Wires getting hot engine not starting?

[CAPTAL]

Well i changed my voltage regulator because my volt meter reads at 11.5-12v after i changed the regulator the problem was not fixed. The volt meter does read the same.<br /><br />I do not have a problem starting the motor cold. <br /><br />After the motor is warm 125-150deg. and i try to start the boat it turns but does not start and wires going to the battery get so hot you cant even touch them.<br /><br />The plastic on the top of the battery where the screws are actually melted away a little bit.<br /><br />I checked the wires for corosion and they seem clean to me. Also when i put them on the battery i fasten them very tightly.<br /><br />The wires are most likely getting hot from me cranking the engine too much when i try to start it. But it should start anyway. right?<br /><br />Why else do you think my volts read so low?<br /><br />We can cross out the voltage regulator. <br /><br />I would love to get someone to look at it for me profesionaly but the marina i'm in is very busy winterizing boats and has no time for this. kinds feels like i'm all alone on this one.<br /><br />Also i would like to add.. The other day when i went out i got stuck on a sand bar the outdrive hit it! I cant pick it up automatically because after the hit the auto lift stoped working. The engine started fine when i got pulled out. No weird vibrating noises. Maybe this could have something to do with it? (the volts read 11.5-12 before any of this happened).<br /><br />Thanks

 

[Liam]

Re: Wires getting hot engine not starting?

The two issues are not necessarily related. Yes the battery wires will get very hot when you crank the engine but the engine will not start for a different reason. When you run the engine under load does it ever bog down (lose power). If so you have a bad electrical component such as a power pack or coil etc. If one of these components has a problem it may not manifest itself until the engine is hot and the electronics are hot. It's a PITA, but you will have to test the entire ignition system too find the fault.

 

[petryshyn]

Re: Wires getting hot engine not starting?

What is going to be tuff is that you have more than one problem. And you're going to have even more problems if you are cranking the engine for more than 30 sec. without a cool down period. First of all, you had no charging sytem voltage...you changed regulator...still no charging system voltage correct? Could be bad stator under flywheel, bad wiring to regulator, defective new regulator or wiring from reg. to battery. There is no way the cables should be that hot. Maybe cable size too small or terminals corroded. When it won't start, do you have spark?

 

[CAPTAL]

Re: Wires getting hot engine not starting?

When it dosnt start there is no spark. I'm not cranking it for more than 10 seconds at a time. And the engine does not lose power while running at all.

 

[petryshyn]

Re: Wires getting hot engine not starting?

lets get back to basics.....how fast does it crank over? whats the battery voltage while its cranking? I'm still not comfortable with these hot cables. . .Since your charging system died, have you charged the battery?<br />(low battery > slow cranking > high current > hot cables) This may also effect ignition if cranking rpm REAL slow. <br />

 

[12Footer]

Re: Wires getting hot engine not starting?

What schematic said..I think he nailed it.<br />Overheating cables, slow cranking, and weak battery will not leave enough voltage to initiate a spark sometimes.<br />I don't see an engine size in your post,but most <70HP engines have the pull rope catches in the flywheel,to allow you to try pull-starting. If it starts on the pull rope,I would highly suspect the starter is drawing too much current.

 

[sony2001]

Re: Wires getting hot engine not starting?

Last week my engine barely turned over. I wanted to take the boat to winter storage. Cable was hot and the battery post with the wing nut separated from battery. For fifteen years I've had a set of brass marine terminals lying around the house and car. Had them in the car,put them on the larger posts and she cranked like new! The O- connecter at the end of the cable always seemed a bit large for my liking.

 

[Firewood]

Re: Wires getting hot engine not starting?

I had a problem with my Johnson cranking slow. I ripped the starter apart cleaned it up,lubed etc. not change. I had a strong battery hooked up but she still cranked slow. I began to think the starter was bad, but I then noticed the positive wire had gotten hot,smoked some insulation. Turned out the protective covering on the wire must have had a hole in it or something. Corrosion began to do its work, about 8 inches of the wire was shot, but from the exterior it looked fine. I replace both wires and she's strong like bull. Good Luck

 

[Firewood]

Re: Wires getting hot engine not starting?

The more I think about it definitely check your wires. If you charging system is shot then the motor will need to run off the battery,but if the wires are no good then she can't get current for spark. When my wire was bad it would crank good once or twice, then as the wire warmed up forget it. I hope its something simple like that. I'm think along the lines of automotive alternators going bad, and driving around until the battery dies,then evreything dies because the motor can't produce its own spark. Right?

 

[CAPTAL]

Re: Wires getting hot engine not starting?

I finally found the problem. It was the voltage regulator and the stator. <br /><br />Thanks for all your help.<br /><br />Captal