Started Clicks Randomly

[cmmoreno00]

This past weekend at the lake I started the boat and started just fine. Stopped for a bit and went to start it and just clicked. Tried it a few times and click click click. I grabbed a screwdriver jumped it at the solenoid and fired right up. Had to start it like that three times. The next day I just started no issues a few different times. Brand new battery. 95 5.8 Fuel Injected Volvo Is that a bad starter? Solenoid? Switch?

 

[Scott Danforth]

start with the basics.....pull every battery cable connection between the battery and the motor and clean them. battery, slave solenoid, starter and block.......by clean, needs to be shiny enough your kids can eat off it. if any of your battery cables are stiff, chunky and green, replace it. then when you are done, seal all the connections with marine electrical varnish

classic symptom of bad cable connection.

 

[Lou C]

Yep low voltage at the B+ large cable on the solenoid, or the small Yellow/Red wire. Make sure your battery negative cable terminal on the engine bell housing is clean and rust free too.

 

[cmmoreno00]

Thanks. I’ll take a look and clean them up.

 

[kenny nunez]

The next thing to check is the boost solenoid or relay which has a yellow/red wire that goes to the small terminal on the 3 o’clock position on the main starter solenoid, the one you have been jumping to start the engine.
Also a neutral start switch in the control box could be another source of the problem.