Starter issues

[Maggieiscrazy]

I have a 240 Sundancer with 3 batteries. 2 deep cycle and 1 starting battery. For about the last year I’ve been having issues where is seems like the batteries are too dead to turn the starter over it always eventually fires. Last weekend before I headed out I fully charged all 3 batteries. I went to fire the engine up with the deep cycle batteries and no go. I flipped the switch to the starting battery and it turned over slow but fired up. I cruised around all day. The volt meter sat at around 14 volts. When I got back I shut the engine off. Went to fire it up again and no go. I checked the batteries today. They were all sitting at just under 13 volts. I load tested them and they all tested good. So batteries are fine. Where is my next place to look?

 

[Bill Curtis]

Make sure all your cable connections are clean and tight. Pay special attention to engine grounds and bonds to battery Neg.
Make sure starter mounting bolts are tight (be careful to not over tighten and break one. Don't ask).

Could also be and indication starter is on it's last leg or a start relay with crappy internal connections..
Starter breaking down when hot.

 

[Fill Ess]

How old are the batteries? If unsealed, make sure the water levels are topped off. "NO go" meaning it cranked but wouldn't start? Or would not even crank?

 

[Maggieiscrazy]

How old are the batteries? If unsealed, make sure the water levels are topped off. "NO go" meaning it cranked but wouldn't start? Or would not even crank?

Engine would usually turn over but sometimes not fast enough to fire engine. I did a load test between the positive terminal in the starter and ground and had 800 amps. I think the starter is weak.

 

[Fill Ess]

Engine would usually turn over but sometimes not fast enough to fire engine. I did a load test between the positive terminal in the starter and ground and had 800 amps. I think the starter is weak.

Could very well be a bad starter, or bad connection to the starter.

Almost every time I've run into this issue, it's old batteries. I always replace batteries if they are old. But Bill is SPOT ON that it could be the starter, the bolts or the connections. If you're looking to replace with a Merc part, before doing that, check and clean the connections at the starter and make sure the solenoid is okay.

 

[Maggieiscrazy]

The 2 deep cycle batteries were replaced 1 year ago. I’m using the old ones in my fishing boat. They’re still good.

 

[Maggieiscrazy]

So my batteries have 650 cca. I’m wondering if that’s not enough to turn my 5.0 over. Maybe I need to go to a higher cca starting battery?

 

[scoflaw]

Do a voltage drop test at the 50 amp breaker, should be no lower 11

 

[Hoplite808]

@Maggieiscrazy if you take the battery to your local auto parts store they will usually test the battery for free. Sometimes a battery will have a bad cell where it has the right voltage but it has lost all its cranking amps. However, based on how you described the situation I would be more inclined to suspect a failed starter motor. It sounds like what a motor will do as the brushes fail. Also the 650cca is plenty to turn over even a 454 block.

 

[Maggieiscrazy]

I guess I’ll take the starter in for a rebuild and go from there.

 

[Hoplite808]

I guess I’ll take the starter in for a rebuild and go from there.

Go price out a new one. Sometimes it’s cheaper than a rebuild.

 

[Maggieiscrazy]

Go price out a new one. Sometimes it’s cheaper than a rebuild.

That may be true but I have a local guy that does excellent work, uses the highest quality parts and backs his work. That’s worth paying a little extra to me.