Slave solenoid / starter issue

[MississippiMan]

I've got what I think is just a bad slave solenoid, but its acting kind of weird so I thought I would throw it out there.

I turn the ignition and I get the click from the starter (in the engine compartment), and the starter never turns. Seems like a bad solenoid. After some amount of trying the ignition, it "warms up" for lack of a better description, and then starts cranking just fine. Once its in this state, the starter works fine, and there are no problems.

So I'm in the driveway fiddling with this, and this time after a bunch of tries with the ignition, I notice a bit of smoke coming from the slave solenoid. It looked like maybe insulation burning off a wire, but I can't be sure, and I couldn't figure out where it was occurring.

Is the solenoid just going slightly bad and creating high resistance and then eventually working? Is there other stuff I should look at? I plan on replacing the solenoid regardless, but want to make sure there wasn't something else I should be looking at.

Its a 1997 Mercruiser 3.0 Alpha One.

Thanks in advance!

 

[MississippiMan]

Re: Slave solenoid / starter issue

Found Don's howto on debugging starter issues. Adding link (hope moderators don't mind), so if somebody searches they'll find it.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=167035

 

[bigt1968]

Re: Slave solenoid / starter issue

I tried to post and was unable so I hope someone can see this and possibly help me. I'm new to boating and I am having "starter" issues. I have to turn key 3 or 4 times to get boat to start no noise whatsoever just turning. I';ve been told its the starter, the solenoid, or the ig switch. What does it sound like to you fellas out there? I' m gonna get a test light and try to decipher would just like to have possible suggestions

thanks

bigt1968

 

[newcdnboater]

Re: Slave solenoid / starter issue

I had the exact same issue after my starter was under salt water. Solenoid would click, wires got hot, would kick over after a few tries. Starter was seizing as you would expect. New starter + solenoid= $200 bucks but better than paddling to shore. Good luck.

 

[fire8033]

Re: Slave solenoid / starter issue

Same issue, went to dealer and they gave me a price of $225. For some strange reason I checked ebay and found the same starter for $80 with a one year warranty and free shipping.