Starter Problem I think!

CapeBoater1 · #1 04-23-2006, 03:10 PM

Well I pulled the boat out of the garage to see if it would start. And it did not! Oh, well, anyways could someone give me some direction/help. When I turn the key nothing happens. No sound, no low battery churning, nothing. My batter is fully charged, all other electronics work and the battery guage is reading, so it would appear there is power at the ignition switch. Is it safe to assume that the starter is shot? When I bought the boat, the marina said they had to work on the starter, but once started, everything ran fine. Or is there something else I should be looking at?

Capt Chuck · #2 04-23-2006, 04:30 PM

Make sure your throttle is in neutral

CapeBoater1 · #3 04-23-2006, 06:13 PM

Ok, when I turn the key, the batter gauge works, the RPM gauge works and when I depress and turn the key to choke it the choke activates the carburators, so that works, but it doesn't seem to activate the starter. Is it just a bad wire somewhere or the starter?

jongolds · #4 04-23-2006, 08:30 PM

Check the battery connections, had the exact same sypmtons on my friends Hydra-Sport 2 weeks ago. Was all set to change the starter or the solenoid and it turned out to just be the battery connections were a little corrided. If thats not it, it might just be your solenoid too.

CapeBoater1 · #5 04-23-2006, 08:38 PM

Thanks! I'll be at it again tomorrow. Maybe I'll have more luck then.

hermco · #6 04-23-2006, 08:51 PM

Check the electrical grounds. They are usually the source of 12 volt power problems. Wish I had a dollar for every time. I would be a thousandaire!

#7 04-23-2006, 09:28 PM

assuming your motor has a solinoid you said there was no sound when you turn the key most of the time you should be able to hear the solinoid click when the key is turned to the start position if there is no click noise at the solinoid get a test light and make sure you are getting 12volts to the primary side of the solinoid and when you turn the key to the start position there should be 12 volts applied to the start terminal on the solinoid the other is usually ground if there is 12volts on the start terminal and on the primary terminal and the solinoid does not engage the starter then replace the solinoid if the solinoid does engage and send 12 volts to the starter and it does not engage the it is more than likely bad as long as you have a good ground to double check the starter you can take a ohm meter and read across the positive terminal and the frame of the starter it should read continuity if it reads open then the starter is bad. Good luck hope i didn't confuse you.

CapeBoater1 · #8 04-24-2006, 06:46 AM

Thanks guys, I'll try it tonight.

RS · #9 04-24-2006, 01:04 PM

Is the kill switch connected?

ScottM · #10 04-24-2006, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Is the kill switch connected?

Good point Roger. When I was about 15, dad let me and some friends use the boat. We tied up at a dock for a little while, came back and the engine wouldn't start. A couple guys tried helping us but nobody could figure out what was wrong. Called dad for help. Luckily the boat was right by the town ramp, so we hauled it and took it over to the boat yard. The mechanic jumps in and 1 minute later turns the engine over really quick in the parking lot. He looks at my dad and says "kill switch was disconnected"

. From that day forward the switch was taped in place.