starter wont engage

[dhughes49]

we are riding around for about 2 hrs . stop and started motor a few times during this time . we are pulling a tube around. We stopped for a few minutes and then moter wont turn over . silinode would click and make noise . I jumped the silinode and still the same . we had to beg a tow off of some kind person. A few hrs later i tried to start it again and it spun the started like nothings wrong and fired right up . anybody have any ideas ? motor is a 1996 johnson 150 saltwater oh yea right before we killed the motor we hit a large wave that jared every one and every thing on the boat . Not sure if this had anything to do with it.

 

[boobie]

Re: starter wont engage

Check all the battery cable connections on both the battery and the mtr for being good, clean and tight.

 

[dhughes49]

Re: starter wont engage

thanks boobie i'll look at that, but all electrical still worked like bilge pumps livewell, tilt and trim etc.

 

[khyatt444]

Re: starter wont engage

Check the drive gear on top of the starter that engages the flywheel. Sometimes it will get stuck if it hasn't been lubricated. It should spin up the starter shaft and engage the flywheel.

 

[dhughes49]

Re: starter wont engage

starter didnt spin at all but you could here silinode clicking . it seemed to me that the starter was either locked up or silinode was not delivering voltage to it I didnt have a meter with me at the time i cant be sure. and of course it started right up when i got home.

 

[F_R]

Re: starter wont engage

Check those cable connections. 90% of the time, that is the problem. Don't just look at them and wiggle 'em. Take them off and clean them shiny bright. Yeah, your bilge pump works, but it doesn't draw anywhere near as much current. The high current just can't get across all that resistance through the oxidized metal at the connection.

When the solenoid "clicks", does it chatter? If it does, it almost says right there that it is not getting enough juce from the battery.

Um.......you have checked the battery charge......haven't you? And it could have a dead cell too. While you are working on the connections, have it load tested. Many auto parts stores such as Advnce or Auto Zone will do it for free.

 

[emdsapmgr]

Re: starter wont engage

Many great suggestions. After you checked everything mentioned above-could be the solenoid itself. If the contacts get burned inside, they won't transfer current properly. Test by jumping the starter with automotive jumper cables and a known well-charged battery.

 

[monnewbie3]

Re: starter wont engage

Check your voltages. But sometimes solenoids can be tricky little buggers. Here's a few ideas;

- Bad solenoid (I always keep a few spares, damn things are unpredictable, they've worked intermittently for me before).
I use automotive solenoids, as they're cheap and can be found anywhere, but need to be wired slightly different (where the ground normally goes is the coil feedback, ground it to your engine)
- Low voltage
- Over heated starter (probably not your case but this will cause it not to do anything, when cooled down they sometimes work again)

Bring a jumper pack with you (like an eliminator), if it happens again try a quick jump with it to the starter, if the starter works just replace the solenoid, and you'll have piece of mind on the water.

Cheers

-M

 

[dhughes49]

Re: starter wont engage

all great ideas thanks to all of you . Im going to clean all the connections and and take the battery down and have it tested . if its ok im going to replace the silinode and take the boat out and run her again. again thanks to all

 

[monnewbie3]

Re: starter wont engage

Good luck

 

[dhughes49]

Re: starter wont engage

ok i did all the things that was suggested and i did find a dirty loose connection on the starter side of the solenoid . I replaced solenoid anyway it was dated 1996 so it must be the orginal. I wont get to put it on the water till sat. but I feel confident with ya,ll help i found the problem. Thanks to all who helped