Starter Barely turns over

[TommySparks]

I got a 91 fourwinns with a 3.0 engine (think it is a ford). I kept this thing in the garage every year until last year, I bought a boat cover for it from walmart (mistake #1). After a big storm in October, the boat cover was blown off and the boat's floorboard was covered with water, most likely submerging the starter. I removed the drain plug and drained all the water out of the boat. Well I charged the battery overnight and went to crank it up today and it barely turns over. So I took the battery out of my wife's truck and put it in the boat, it still just turns over half turn and stops. I even hooked jumper cables up to my jeep, same thing. Is the starter fried? Could the starter just need to be taken apart and cleaned up? Is there something else causing my problem?

 

[JustJason]

Re: Starter Barely turns over

could be fried... if it was underwater im sure it is... but... get a DMM and check your cables/ends first.

 

[Don S]

Re: Starter Barely turns over

Good Grief, water causes rust, if the starter was full of water of course it's a problem. Get it replaced or fixed.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Starter Barely turns over

Learned a lesson about not storing the boat with the drain plug in too?

Even the best boat covers will let some water in.Store it bow high and plug out..

 

[TommySparks]

Re: Starter Barely turns over

I ohmed out wires, not perfect but about .5 ohms. I took a wire brush after the rusted end. I opened up the starter and sure enough, it was ugly. I'll take the starter to a starter alternator shop tomorrow and have them clean it out and replace the brushes. It looks like a ford starter, but it is painted gray, has some hard pookie on the solenoid to starter (like a void if removed) and a sticker that says "Marine" (which I suspect would double the price, lol)

What is the difference in a Marine and Auto starter? I mean the technical specs, i am sure that the marine has some sorta spark control.

 

[Coors]

Re: Starter Barely turns over

The marine has screens over the openings, as a spark is long, and bounces back in; like your microwave see-thru door.

 

[JustJason]

Re: Starter Barely turns over

1/2 ohm is to much... but you need to do a voltage drop test. Put one lead on the bat + and put the other on the starter main and crank it.... if the meter reads more than 1/2 a volt replace the cable ends and try again... if it's still up there replace the cable.