itself being in neutral. The neutral safety switch works only if the shifting lever is in neutral. Wiggle the shifting lever and see if it starts. The choke has nothing at all to do with the starter whatsoever. 3 switches control the starter. The ignition switch,neutral safety switch and the starter solenoid.

 

[flyingscott]

Edit

 

[QBhoy]

Can you turn it with a bar and socket on the nut on top ? Presumably it’s not seized or hydrauliced

 

[mav6759]

ok, one thing I noticed when I turn the key, I don't have power to my gauges, such as the gas or volt gauges...but all of my pumps works... could this be a switch issue, the only thing working on the switch is chock, I can here it click when I push in the key...but when I turn the key nothing...would the gauges not working have anything to do with the switch not sending a signal to the solenoid telling the starter to turn over..or a ground issue....

 

[QBhoy]

Check you can actually turn the engine over by hand. Haven’t heard that you ruled out it’s free to turn and defo an electrical issue ? Worth a try.

 

[QBhoy]

And usually all the gauges will take a dip when keying over the engine in most any circumstances.

 

[mav6759]

OK the motor is not locked up i can turn it by hand, I had the motor running..., But went out today with a test light, After checking the the power wire and the ground, I had not power to the key switch...so I decided to run a power wire from the fuse box to the switch...I got power to the switch, but the switch still didn't turn over the motor ...So there is something missing...Is there a test for the key switch I'm thinking somthing melted in the key switch...

Thanks Mav

 

[mav6759]

ok, I want to thank everyone for all your help, i go the motor to crank...But I'm still having a little issue.. The motor would start for about 3 sec.. and die...when restarting, it would do the same...after the second time, the motor would crank, crank and crank like it wasn't getting spark, well I know it wasn't getting spark, because I spray some fuel into manifold, nothing...I let the motor sit for about 5 mins..then spark returned...this is the most crazies thing, it;s like spark stops and starts on it on...when it wants to...Am I missing something...