starter issue

[badluck]

So I'm no tech but I will give this a shot. I turn the key and I get a click then nothing. Sometimes this will happen a few times then start.It has fresh batteries and clean connections. If it clicks I would guess the solenoid is fine. Or could it still be bad? Could the starter be bad?Seems to occur after it has not been ran for a week. After the first start seems to be okay.What gives?

[nuttyskier2002]

So I'm no tech but I will give this a shot. I turn the key and I get a click then nothing. Sometimes this will happen a few times then start.It has fresh batteries and clean connections. If it clicks I would guess the solenoid is fine. Or could it still be bad? Could the starter be bad?Seems to occur after it has not been ran for a week. After the first start seems to be okay.What gives?

Could still be the starter solenoid. The large concact points inside may be pitted. If this happens the solenoid will still actuate mechanically but may not pass enough current to turn our engine over.

[badluck]

So I'm no tech but I will give this a shot. I turn the key and I get a click then nothing. Sometimes this will happen a few times then start.It has fresh batteries and clean connections. If it clicks I would guess the solenoid is fine. Or could it still be bad? Could the starter be bad?Seems to occur after it has not been ran for a week. After the first start seems to be okay.What gives?

Could still be the starter solenoid. The large concact points inside may be pitted. If this happens the solenoid will still actuate mechanically but may not pass enough current to turn our engine over.

Good point. I did not think of that.A new solenoid it is.

[skier92]

Clean connections just at the battery, or at the ground to engine (not just a visual, pull off and clean) and positive to solenoid also. Many a starter issue is nothing more than a bad connection.

[badluck]

cleaned every connection.I still hear a loud strong click. Tomorrow I will bench test it.How do I test the slave?

[beef]

This may help - I had the same issue with my boat and replaced the entire starter to fix the problem. Later, had the same symptom in one of our cars & was searching on the internet for a good source for the starter and came across this guy. Replaced the plunger and the contacts for $25 - problem solved. Might be worth an email to find out if you can cross-reference the starter model to our boat.

[nuttyskier2002]

cleaned every connection.I still hear a loud strong click. Tomorrow I will bench test it.How do I test the slave?

By "slave" are you talking about the plunger? After you pull the starter connect your jumper cables (negative to starter case and positive to large terminal that was connected to the battery cable). Connect other ends of cable to battery appropriately. Use a jumper wire to jump between the large terminal (where positive cable is attached) to the smaller "start" terminal. This will engage the solenoid, throw the gear out and run the starter motor all in one test. Caution: Be sure to hold on firmly to the starter as it while torque over abruptly and with a lot of force. It's best to strap it down if you have the means to do this.

One note: The starter motor will not draw near as much current on the bench as it will turning your engine over so the solenoid contacts will not be required to conduct near as much current. In other words it may pass on the bench test and still be bad.

If you can replace just the contact points as suggested above this could save you some money.

[Bill_AirJunky]

I had a problem this summer where my prop packing failed overnight. The following morning I get up & there is several inches of water in the bilge & up to the floor. The starter was in the water. We drained it, dried out the boat, and went about our business. A couple weeks later the starter started acting up. With strong batteries & good connections we'd get an intermittent click or it would start. I pulled the starter & took it to my neighborhood auto parts store to be tested. He told me the solenoid was bad. They don't carry boat parts at this store, so I knew I'd have to look up an electrical shop in town who is familiar with marine equipment. I called my local Malibu dealer who gave me a couple of local shops numbers. Took the starter in to one of them, same diagnosis (I was impressed the kid at Schucks Auto actually got it right). $44 for a new solenoid & the boat starts like a champ again.

[nuttyskier2002]

I had a problem this summer where my prop packing failed overnight. The following morning I get up & there is several inches of water in the bilge & up to the floor. The starter was in the water. We drained it, dried out the boat, and went about our business. A couple weeks later the starter started acting up. With strong batteries & good connections we'd get an intermittent click or it would start. I pulled the starter & took it to my neighborhood auto parts store to be tested. He told me the solenoid was bad. They don't carry boat parts at this store, so I knew I'd have to look up an electrical shop in town who is familiar with marine equipment. I called my local Malibu dealer who gave me a couple of local shops numbers. Took the starter in to one of them, same diagnosis (I was impressed the kid at Schucks Auto actually got it right). $44 for a new solenoid & the boat starts like a champ again.

To my knowledge there is no difference between the automotive and marine solenoid units on the GM starter. The marine starter motor has a shield inside at the gear drive end to prevent sparks from escaping. Also the case is sealed at the back end. If anyone know otherwise and wants to chime in go with that but I believe they are the same.

[badluck]

So I pulled the starter out and bench tested it. The solenoid is fine. The gear in the starter engages but does not spin. Bad armature?

[nuttyskier2002]

So I pulled the starter out and bench tested it. The solenoid is fine. The gear in the starter engages but does not spin. Bad armature?

The end gear is engaged with the armature thru a one way clutch. I'll bet that your gear/clutch assembly is bad.

[badluck]

The starter works intermittently. I'd feel safe with putting a new 1 in. The local dealer wants 225 to rebuild it. A mercruiser is 208 new.Some dealers are out of control.

[nuttyskier2002]

The starter works intermittently. I'd feel safe with putting a new 1 in. The local dealer wants 225 to rebuild it. A mercruiser is 208 new.Some dealers are out of control.

What year and model is your boat?

[nuttyskier2002]

The starter works intermittently. I'd feel safe with putting a new 1 in. The local dealer wants 225 to rebuild it. A mercruiser is 208 new.Some dealers are out of control.

Try this place http://www.alternatorparts.com/marine_starters.htm.