Starter issue on 1997 Volvo 4.3 GL

[gdeangel]

Last fall I bought a 20 foot, 1997 I/O with a 190HP Volvo 4.3 GL, 6 cyl. engine. I had it started a couple of weeks ago, and after some hard cranking, it turned over and ran fine. I was never very happy with the sound it makes when starting -- a kind of squirrelly high pitched whine with some grinding noise until eventually you get the solid sound of the cylinders cranking and then it starts right up. It is a sound I associate with bad automotive starters, but I'm not a mechanic and when it was checked over last as part of the purchase, the mechanic said it was fine.

Anyway, I took the boat to a marina, paid for my dock space, and was set to launch but the boat wouldn't start. It sounded to me like the starter was not engaging the flywheel. The marina owner suggested low battery charge, which is possible. When I got home, the battery charged up in <3 hours on a 12 Amp charger, so I don't think it was that low.

There is something in my shop manual that says: "If the starter motor spins but fials to crank the engine, the cause is usually a corroded or gummy Bendix drive. The drive should be removed, cleaned and given and inspection." The rest of the section is pretty technical. It also goes on to say, "As of 1997, Volvo Penta suggests that their starters are no longer serviceable. No replacement parts are available...."

Can anyone give me some advice on how to proceed? If the part is not serviceable, how much should I plan on paying to have a new starter put in? And I guess also is there anything else I should check first other than the battery?

Thanks!

 

[Don S]

Re: Starter issue on 1997 Volvo 4.3 GL

Remove the starter and look at the bendix, is it all rusty? Look at the flywheel, are the teeth all chewed up on the ring gear?

Your local starter/alternator/electric motor shop (Not marine or automotive shop) can check and possibly repair the starter cheaper than you could replace it.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Starter issue on 1997 Volvo 4.3 GL

I would pull the starter. If that starter has ever been submerged, even just once, its going to fail and it sounds like that is what is happening. You need a marine starter so you can either find a new one or have your rebuilt.

 

[gdeangel]

Re: Starter issue on 1997 Volvo 4.3 GL

I was on the boat today as a few of the other threads here gave me the idea maybe something was wrong with the kill switch. I took a peek and surprise, there were no wires to the kill switch! There is a naked splice next to it, so I'm guessing it was deliberately jumped and has been running that way for a while.

I didn't have my tools, but I found the starter and put my hand on it. It was loose and could be rocked back and forth with no effort at all. I'm afraid it was not aligned right, and probably teeth are chewed, but I don't know for sure yet. If the teeth on the ring gear are chewed, what are my options?

 

[RogersJetboat454]

Re: Starter issue on 1997 Volvo 4.3 GL

If the teeth on the ring gear are chewed, what are my options?

Option 1.
Pull the engine and replace the flywheel or ring gear (if available separately).

Option 2.
Leave it be, and ignore the horrible sounds of the starter grinding against the bad teeth until one day the starter can't grab any teeth, and you may just be floating along with the tide/current at that point.

Option 3.
Sell the boat, and get a new one with a better ring gear....

 

[Bondo]

Re: Starter issue on 1997 Volvo 4.3 GL

I was on the boat today as a few of the other threads here gave me the idea maybe something was wrong with the kill switch. I took a peek and surprise, there were no wires to the kill switch! There is a naked splice next to it, so I'm guessing it was deliberately jumped and has been running that way for a while.

I didn't have my tools, but I found the starter and put my hand on it. It was loose and could be rocked back and forth with no effort at all. I'm afraid it was not aligned right, and probably teeth are chewed, but I don't know for sure yet. If the teeth on the ring gear are chewed, what are my options?

Ayuh,.... I think before I jumped onto Option 1. above,...
I'd start by yankin' the starter off, 'n LOOK at the damage.....

At Best, a new starter, with New bolts, 'n yer boatin' again...

At worst, yer buyin' the above, 'n pullin' the motor, pullin' the flywheel, 'n knockin' the ring gear off it, flippin' the ring gear Over, 'n heat shrinkin' it back on, Good side out...

 

[gdeangel]

Re: Starter issue on 1997 Volvo 4.3 GL

Option 2.
Leave it be, and ignore the horrible sounds of the starter grinding against the bad teeth until one day the starter can't grab any teeth, and you may just be floating along with the tide/current at that point.

Well, that day may have come while sitting on the trailer, I guess luckily. I thought it was a horrible sound, which is one of the reasons I paid a mechanic $300 bucks to check over the boat before I bought it. Mechanic said "it started fine". The seller said "What noise? Oh, that sounds like the alternator belt is loose" (which it was).

Option 3.
Sell the boat, and get a new one with a better ring gear....

So sad. Went out on it one time in the fall after I bought it. Then paid to have it winterized professionally. Bought a new trailer for it and had it custom welded to get ready for some family road trips with the boat. Here's me crossing my fingers that the ring gear is o.k. Otherwise there will be a lot of "I told you so" from the wife and definitely no new boat with a better ring gear. :facepalm:

 

[gdeangel]

Re: Starter issue on 1997 Volvo 4.3 GL

I wanted to report back some good news - the marina mechanic tightened up the starter and it now sounds fine starting. I guess I got lucky that the starter was so loose that it wasn't even grinding much, and that it happened on the ramp rather than in the middle of the lake with wife/kids in the water on a tube...

In the process of browsing the forum to find this post, I learned a lot. In particular, I liked one poster who had his wife pulling parts off the engine because he couldn't fit down there. When I went to check the starter a couple of weeks ago, I could barely get my arm under there through all the cables and hoses and have no idea how you guys who do this all the time manage to reach stuff. What's the trick? (that is, if my wife refuses to help )

Seems like to get so loose the starter bolts could have been improperly installed. I gather there are some lock washers / ridges on the mating surface / bolt heads to keep them from backing out? Assuming I can figure out how to get my arm under there without dropping the wrench, I may pull the starter at the end of the season just to inspect what things are looking like on the bendix drive and the ring gear. When I bolt the starter back on, should I use some Locktite on the bolts?

For now, it sounds good enough that I'm not going to mess with it - at least I hope to get one season out of this boat without doubling down on repair costs.

Thanks for the help!

 

[CHIPPEWA]

Re: Starter issue on 1997 Volvo 4.3 GL

Glad to run across this thread. Hope I could get some additional info.

My 99 four winns horizon with a 4.3GL stopped running the other day out on our small lake. After killing the engine to throw out the tube and lines, etc. It would not start. (It ran fine for 45 min or so prior to this incident). When turning the key, the sound the starter (i think) makes is similar to the noise of cutting a 2x4 with a circular saw (continuous until the key isnt being turned any longer). I assume it is an issue with the starter but would like to know if that is an indication of any other problems.

thanks

 

[Don S]

Re: Starter issue on 1997 Volvo 4.3 GL

If you want more information, start a thread of your own with your questions, what you have checked, and your engine information.
PS, year gets close, but you need the full model number.