One click and then nothing - won't even try to turn over

[jbutler67]

My boat sat for a month while being repaired. Repairs completed today. Today is first time tried to start it up in 30 days. When tried to start it up, turned key and sounded like starter was struggling to turn over. But did not turn over. Now, only hear one click then nothing.

I checked charge in battery with a multimeter. 12.5 volts.

Bad starter?

Not much rain in the month that it sat. Boat has been covered up whole time.

Last time it was run, started up on first turn of key. Idled well.

Any thoughts?

 

[alldodge]

What does the battery read when the key turns to start?

The 12.5V is a weak battery it might just need replacing, should read 12.7V for full change.

 

[jbutler67]

I didn't test battery with multimeter while turning the key.

But I did notice that dashboard voltmeter only reads about 10 volts. The dashboard voltmeter doesn't get all the way up to 12-13 volts like it used to.

 

[jbutler67]

If the voltage was too low the first time they tried starting it, after it sat for 30 days, would starter make a grinding noise?

I wasn't there when they tried to start it. But they told me it made a grinding noise.

When I ried, later in the day, all I got was one click.

 

[alldodge]

Sure sounds like a bad a bad battery or corrosion on the terminals, or both

 

[Scott Danforth]

clean both battery terminals and every cable connection so its shiney and clean enough to eat off of it. then after all the connections are made, use electrical varnish to seal the connections.

while you are doing that, put a charger on the battery and charge it.

 

[jbutler67]

Will do.

Outdrive raises and lowers. Lights work. Blower works. Bilge pump works.

Starter need more power? So, battery has enough power to work other things mentioned above, but not enough for starter?

 

[Scott Danforth]

your trim uses 25 amps max. your lights maybe 1 amp, your blower and bilge, maybe 3 amps. your starter draws 200 amps with a 400 amp inrush

 

[jbutler67]

Think I found issue.

I pulled the plugs to see if they were gummed up. And to try starter with no plugs. Many plugs were wet and water drained out of last spark plug hole - on cylinder near starboard aft.

Probably why starter was making grinding noise and moving slow as a clock's minute hand.