something odd happening

[Hughesar]

Ok I have a 3.8L OMC and I can get it started in the driveway and run it for two hours which I did friday but then when I get it in the water it starts fine I can run it out for about 15 to 30 mins and it dies and wont start back up like the battery is died. If I put the volt meter on the battery it shows 12 volts and everything else seems to test out just fine. Please can anyone help me Im sick of being stranded in the middle of the lake and ready to get some fishing done. thanks

 

[TowRoper]

Re: something odd happening

have you cleaned the battery and checked that the wires are tight on both the battery and coil, starter and not broken and grounding out?
do you atleast get a click out of the starter?

 

[Hughesar]

Re: something odd happening

Yes its all brand new. but I have a new development. I started in the driveway again and everything checked out fine like normal. I unhooked the battery on a hunch and the motor died. Im only a shade tree macanic but my better senses says thats not right it should stay running even with out a battery. any ideas on this? could this be my problem the obviously the motors running off the battery and Oh ya I took the alternator down and had it tested Friday and it checked out fine.

 

[TowRoper]

Re: something odd happening

hmmmm other then a wire to the coil being bad im stumped too, hope don s or bondo catch this for ya there good, sorry i couldnt help

 

[futz]

Re: something odd happening

Disconnect the battery and clean every connection as you follow the wires, the main plug also take it apart and see whats going on in there.

The fuses also take them apart, they are located just above or below the main harness plug in spring clips also. They should go thru a plate as does the main harness.

I would disconnect the esa plugs, there are 2 and leave them dangle till after we determine the problem for sure.

Also follow the neg wire to the block remove and clean.

Hook it all back together and run it.

Post the result.

 

[natemoore]

Re: something odd happening

Did you say the starter was new? You're describing my exact problem that a new starter solved (after replacing the battery and alternator).

 

[Hughesar]

Re: something odd happening

Ok the starter is not new the battery is new and the altantor checks out fine. the connections are all ok the fuses are good and the main plug looks ok to me. Now what should I do.

 

[dr_bowtie]

Re: something odd happening

if you pull the battery terminal off and the engine dies the alternator isnt working....

it may check out fine if you have it tested but it isnt working when the engine is running...running the engine you should have between 13.8v-14.2v at the battery...

 

[futz]

Re: something odd happening

run a jumper wire from the battery pos to the coil pos, and run it ,but the motor won't shut off unless you pull the wire off. Run it tell us what happens.

 

[jtybt]

Re: something odd happening

If you keep disconnecting the batt while it's running, there's a good chance you will damage the alt.

You didn't answer if there's a click or any sound as you try to start. Even a spark click. That means a bad connection.

Really doesn't sound like you did the checks futz told you about.

There's no secret to boats running good. You got a constant fight against corrosion at electrical connections. smear di-electric silicone grease on all electrical connections to keep water and air away.

 

[natemoore]

Re: something odd happening

Ok the starter is not new the battery is new and the altantor checks out fine. the connections are all ok the fuses are good and the main plug looks ok to me. Now what should I do.

Do the checks to rule out other simple things that the other guys mentioned, but I didn't have success until I replaced the starter. I replaced my battery, then replaced the alternator, THEN replaced the starter. That did the trick.

Mine was particularly frustrating because I could crank it 10 times in a row sitting in the driveway, but it wouldn't crank (mimicking dead battery) after running it in the sound. Then it would crank back in the driveway after cooling off. I'm told that old, weak starters won't work if they're hot.

 

[Hughesar]

Re: something odd happening

It doesn't make any noises when starting. Im sure it has to be in the altenator cause it will run forever in the drive but in the water when its under a load it drains the battery and then won't restart.

 

[jtybt]

Re: something odd happening

That sounds like a bad battery. Do you have to re-charge the batt every time it goes dead?

 

[natemoore]

Re: something odd happening

It doesn't make any noises when starting. Im sure it has to be in the altenator cause it will run forever in the drive but in the water when its under a load it drains the battery and then won't restart.

Okay, I misunderstood. Your engine runs and then dies. With mine, as long as I didn't shut it down it would run all day. Buy another battery. If that turns out not to be the problem, then just rig up a dual battery system. I like that insurance myself.