starter or solenoid?

Stpetelsu64

Stpetelsu64

Active Member
Jul 23, 2020
194
St Petersburg, Florida
Boat Info
2007 Sea Ray Sundancer 400, Original Stock Electronics
Engines
Twin cummins QSB 5.9- 380HO
I browsed thru but didnt find what I needed but will continue to browse while posting this. Went to start the my 2007 Searay Sundancer 40 DA this morning and the port engine just does one loud click. NOt 2-3-4 clicks one click. The battery switches are on and lit and the everything seems to work other than I cant start it. Hoping it is not the starter and I am not too good of a mechanic. CAn do some basic stuff but lost my long time mechanic and these days it isnt easy finding one much less a honest one. Any advice is appreciated. I will keep searching while checking in here. Thanks as this forum has solved so many issues for me. Batteries are good testing close to 14 volts sitting
 
I'll offer a few comments. Good voltage does not necessarily mean all is good (you might have some bad connections). I'd hit the starter with a hammer a few times and try again. If possible, have someone try to start it, and you hit the starter again.

If that does not work, I would take all your battery connections from the starter to the batt and disassemble, clean, and reconnect and try again. Turn off the batt switch first.

It could be the starter, solenoid, or the magnetic solenoid.

Good luck and report back.
 
+1 for @LMBoat suggestions
Don’t overlook the ground negative cable as well. Goes to the engine block.

14v is the charger
Battery will be above 12v resting
Turn off the charger, try cranking and check voltage comes back to at least 12v
 
hughespat57 said:
+1 for @LMBoat suggestions
Don’t overlook the ground negative cable as well. Goes to the engine block.

14v is the charger
Battery will be above 12v resting
Turn off the charger, try cranking and check voltage comes back to at least 12v
Click to expand...
OK so turn off the charger switches and try to start then retest the battery without the charger on still? YOu mean try to start the port which is just doing a click or both engines?

I need to see where the ground cable connects to the engine at. Like I said i am not real mechanical but assume I can follow the ground wire from the battery to the block ?
 
LMBoat said:
I'll offer a few comments. Good voltage does not necessarily mean all is good (you might have some bad connections). I'd hit the starter with a hammer a few times and try again. If possible, have someone try to start it, and you hit the starter again.

If that does not work, I would take all your battery connections from the starter to the batt and disassemble, clean, and reconnect and try again. Turn off the batt switch first.

It could be the starter, solenoid, or the magnetic solenoid.

Good luck and report back.
Click to expand...
I did disconnect the cables and clean inside and clean the battery connection. So that didnt work. Looking in my manual to see where the starter is located on these cummins engines. I was going to try that trick with the hammer but had to run a quick errand so will look for the starter
 
Just jump the starter solenoid with a screwdriver to see if it is the problem. Have someone hit the start button and a someone else jump the selenoid

Started solenoids are notorious for goi g bad on Cummins. Always keep a spare
 
hughespat57 said:
+1 for @LMBoat suggestions
Don’t overlook the ground negative cable as well. Goes to the engine block.

14v is the charger
Battery will be above 12v resting
Turn off the charger, try cranking and check voltage comes back to at least 12v
Click to expand...
OK I turned off chargers and started the starboard with no issue and same click on port of course. After doing that I tested both and the starboard was at 13.1 and the port at 13
 
Blueone said:
Just jump the starter solenoid with a screwdriver to see if it is the problem. Have someone hit the start button and a someone else jump the selenoid

Started solenoids are notorious for goi g bad on Cummins. Always keep a spare
Click to expand...
I was told by my brother to do this but now I need to find the location. Are they right inside the main fuse panel? Or located at on the stern wall where the wires from the battery lead to? Sorry but i am really not that knowedgeable other than just a few general maintenance things
 
Stpetelsu64 said:
I was told by my brother to do this but now I need to find the location. Are they right inside the main fuse panel? Or located at on the stern wall where the wires from the battery lead to? Sorry but i am really not that knowedgeable other than just a few general maintenance things
Click to expand...
The selenoid is bolted to the engine really close to the starter usually just below. You will see the battery cables go to it. You are jumping the big cable posts not the two small cable posts
 
Here is what mine looks like I doubt you would be much different…. Jump the top two…. Just put the screw driver in the gap between and touch both posts

6BA716A5-A524-4216-8DDC-1BCB5BF9E3A8.jpeg
 
On some boats (mine) there is a slave solenoid under the dash. Ask me how I know.
After chasing every other potential problem.
Actually dont ask me how I know. This all way beyond me. I had a marine electrician with his boat on my pier that found the problem.
 
Blueone said:
Here is what mine looks like I doubt you would be much different…. Jump the top two…. Just put the screw driver in the gap between and touch both posts

View attachment 153785
Click to expand...
Ok to make sure I am right I will need wife to try to start while I hold the screwdriver as you said? I will try when she gets home thanks
 
Sorry for slow reply today I am in the midle of pulling a v8 from my daughters jeep grand cherokee.

What @Blueone and others are speaking to is a smaller slave solenoid.
The distance from the helm to the engine is so long the key doesn’t energize the starters big solenoid directly.

The slave will have two large studs that can be safely jumped with a screwdriver

Don’t jump the solenoid on the starter it self, thats a good way to burn up a screwdriver and the terminals.
 
Stpetelsu64 said:
Ok to make sure I am right I will need wife to try to start while I hold the screwdriver as you said? I will try when she gets home thanks
Click to expand...
Yes she presses the start button you jump it and motor will start right up as normal ….. release the start button and engine will keep running until you turn it off

This is good to know in case the selenoid breaks at an impromptu moment like me at a busy gas dock on a Saturday….. jumped it went back to the slip and replaced it. Always have a spare….. they are cheap like $35
 
Blueone said:
Yes she presses the start button you jump it and motor will start right up as normal ….. release the start button and engine will keep running until you turn it off

This is good to know in case the selenoid breaks at an impromptu moment like me at a busy gas dock on a Saturday….. jumped it went back to the slip and replaced it. Always have a spare….. they are cheap like $35
Click to expand...
I sure wish it was the starboard engine. The port is a pain to get to
 
Stpetelsu64 said:
I sure wish it was the starboard engine. The port is a pain to get to
Click to expand...
I had the same problem this summer. I had to jump it almost blind….. in the end I couldn’t fit down there ….. my marina put my spare in for $100….. well worth it
 
Blueone said:
I had the same problem this summer. I had to jump it almost blind….. in the end I couldn’t fit down there ….. my marina put my spare in for $100….. well worth it
Click to expand...
Thanks I will get it done one way or another. Going to give it a shot myself tonight to jump it and then my brother will be here in a few weeks and he can replace it if it turns out to be the problem . Thanks so much for all the help
 
Blueone said:
I had the same problem this summer. I had to jump it almost blind….. in the end I couldn’t fit down there ….. my marina put my spare in for $100….. well worth it
Click to expand...
WEll gave it a shot. It was hard to reach but used a mirror and light but not sure I actually was touching both with a screwdriver. It could have been a close miss. I took the rubber covers off and it was kind of rusty in spots but when the wife hit the start button it just had a loud one click. Sure hope it isnt the starter but will try in the bright daylight again. It was hard getting my screwdriver parallel to touch both at same time. Sucks bad
 
Did you try the hammer trick - have the wife try to start it and tap the starter with a hammer as noted above.
 
I’m telling you it sounds like the solenoid….. put more effort in next time….. you can do it

When you touch the two posts you will know it….. I have to lay on the port engine to reach it
 
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