Click...Click...Click...relay issue??

[LetsRock]

I splashed 2 weeks ago and all was fine. Started right up, took a little cruise and tied up. I went to the boat this past weekend and went to start her up and heard the dreaded clicking noise you normally get when the battery is dead. I checked the charger and it reads full. All electronics are working including the bilge pump, radio, blower...etc. The starter was replaced last summer so thats not it. Someone told me there might be a "relay" on this engine (Mercruiser, 5.7 liter, 265 HP) and that could be the culprit.


After doing some cleaning on the boat I tried it again and it started as normal. I shut it down and tried again and more clicking then it started so whatever it is works/fails intermittently.

Am I on the right track with this relay thing and would love more information about it.

Thanks all

 

[edsmax]

Check your battery cable connections on both ends - especially your ground.

 

[roadkingh1]

I have a pair of 7.4l mpi on my boat and the clicking sound I was getting came from the slave solenoid which is contained in the black box to the right of the engine alone with relays and your ECU. The 12volts comes from the switch at the console and it goes thought the neutral switch on the transmission before arriving at the slave solenoid, than passes though to the starter. The clicking sound could be from the slave solenoid if you have the same setup. Once in a while I would get the clicking sound and I end up replacing it. I hope that helps. Good luck


Ted

 

[Gunn]

I have a pair of 7.4l mpi on my boat and the clicking sound I was getting came from the slave solenoid which is contained in the black box to the right of the engine alone with relays and your ECU. Ted

+1 on this. I replaced a starter because of this issue, thinking it was the solenoid on the starter itself. Then after a couple of weeks, same problem! At the time, didn't know there was a slave solenoid there. It is the exact same solenoid as used on the trim pump for your up and down sterndrive trim.

Tom

 

[Mike Blake]

Batterys first,then the connections.

 

[Gunn]

Batterys first,then the connections.

In this case, it's neither. If it works fine, then clicks, then doesn't again, it's highly likely it's the solenoid. If it were batteries, then they wouldn't indicate they were fully charged, and if it were a connection, you wouldn't even hear the click.

When you get it to click, have someone else turn the key and get your head by the engine, and verify it's the solenoid.

 

[JVM225]

Probably the solenoid. It's a cheap and easy fix if thats what it turns out to be. If it is, it might be intermittent on you.

 

[dpvandy01]

Slave solenoid???

 

[Jimmy Buoy]

Mine had the same click. Turned out to be the main ground wire (NOT the one on the battery post - the one on the engine block) was corroded. Once cleaned and reinstalled, no more issues and it's been more than two years now. Of course, I went through everything else imaginable before discovering it!!

In many cases it's just a faulty slave solenoid. They are easy to check by turning on the ignition/starter while checking its large + output wire for 12vt power with a meter.

 

[roadkingh1]

View attachment 25003 Item number 5 is the slave solenoid.

 

[Loneranger]

When you get the old solenoid off and take it apart it probably looks like the one below:

http://clubsearay.com/showthread.php/21806-Ever-Wonder-Why-A-Solenoid-Dies?highlight=solenoid+dies

You can short across the solenoid (in essence bypassing it) to further test your hypothesis that the solenoid is bad.

John

 

[LetsRock]

Good stuff all. I will be in full investigative mode this weekend and report back here.

 

[dvx216]

If you hear it clicking that just means the circuit to the coil has voltage it still could not have voltage on the main contacts that feed the starter

 

[LetsRock]

Solenoid it was.....$25 and done!! Thanks to all for the feedback.

 

[roadkingh1]

Good deal!

Solenoid it was.....$25 and done!! Thanks to all for the feedback.