Westerbeke 8BTD No Start Issue

Tantalus

Member
Jan 15, 2019
59
Kerikeri, Bay of Islands, New Zealand
Boat Info
450 Sundancer 1997
Engines
3116 Cats - 350’s
Having a no start issue with my Westerbeke 8BTD, power at starter motor (12v plus) but when operating at remote in cabin or at genset itself, nothing (starter not turning over)
Working absolutely no problem 2 weeks ago, went to start yesterday and nothing. Not even preheat alarm sounding, nothing. Looked all around no disconnected wires or anything that would jump out. I have read there is a 8 amp fuse somewhere, if so where is that located? Are there any other circuit breakers I am not aware of?
Any ideas? possible solenoid decided to call it a day maybe?
 
Check the master breaker to the generator itself. If your not getting the alarm when the switch is turned to on’ something is up with the power
 
There is what I thought would be the master breaker attached to the front left hand side of the gauges/ start panel, I thought it relates to the 110v side of things. Anyway, it hadn’t tripped. Is there another master breaker I am missing somewhere on the boat? The 20amp fuse appears not to have tripped either.
 
I had issues with my 7.6 BTD this summer (the 7.6 and 8.0 are very similar). Here’s part two that might be of interest to you. There are pictures of both the fuse holder and a circuit breaker version on these.

http://www.clubsearay.com/index.php?threads/7-6btd-blowing-8a-fuse-part-2.93843/

I had 3 threads on on this issue so you can go back and see what I did to troubleshoot. I think I had a double failure that made it really hard to troubleshoot. But I finally fixed it. Having the local genny guy fix it would have been $$$$
 
On my Weterbeke there is a switch on the back of the generator panel that cuts power to both panels.
 
Had same issue, while batt checked ok on voltage, when a load was put on it, it crashed and nothing. New batt fixed it. I had tried everything for hours and this was the fix. Recommended by someone here.
 
Had the same thing happen to me last year, it just went dead, but there was power coming to the generator, based on the readings from the multimeter. It can be a couple of things, provided the 8 am fuse is good. You are correct that the temp switch is a fail point, but so can the oil pressure solenoid. I would start with those. There is also a relay in the box that can go bad.

If you are good with a multi meter, you have a good chance of tracking it down.
 
Even with a failed temp or oil switch it would alarm and start when holding preheat. This is the fuse somewhere in the circuit.
 
Having a no start issue with my Westerbeke 8BTD, power at starter motor (12v plus) but when operating at remote in cabin or at genset itself, nothing (starter not turning over)
Working absolutely no problem 2 weeks ago, went to start yesterday and nothing. Not even preheat alarm sounding, nothing. Looked all around no disconnected wires or anything that would jump out. I have read there is a 8 amp fuse somewhere, if so where is that located? Are there any other circuit breakers I am not aware of?
Any ideas? possible solenoid decided to call it a day maybe?
There is a small 8 amp button breaker on the left side of the generator took me a minute to locate after looking for a while.Happened to me twice.
 
There is a bypass switch on the back side of the generator. It must be switched to operate from the panel on the generator. If you started it from the bilge with the manual switches on the generator panel, then you turned off the remote panel in the salon.

I don't think one of the safety switches is your problem if the genset runs normally when you crank it in the bilge. The 8.0BTD will always crank from the generator panel even if one of the safety switches has failed because the start switch by-passes the low oil pressure, overheat and any other safety switches.

Next, that boat has a generator control module on it that allows the salon panel to operate the glow plugs and the start function with one switch. The GCM has a small circuit board and some relays in it so that when you press it, the GCM sounds down th e glow plug time than the light in the switches changes from a slow blink to a fast blink to alert you that is time to press the top of the start switch to crank the generator. The control module isn't serviceable and I don't believe it is available from Sea Ray any longer.

Hope that gets you started............
 
Sorry, I don't mean steer away from the no start issue, but while on this topic.... my start switch @ the control panel no longer flashes during the preheat sequence and I would like to replace it. Does anybody know part # for replacement ?
off/ momentary on / on ?? not sure...
 
Flounder Pounder has them.......I have a spare on the boat but it is 500 miles away so I can't help with the part number, but you are looking for an [off, on, momentary on] lighted switch w/green or blue lamp.
 
Flounder Pounder has them.......I have a spare on the boat but it is 500 miles away so I can't help with the part number, but you are looking for an [off, on, momentary on] lighted switch w/green or blue lamp.
Awesome, thank you !!!
 
Frank, I cant get it to crank from either the saloon rocker switch or the genset panel switches, there isn’t anything from either. I found the small switch on the side of the genset panel switches and is labelled remote bypass switch. Have tried in both positions but nothing changes.

That being the case not sure if it would be necessarily the control panel module.

Where in this 8amp fuse that is being talked about? Are there any other trip switches that I should be aware of. Pier pressure 1 mentions a switch that cuts power to both panels, do we have one of those that could have accidentally been switched off.

What has corresponded with this issue is work that we have had done replacing all the duckboard bolts/fasteners to the transom. They have been climbing around in there tightening from the inside. It’s possible that they may disturbed something. I have been over everything in and around the starter area and checked all wires making sure nothing loose. But all appears in place. Just wondering if I’m missing another switch somewhere.
 
The only fuse on my generator is in a screw-in fuse holder (glass barrel type fuse) on the generator panel on the front of the generator. It is possible that Westerbeke changed the type fuse and its location, but it is a Westerbeke fuse not something Sea Tay added in manufacturing.

THe 120V breaker on the generator panel will kill the generator so you might try cycling it off then on in case it was bumped but partially opened.
 
Frank, I cant get it to crank from either the saloon rocker switch or the genset panel switches, there isn’t anything from either. I found the small switch on the side of the genset panel switches and is labelled remote bypass switch. Have tried in both positions but nothing changes.

That being the case not sure if it would be necessarily the control panel module.

Where in this 8amp fuse that is being talked about? Are there any other trip switches that I should be aware of. Pier pressure 1 mentions a switch that cuts power to both panels, do we have one of those that could have accidentally been switched off.

What has corresponded with this issue is work that we have had done replacing all the duckboard bolts/fasteners to the transom. They have been climbing around in there tightening from the inside. It’s possible that they may disturbed something. I have been over everything in and around the starter area and checked all wires making sure nothing loose. But all appears in place. Just wondering if I’m missing another switch somewhere.
Have you looked on the back of the genset panel box? On mine there is a switch that cuts power to everything.
 

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