Engine won't start--sometimes

[MaddyDean]

Hi All

first let me start by stating--three new 27 series batteries and I am on shore power.


Here are the symptoms:

1. Port side only
2. Turn the key hear slight click and nothing happens
3. Emergency switch, same thing
4. Starboard engine--fires right up
5. Port engine, still same symptoms
6. Port engine starts
7. Turn off (after warming up) and start back up again
8. three weeks go by and no troubles
9. Last night, same thing: port engine click and does not start then out of the blue it starts.

This only, so far, happened twice and both times the port engine only fired while the starboard engine was running (I am not certain if that is pertinent info but it was my observation)

My immediate thought is the Starter cylinoid but i wanted to check with you all to see if there may be another thing to look at.

The question: am I correct in looking at the starter or, is there another electrical component that may also be causing this intermittent issue.

Last thing to mention, again, not sure is this has anything to do with it but, last night was the first time starting at night and I noticed the dashboard lights were out as well and they were working last season.

Thanks All

 

[Presentation]

....My immediate thought is the Starter cylinoid but i wanted to check with you all to see if there may be another thing to look at.

The question: am I correct in looking at the starter or, is there another electrical component that may also be causing this intermittent issue.

I do agree with you. If you want to try something else give this a try:


First, remove your wedding ring if you wear one please. Also remove any other jewelry.



Grab the battery cable. Try to turn it on the post of the battery. Can you wiggle it at all? If yes, tighten the battery cable.

 

[fwebster]

Your boat has a slave solenoid mounted near the main breaker on the engine. That is the usual cause of intermittant Mercruiser starting problems. It is a cheap part , <$20, so I'd replace both on a 10 year old boat to remove them from the equation because you are due. From there isf the problem continues, its going to be a matter of following the voltage from the dash switch to the slave solenoid, thru the neutral safety switch and to the main starter solenoid.

Good luck with it..............

 

[Lazy Daze]

I would also take this opportunity to follow all ( + & - ) battery/power cables to the engine and components. Remove each one... clean, protect and reinstall.

 

[MaddyDean]

Good info:

in regards to the cleaning of the battery cables, I did do that when I changed out the batteries.

In regards to the cables being loose, hmm--that could be an issue, once i read that, I did remember saying at the time, I need to tighten those up.

Therefore, I will re-clean and re-tighten.

in regards to the slave solenoid, that is a new one to me and it looks like I have some research--they, according to you, are cheap enough to change out anyways and I am certain they have not been changed in my two years and precious owners 5 years--he did nothing to the boat.

and in regards to the ignition kill--that was another thing i did notice getting her ready for floating. those connections were loose (right at the sensor by the carburetor) so I will re-crimp new connectors and clean up those wires as well.

Thanks all--I got some t-shooting to do, keep the ideas coming. the more I get the more time I have to drink on the boat.

 

[Lazy Daze]

You could always swap the solenoids between engines, if you wanted to verify if that was the problem. However, like Frank mentioned, swapping both out for new ones would be a good maintenance item anyways. Good luck!

 

[MaddyDean]

I am going with frank--it is too intermittent anyways so since I should do it, their cheap, and appears to be straight forward easy install--consider this done.

Is another name for slave solenoid = remote solenoid.

 

[MaddyDean]

Status:

OK, I got the slave solenoid and like Frank said--under $20 each. Went down to the boat and tried turning over the port engine--no soap.

immediately check the battery cable--they were all tight but tighten them again. Tried to start--no soap.

got into the EC, found the slave solenoid and replaced. Went to start and fired right up.

While there I put a new connector on the neutral switch--that was very loose.

this is an intermittent issue but the signs look good.

Thanks again for your help--helpfully this case is closed.

New issue, I changed the Manifolds and risers at the beginning of the season. Today, I figured I would change out the spark plugs for the heck of it. I could not get the spark plug socket on the plug--the manifold is in the way.

