starter problems

eagleone

eagleone

Member
Aug 11, 2015
166
lake michigan
Boat Info
390 express cruiser 1985
Engines
2-454 mercruisers
Had my starboard starter fry yesterday bought new one installed it and have nothing, turn the key get nothing. I jumped the solenoid, and motor turns over, checking power have power at breaker, have power coming out of the key switch,but no power to the solenoid., checked the 50 amp breaker it is good, it is in neutral checked that first. Was looking at the slave solenoid. wondering what it does and how to check it because the yellow wire off it goes to the sol. on the starter. It is a 1985 454 with thunder bolt ignition. any help thanks in advance

Jim
 
IS the shifter in neutral? Did you ever bother to correctly check the battery's? I really don't get it, people throw money at it and don't test a thing.
 
Is the wire gauge on the selenoid the same as the key switch? I don't know your engine, but I would suspect you have a relay between switch and selenoid. I agree with the other post to clean and check connections.
 
yes i have 13.4 volts at the ignition and at the 50 amp breaker, and as i said in the post I did check the neutral part of the starting process, and I am not just throwing money at it the old starter was toast.
 
It is a 10 gauge wire at the solenoid and a 12 at the key, but then again not sure how the slave solenoid plays a part in it.
 
eagleone said:
yes i have 13.4 volts at the ignition and at the 50 amp breaker, and as i said in the post I did check the neutral part of the starting process, and I am not just throwing money at it the old starter was toast.
Click to expand...

`OH OK ! is that why it still won't start? What am I missing here???
 
YOu have the classic symptom of a bad slave solenoid.........voltage at the switch when the switch is closed; no voltage at the starter solenoid.

The 390EC does use slave solenoids. The purpose of the salve solenoid is to save having to deliver starting amps thru the ignition switch and running large gauge wires from the dash down to the engines. The slave solenoid is mounted on the bracket with the main breaker on the engine. The ignition switch triggers or closes the coil on the slave solenoid, closing its contacts, which then applies power to the starter solenoid. The slave solenoid is a $16 part and is available almost anywhere because the same part is used on many lawnmowers and small electric start equipment.
 
thanks Frank, Mike & pmc. trying to remember if I did have power on one side of the slave i know I had power at the 50 amp breaker. Was looking for a wire diagram that has just 3 wires of key switch with no luck. Gonna call auto Z and see if they have a slave sol.
 
Well the starter was hot enough to fry a egg or two plus it had missing teeth to mess with the fly wheel so I am pretty sure it was toast. Checked at the auto parts store what they think it is is 43.00 dollars so gonna get it out then go get right one.
 
eagleone said:
Well the starter was hot enough to fry a egg or two plus it had missing teeth to mess with the fly wheel so I am pretty sure it was toast. Checked at the auto parts store what they think it is is 43.00 dollars so gonna get it out then go get right one.
Click to expand...

You got the starter from a Auto Parts store? Or a Marine starter?
 
I will try jumping it Monday afternoon and if it doesn't turn over what is next. Yes Mike I bought a marine starter the 43.00 was for a slave sol. and not sure it is right one and Frank said it should be around 16, so we do some more checking. Thanks everyone for your input will up date you Monday night.
 
You said by jumping the starters solenoid on the starter the motor turns so batteryies, cables connections etc are all good.
A clicking with the key with no turning over is usually a slave solenoid gone bad. Jumping the 2 large lugs will confirm this.
 
(deleted)
 
Last edited:
I want to thank all you fine captains for the input the last two days, it was the slave sol. plus I ordered one on line for a spare. Thanks again.

Jim
 
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