No Crank 260A/ Emergency Start

[TopandKandi]

I read and printed Don's article on this but have the Volvo. Last week Sat I went to the boat, start and run fine, turn off go to lunch and come back. Nothing. Used my battery tester (light) to check red wire, good, gauges/horn/lights all work. When to engine and had Admiral turn the key while I listened. Heard and then felt the relay behind the carb click. Had a spare on board and swapped it out still the same. Checked with the battery tester power from the battery cable to the starter, good strong green light. I quit then, it was getting late and was unsure if I was to try and jump the wires into the relay or jump the cable on the starter to the purple or yellow/red wire.

So couple of questions, if the relay clicks the yellow/red to the relay from the dash is good? So no need to worry about that?

So this Sat I will 'jump' what ever you guys tell me...lol....starter power to yellow/red or to purple? If not crank there then the starter solenoid is bad or suspect?

This also has me thinking of an Emergency start kit: premade wires with alligator clips all ready to go for the starter and another to go from positive coil post to a battery in case of dash board loss if it happens on the water.

Thanks for all the replys and help ahead of time.

 

[Don S]

Re: No Crank 260A/ Emergency Start

if the relay clicks the yellow/red to the relay from the dash is good? So no need to worry about that?

No, that means the wiring for the low power side of the relay is working, and making it click. Doesn't necessarrily mean the power side is working.
The relay is similar to the solenoid in my article. You just need to know which wires go to what.
On the relay there are 4 terminals 85 and 86 go to the power from the ignition switch to activate the relay. 30 is the 12V power that is always at 12 V. then when the relay is activated, 30 makes contact with 87.

Of course out on the boat, just jump the starter from A to B and it should crank (unless the starter is bad )

For power to the ignition, a lead from the Positive battery terminal to the Pos (+) terminal of the coil.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: No Crank 260A/ Emergency Start

Welcome to iboats.....
A jumper wire from the + side of the battery to one or the other side of the yellow/red wires on the solenoid should suffice.....
I would think about gettting to the real root of the problem though....​

 

[TopandKandi]

Re: No Crank 260A/ Emergency Start

OK...so how do I check the power side. The yellow/green wire? Trace 85 and 86? I want to fix the problem. Should I trace all the wires from the start relay? I have no intent to run around on some get home emergency fix. Something somewhere is loose or not making contact all the time.

Thanks for the welcome Haut. Don't know how I missed this board....

Again TY for the help

 

[Don S]

Re: No Crank 260A/ Emergency Start

The 30 terminal on the relay should be a red wire (never heard of a yellow/green wire, but previous owners have done worse) coming from the circuit breaker on the coil bracket.
When you hit your ign. sw., and the relay is activated, it should connect 87 and 30. Test it with a meter. Make sure what color 87 is and 30 is and make sure that 87 on the relay goes to D on the starter solenoid. If you don't have power on the 30 tirminal ALL the time, something is wrong.
Also, all connections have to be clean and tight. Wing nuts on battery terminals cause lots of problems. Replace them with nuts and use a wrench.
And make sure all the grounds are clean and tight.

 

[Don S]

Re: No Crank 260A/ Emergency Start

I have no intent to run around on some get home emergency fix

.

You asked what to do in an emergency. That's why I posted the pics and explained what to do in an emergency.
You could rewire the whole boat, new relays, recepticals, wiring and everything and still loose an ign. switch, or relay because they BREAK. That's when you need a jumper to get yourself home so you can fix the problem correctly.

 

[TopandKandi]

Re: No Crank 260A/ Emergency Start

Don, TY

I agree with the jumpers gonna make them for sure.

OK I was confusing the yellow/green on the back of the key switch with the relay. Pretty sure I have a red wire into 30. It has power all the time or with switch on?

I will test that. My connections are good....I spent too much time in the Army, checking and doubling checking things. When I check the batts for water, I actually unbolt and emery and regrease the connections to keep them clean, no wing nuts here.

TY again

 

[Don S]

Re: No Crank 260A/ Emergency Start

You might want to check my other post about troubleshooting. I just added a drawing of the Volvo relays to the explanation
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=167035

Also, that Yellow/green wire color has never been used by any IO manufacturer for the start system. Probably something a previous owner or mechanic without the proper color installed. You are just going to have to determine which terminal on your ign. switch goes to what.
With an intermitant problem like you have, it could be a switch, relay, connection, neutral safety, start solenoid, anything. It's just going to be a matter of finding the problem WHEN it's a problem.

 

[TopandKandi]

Re: No Crank 260A/ Emergency Start

Update.

Turned out to be the starter after all. It was slowly dying I guess working one moment and then not the other times. I got one of the HTGR mini marine starters and she starts and runs like a champ now.

The only problem I had was I didn't think about the mini being smaller. I had to get smaller starter bolts. 1995 Camaro 5.7 are the ones needed. The small size of the mini made getting to the back bolt a breeze.

Thanks to Don and all the others who replied. Cold and Frosties if you get to Vegas on me.