Weird no-start issue....

So, rereading your original post, I realized I was relying too much on the 290 schematic in my previous post.

I finally found the diagrams for yours, page 43 here: https://s3.amazonaws.com/srweb-pvt-prod-us-east-1-294962523550/static/owners-manuals/2003_340 Sundancer_1999-2003_340 Sundancer.pdf
upload_2019-11-7_8-14-32.png

So, you have latching solenoids in lieu of switches, but it still appears to be wired similarly, other than the generator having it's own battery. The power runs to the starters (and their solenoids) are run directly from the latching solenoids.

I wonder if you have a bad new Port battery, one bad could be draining the second since they are paralleled. Or, you could have a drain that is pulling down the bank while you're waiting. Those would also explain your blower issue if they are on the house circuit.
 
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GATORB8 said:
So, rereading your original post, I realized I was relying too much on the 290 schematic in my previous post.

I finally found the diagrams for yours, page 43 here: https://s3.amazonaws.com/srweb-pvt-prod-us-east-1-294962523550/static/owners-manuals/2003_340 Sundancer_1999-2003_340 Sundancer.pdf
View attachment 76650
So, you have latching solenoids in lieu of switches, but it still appears to be wired similarly, other than the generator having it's own battery. The power runs to the starters (and their solenoids) are run directly from the latching solenoids.

I wonder if you have a bad new Port battery, one bad could be draining the second since they are paralleled. Or, you could have a drain that is pulling down the bank while you're waiting. Those would also explain your blower issue if they are on the house circuit.
Click to expand...

Thanks again....can you tell from the diagram if the starter slave solenoids are by-passed when the emergency start circuit is used?....I am wondering if the slave solenoid could be bad....this is actually a fairly common problem for this era engine....it is easy to test by simply using a screw driver to jump the terminals of the slave solenoid...
cliff
 
CliffA said:
Thanks again....can you tell from the diagram if the starter slave solenoids are by-passed when the emergency start circuit is used?....I am wondering if the slave solenoid could be bad....this is actually a fairly common problem for this era engine....it is easy to test by simply using a screw driver to jump the terminals of the slave solenoid...
cliff
Click to expand...
It doesn't appear that the slave solenoid is identified separately from the starter.
 
Well the mystery is solved...let me say that no one is laughing harder than me at this...I just have to completely embarras myself so the you guys can get a good laugh too.....:p...

After some additional trouble shooting this WE I decided to remove the cables from the battery and peel back the insulation a couple inches to see if there was any corrosion that was hiding under the insulation that would cause a bad connection to the battery...

When I removed the negative cable I made an interesting discovery...I had failed to remove the plastic cap off the negative battery post on the new starboard engine battery and put the cable clamp right over top of the cap...:eek:.....once the cable clamp was installed correctly on the battery post all is well....

Go ahead and take your shots at me....they are well deserved....:)..
cliff
 
CliffA said:
Well the mystery is solved...let me say that no one is laughing harder than me at this...I just have to completely embarras myself so the you guys can get a good laugh too.....:p...

After some additional trouble shooting this WE I decided to remove the cables from the battery and peel back the insulation a couple inches to see if there was any corrosion that was hiding under the insulation that would cause a bad connection to the battery...

When I removed the negative cable I made an interesting discovery...I had failed to remove the plastic cap off the negative battery post on the new starboard engine battery and put the cable clamp right over top of the cap...:eek:.....once the cable clamp was installed correctly on the battery post all is well....

Go ahead and take your shots at me....they are well deserved....:)..
cliff
Click to expand...

Yea, you should probably remove this post before I quote it... Woops.
 
CliffA said:
I'll try to keep this as short as possible...two weeks ago we went to the boat to spend the WE...on Saturday we were going to get a pump out and to fill up with fuel...the port engine started as usual...the fuel pump for the starboard engine primed as usual but the engine would not turn over....I only got a clicking noise...it had been several years since the batteries were changed so I assumed I needed new batteries...the engine started fine with the emergency start switch activated...we cruised to get the pump out and fuel without issue...I had to use the emergency start switch again at the marina after fueling up...

I replaced all of the batteries a week ago...one group 27 deep cell for the port engine, one group 27 deep cell for the generator, and two group 31 in series for the starboard engine and house bank...I was running short on time so I did not attempt to start the engines that day...

Today I went to the boat for some light maintenance stuff and attempted to start both engines and the genny....the genny started fine as well as the port engine...however I had the same clicking noise and no start from the starboard engine...I double checked the tightness of the battery connections and all terminals are clean...the starboard engine will start and run by using the emergency start switch...I thought maybe I have a bad ground for the 31's in series so I used a jumper cable connected to the neg post on the batteries and the ground stud on the port engine.....this did not help...

One thing I noticed that seemed odd is when I ran the bilge blowers while connected to shore power they ran fine....when I ran the blowers while on battery power they ran but at a reduced power and the green indicator light on the bilge blower switch was flashing...


Any and all input in finding the problem is appreciated...

cliff
Click to expand...

I replaced all of the batteries a week ago...one group 27 deep cell for the port engine, one group 27 deep cell for the generator, and two group 31 in series for the starboard engine and house bank...I was running short on time so I did not attempt to start the engines that day...

Herein lies the direction of the root cause; "I was running short on time so I did not attempt to start the engines that day..."

So glad you got it figured out, love that era 340"s
 
That is awesome. I can honestly say I’ve never heard this one before! Ha. Glad it was a cheap fix for you
 
Stee6043 said:
That is awesome. I can honestly say I’ve never heard this one before! Ha. Glad it was a cheap fix for you
Click to expand...
Amazing something so simple can bring out such complex issues to investigate. Glad to hear you found it.
 
That’s going to be with you for awhile - nice “senior moment”. But you know these new fancy batteries can be complicated.
 
Weird no-start is truly an appropriate description... Glad you let us know. Who here hasn't committed a mechanical gaff?
 
Tacoma290 said:
Weird no-start is truly an appropriate description... Glad you let us know. Who here hasn't committed a mechanical gaff?
Click to expand...

I'd say Cliff's oops is more defensible than the time I spent, I mean, someone I know spent 20 minutes in the engine room trouble shooting a non-starting engine that happened to be in gear. And not "just slightly" in gear, she was in full forward. And of course we had guests aboard who were also boaters. That made for a good laugh...
 
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