No crank, where does this wire go....?

[CaptainMak]

Long story, short. Pulled motor over winter to replace rear main seal, oil pan gasket, intake manifold gaskets, re-installed everything. 305 GM block.

Now starter won't even crank. Very faint clicking with a random hard click.
Battery good.

I DID find a loose, small, black wire that comes from the same bunch as the slave solenoid wires. It is not connected to anything. Thinking this might be the ground I'm missing but here's the problem. I can't find the ground connection for it. The eye is small and there are no bolts that small in the area of the block.

Can anyone tell me where it might ground to? Maybe a pic of the slave cylinder area ? thanks.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: No crank, where does this wire go....?

there are 2 small lugs on the slave and 2 large lugs. the ground wire is usually a small lug.
Try shorting out the 2 big lugs, large wires Yellow/red stripe and a red/ purple stripe that should spin the starter, if not, check all battery cables and cable connections.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: No crank, where does this wire go....?

 

[CaptainMak]

Re: No crank, where does this wire go....?

there are 2 small lugs on the slave and 2 large lugs. the ground wire is usually a small lug.
Try shorting out the 2 big lugs, large wires Yellow/red stripe and a red/ purple stripe that should spin the starter, if not, check all battery cables and cable connections.

Thanks for the quick reply BT. Will get to it first thing a.m.

One quick question. There's nothing I could have screwed up while installing the outdrive which made the engine seize up, is there ? The prop spins the way it should

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: No crank, where does this wire go....?

I`ve never seen it happen unless the drive itself is rusted solid inside.

 

[Fun Times]

Re: No crank, where does this wire go....?

305 GM block.

Hey there CaptainMak, that's not much info to work with here. Do you have a year or Merc serial number? What drive do you have? Do you have the mercruiser mercathode system installed (blue box with wires going to it)?

Some engine models have extra ground wires sticking out of the wire loom that are not used while some engine models do not.

Photos help.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: No crank, where does this wire go....?

I know you said the battery was good, but double check the connections and make sure all corrosion has been removed and the clamps are tight.

 

[CaptainMak]

Re: No crank, where does this wire go....?

Well, well... a 10 month old starter just crapped out as it turns out. Not sure about the quality of ARCO, but this one didn't hold up even a year. Too bad the P.O. didn't have a receipt for the starter. More money into the pit now.

I'm sure it's possible to replace the solenoid only, but at $50 + shipping it's not worth it IMO. A new starter at a local O"Reilley's is $125.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: No crank, where does this wire go....?

As long as it's a marine-certified starter so that it has the spark arrestor components. Otherwise, it's one of the most likely components to ignite fuel fumes in the bilge due to it being the lowest electrical item.

 

[Fun Times]

Re: No crank, where does this wire go....?

A new starter at a local O"Reilley's is $125.

As long as it's a marine-certified starter so that it has the spark arrestor components. Otherwise, it's one of the most likely components to ignite fuel fumes in the bilge due to it being the lowest electrical item.

+1, which coming from O"Reilley's, the chances seem low that it's going to be a marine rated starter. As far as auto stores having/getting a marine starter, NAPA auto parts would be a better choice to try. Good luck.

 

[Bondo]

Re: No crank, where does this wire go....?

Well, well... a 10 month old starter just crapped out as it turns out. Not sure about the quality of ARCO, but this one didn't hold up even a year. Too bad the P.O. didn't have a receipt for the starter. More money into the pit now.

I'm sure it's possible to replace the solenoid only, but at $50 + shipping it's not worth it IMO. A new starter at a local O"Reilley's is $125.

Ayuh,..... If it went Swimmin', even Once,.... I'm surprised it lasted that long,...

regardless the Quality, starters only go swimmin' Once,......

As noted above, be sure it's Marine rated, no matter where ya buy it,...

 

[CaptainMak]

Re: No crank, where does this wire go....?

Here's the pic of the wire that's loose. Seems to be a ground according to my tester... comes from the same loom as all the slave solenoid wires. Can't find a bolt small enough where this would connect.



And btw, already replaced the O'Reilly starter today, under warranty of course. :facepalm::facepalm:

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: No crank, where does this wire go....?

Seen those before,thinking it might just have been an extra ground wire in the harness.

 

[Watermann]

Re: No crank, where does this wire go....?

So you might begin to wonder why the starters are being ruined.

In that pic I can see a couple of holes without a bolt that look to be the same size as the terminal your holding. If you swing a complete circle with that wire I guarantee you'll pass over where it's supposed to be secured.

 

[CaptainMak]

Re: No crank, where does this wire go....?

So you might begin to wonder why the starters are being ruined.

In that pic I can see a couple of holes without a bolt that look to be the same size as the terminal your holding. If you swing a complete circle with that wire I guarantee you'll pass over where it's supposed to be secured.

Please do share. Cuz after 10 mins of looking around "the circle", I couldn't find any bolts small enough except the distributor cap hold down bolts and I'm pretty sure it doesn't go there.