Starting problems

[Don S]

Re: Starting problems

Here ya go, #37 here : http://www.mercruiserparts.com/Show_...CAL+COMPONENTS

That is for an 82-84 model he has a 1980. and if he has a points type distributor on his 80 228, he has the right kind of solenoid.

That is all it does, so you can bypass it completely with your remote starter switch to test the starter alone

He's already bypassed it like that, and it still didn't work. Look at my reply (#11) and his answer (#14) above.

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Starting problems

delete. Sorry wrong year.

 

[Don S]

Re: Starting problems

The small terminal should go to ground (or in some cases to the coil+, but I don't think so in your case).

The small terminal that the purple/yellow wire is correct in his case.
If he put the ground wire on that terminal, it would be a dead short.

 

[Raystownboater]

Re: Starting problems

1. Did your engine originally have a points type distributor, or is it Thunderbolt IV.
2. Do you have the square 90A block fuse on the starter? Looks like this.

If you do have that fuse, do you by any chance have the battery cable attached to the nut and washer shown.

PS: If you have an engine that came with a points type distributor originally, then you do have the proper type of solenoid.

The distributor DID originally come with points, however, I installed an electronic ignition last year. My starter doesnt have the fuse you pictured. Also, I checked the battery this morning and when I hit the ignition switch, the voltage went from 12.72 down to 12.5 +/- 1

 

[Don S]

Re: Starting problems

Go back to my drawing, with your meter, put the black lead on the starter housing on a spot that doesn't have paint, put the red lead on the A terminal. Put it on the threaded terminal only, not the cable or the nut. What is the voltage you show?

 

[Raystownboater]

Re: Starting problems

What is the voltage you show?

0.31

 

[Don S]

Re: Starting problems

Now, do the same test with the black test lead on the negative battery terminal, red lead same place on A.

 

[Raystownboater]

Re: Starting problems

Now, do the same test with the black test lead on the negative battery terminal, red lead same place on A.

Now its reading 12.7

 

[sasto]

Re: Starting problems

Come on yorkboater! You have some very good help here and I'm going to school on this. I'm learnin' along with you. I see a happy ending soon.

 

[Don S]

Re: Starting problems

You have either a bad negative battery cable, or the cable connections are loose and corroded or not even hooked up.

 

[Raystownboater]

Re: Starting problems

Come on yorkboater! You have some very good help here and I'm going to school on this. I'm learnin' along with you. I see a happy ending soon.

I gotta tell ya, if it werent for this site, I dont think I would own a boat! These are the best bunch of people around!!!

 

[Raystownboater]

Re: Starting problems

You have either a bad negative battery cable, or the cable connections are loose and corroded or not even hooked up.

So this is isolated to the negative battery cable?

 

[Don S]

Re: Starting problems

Yes, but before you do anything, lets play and find out exactly what is wrong with it if you want to. You will learn how to check things with a meter.

 

[Raystownboater]

Re: Starting problems

I just ran to the garage and pulled out a battery cable I had in the drawer.............Installed it................and POW!!! the engine turned over. YEEEE HAWWWWW! thanks alot guys for all the great help!!!

 

[Don S]

Re: Starting problems

So, what was wrong with the old one? Was the crimped on ends loose and corroded, green in color with fuzzy corrosion all over the place, a swelled up place in the middle of the cable ???????

Post a picture of that wrong doer.

 

[sasto]

Re: Starting problems

i just ran to the garage and pulled out a battery cable i had in the drawer.............installed it................and pow!!! The engine turned over. Yeeee hawwwww! Thanks alot guys for all the great help!!!

taaa-daaa!

 

[Raystownboater]

Re: Starting problems

So, what was wrong with the old one? Was the crimped on ends loose and corroded, green in color with fuzzy corrosion all over the place, a swelled up place in the middle of the cable ???????

Post a picture of that wrong doer.

Actually it was the end that mounts to the block. I cut back the wrap and the wires were green and some were broken. Just goes to prove that all your preaching about connections turns out to be the actual word of god!

 

[Raystownboater]

Re: Starting problems

Ok......now......I went to start the bad boy and there is no spark. I checked the positive terminal of the coil with my test light and the light is VERY dim. I checked the voltage on the coil by connecting the black to negative and red to positive and it reads 3.2 does this test show anything? Its a new coil because the post on the old coil broke off.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Starting problems

Here are my guess
A cable end corroded, or only a few strands intact
B internal corrosion due to puncture in cable sheath
C green ends
The test procedure Don listed will identify battery cables but also any connection. You always test to the threaded stud not just the cable end. A connector with corrosion may show power on the connector but not to the threaded stud its attached to. A very long jumper hooked to the + side of the battery instead of under the dash works wonders.Dont forget the negative connections. The same jumper hooked to the - battery will identify bad/loose/corroded ground connections.Most boats have a harness plug at the engine, a extention harness for longer hulls and a most have another harness plug under the dash. You need to thing to have electrics work, a positive AND a negative connection.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Starting problems

what color wires are on the + and - posts of the coil.