I never changed the plugs with the old risers, I had the mechanic do that last year when I bought the boat--therefore, i do not know if that is normal but now I need to find a tool that could get onto the plugs.

Thanks again guys--I think we got it.

 

[Presentation]

Vince, congratulations on fixing the starting issue. Thank you for the follow up post.

On the spark plug issue, just being captain obvious here, sorry if this is too basic….but here goes. The extension on the spark plug socket should be totally parallel to the ground or water, not at an up angle. No swivel needed. No up angle on the extension.

Did you come in flat or parallel to the water or ground?

 

[MaddyDean]

Vince, congratulations on fixing the starting issue. Thank you for the follow up post.

On the spark plug issue, just being captain obvious here, sorry if this is too basic….but here goes. The extension on the spark plug socket should be totally parallel to the ground or water, not at an up angle. No swivel needed. No up angle on the extension.

Did you come in flat or parallel to the water or ground?

no apologies necessary--any advice is good advice.

I do not have a generator so, when I was unable to get the socket on the plugs, i was able to squeeze my body into the generator area--i had full on view on the plugs.

I pulled the cable off the plugs and tried to put the socket on--if i come into the plug parallel to the water the side of the socket will sit directly on top of the spark plug.

If i come into the plug from an angle, the side of the socket will sit on top of the casting--never making into the plug to back out.

I took a 5/8 half inch standard size socket and was able to slide that past the insulator and on to the casting so I know 5/8 is the size.

bottom line: if I try ti level the socket to get it on to the casting--the manifold is in the way.

therefore, I went Online and I found a nice crescent style 5/8 wrench that looks like it will do the job and a spark plug pliers (Seen Below)

I never compared the new manifolds to the old--maybe the new ones are a little bigger--who knows, but nevertheless--this is an easy fix--just need the right tool and there is plenty of space below the plugs to use a crescent style or pliers.

Thanks for the info.

 

[Presentation]

Thank you Vince.

Just FYI...I used a thin wall spark plug socket, not the standard one.

 

[MaddyDean]

Thank you Vince.

Just FYI...I used a thin wall spark plug socket, not the standard one.

That's a good point--I am going to Aides Auto on way home and will explore my option.

Thanks again.

 

[Lazy Daze]

I have a socket that I thinned the wall down on a grinder - you can make it pretty thin.

 

[fishfortwo]

I had a similar situation on my port engine. Ended up being a short in the wiring harness. I dont know if this is the same because of the dash lights but I was able to trace it by lightly moving each wire to get it to cut off. Hope this helps.

 

[chonk]

OK so I am having the EXACT same issues with my 89 160BR.
Where does one get the solenoid for $20? and does anyone know which one I need?

For that matter I also have an automotive alternator installed that I need to get out ASAP - of course I have no clue which is the proper replacement? Why doesn't mercruiser put service manuals online..........oh wait, I remember $$$$$$$

 

[MaddyDean]

OK so I am having the EXACT same issues with my 89 160BR.
Where does one get the solenoid for $20? and does anyone know which one I need?

For that matter I also have an automotive alternator installed that I need to get out ASAP - of course I have no clue which is the proper replacement? Why doesn't mercruiser put service manuals online..........oh wait, I remember $$$$$$$

I found the part number by cross checking my serial numbers on perfprotech.com then I checked West Marine--they had it there.

 

[Dalma]

Your boat has a slave solenoid mounted near the main breaker on the engine. That is the usual cause of intermittant Mercruiser starting problems. It is a cheap part , <$20, so I'd replace both on a 10 year old boat to remove them from the equation because you are due. From there isf the problem continues, its going to be a matter of following the voltage from the dash switch to the slave solenoid, thru the neutral safety switch and to the main starter solenoid.

Good luck with it..............

Frank, I had the same issue with my engine this past weekend. Do I have the same solenoids on my engines? 2004 350 mags? Your help is greatly appreciated!

Jay