Starter problems

[ak47]

Hi all.
I'm having problems with the starter, I think. I have 1990 Force L-Drive 120HP. I tried to start the boat yesterday and it wouldn't start - the starter couldn't turn the motor over. I tried several times and stopped. The starter was hot to touch. I waited for about 40 minutes and tried again and it started on the second turn of the key. I let it run for about two minutes, shut it of and tried to restart and it restarted just fine. So, I'm all happy hook up the boat and take it to the lake and, damn it, it doesn't start there. Acts just like earlier in the day. So I wait and try again and wait and try again until, finally, the starter goes silent and all I can here is just the clicks when I turn the key.

Any advice is much appreciated!

P.S. The boat worked fine the week before. The battery was fully charged and I also tried using the spare one.

 

[Bobby Autry]

Re: Starter problems


Hello ak47,

How old is your battery. Did you have 12.60 volts comming out of it? If so, check volts up to where the battery cables connect to the solenoid on the engine, what I want to make sure is your battery cable from the battery to the engine is good. Also if it is clicking and you have plenty of juice from the battery to your solenoid yuour solenoid could be going bad. I own a 1989 Evinrude 88 horsepower SPL outboard and that is what happened to me. I was out in the lake just got threw pulling a tuber and I went to crank her up and nothing. I pulled the cover of the motor and tried to crank her again to see what was going on and all I got was click, click, click. I went to O'Reilly's auto parts and bought a solenoid for under $10.00 if that is what is going on with yours. If it isn't the battery cables or solenoid then your starter is going bad and you need a new one. Do you have a manual for your specific motor. I have a Seloc manual and it has troubleshooting the starter problem in it. Let me know what you find out. I just had to recently replace my starter (still waiting for it to come in from Ebay) because it is turning slow and I have plenty of juice actually load tested the battery at O'Reilly auto parts and checked out fine and the battery cables are good.

 

[ak47]

Re: Starter problems

The battery is fine. It's just a few months old and was freshly charged. I also tried another battery, which is older, but was also freshly charged.

Is there a way to bypass starter (sorry for stupid question) to see if it is the starter that's giving the problem?

 

[Bobby Autry]

Re: Starter problems


ak47,

Bypassing a starter I do not know and think you can do that. I would call autozone. advance auto, etc and see if they can laod test the starter motor for you and see if it is the starter motor causing the problem they do free testing but if it is working and turning slow I would think it is the starter motor, but doesn't hurt to get it tested to make sure. Also, I just bought a brand new starter for my boat and it cost $107.00 off of Ebay with the shipping cost included in the price.

 

[JB]

Re: Starter problems

You most likely have a bad connection or cable in the starter high current circuit, ak47. Batterys don't quit, then start working again.

Go to the Engine FAQs and do the starter circuit troubleshooting in "Outboard wont start".

Good luck, and let us know what you find.