Only a click 88spl

[cortes]

on my 88spl i turned the key and only got a click from the engine. sometime last week i tried to run the engine and the starter would turn but it seemed as the battery was low. I left it alone and not until yesterday i chrged the battery after installing my steering cable, and when i tried to turn it on i just got the click. is it possible that my starter solenoid went out? starter is about 3 months old. how do i go about testing this?
Thank you very much

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Only a click 88spl

90% of starter problems are bad connections. remove and clean both ends of the battery cables, so that they are shiney, also the cable from the solenoid to starter. check for nicks in the cables. and make sure the connectors are on the wire good. the cable tend to corrode from the inside out, if nicked, corroded wires, and connections, heat up and cause resistance to the follow of electricity, thus the starter doesn't get enough. you can also take jumper cable pos battery post to large post on starter. with a good connection, the engine should spin. then if the starter is good clean everything and retest. then trouble shoot solenoid. starters can be rebuit at a starter/alternator shop, much cheaper than a new one.

also have the battery load tested at the auto parts store, free, i've had new batteries go bad.

i've had the same problem with my 1988 88spl.

 

[cortes]

Re: Only a click 88spl

Ok so test the startor, check/clean connections. Even if i get clicking in solenoid it can still be bad right?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Only a click 88spl

you can jump the solenoid, top pos post on solenoid, to top small connector. the starter should turn. then suspect the solenoid. i use a remove starter switch to do this. but an insulated wire can be used.
http://s46.photobucket.com/albums/f119/tashasdaddy/?action=view&current=MVC-005S.jpg

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Only a click 88spl

It could also be a bad battery. That'll do it, too. You said that the battery seemed low. It's more likely bad connections, but if not, suspect the battery next.

That's easy to check. Just put the battery from your tow vehicle in the boat, temporarily. If it starts the boat, then your battery's gone.

 

[cortes]

Re: Only a click 88spl

Yeah i will do a check of the batteries also. thanks

 

[cortes]

Re: Only a click 88spl

Update: went home for lunch, did a test on the starter with no response, did a test on the solenoid and seemed fine. I pulled the starter out and tested again with no luck. I will be taking it to my rebuild place to get looked at.