Starting problems
 

I was on the ramp this morning ready to splash and the motor would not start - just click - click - click - everytime I turned the key. It started fine last week in the driveway and gave me similar trouble last night, but I attributed it to a battery that probable needs replacing anyway, so I put it on the charger. So the marina owner gives me a good battery to switch out and I get the same thing.

I had similar issues a few years ago and I replaced the battery cables, and the starter solenoid. I am assuming those things are not the problems because they are newest items, that doesn't really leave much else - Maybe the ingnition switch, the starter ???

The only two times I had problems was after the motor was tilted all the way up. Can the interlock switch go bad?? If so, where is it located and how do I test / replace it?

I brought the boat home and had to go to work, so I have not looked into it yet. I will check the obvious things tonight. I have power to the rest of the boat and the trim tilt motor moves sharply so there seems to be enough power.

Any thoughts / ideas ??

Thanks

Carl

I had a similar experience once and it turned out to be a very simple problem. The battery connections weren't tight enough. Your situation is probably different but I thought it'd be worth mentioning. Best of luck.

I agree with Blue, could be a short on one of your connections, also clean and lube all connections and check your Solenoid if you are equipped with one.
You can by-pass solenoid with car jumper from (+) on battery to (+) on starter. If it cranks, it's the key switch or solenoid at fault usually.

I did some testing tonight and I think I found the problem, but I would like to validate it with your thoughts.

I cleaned all the connections, but it did not make a difference. I measured battery voltage and then compared across the starter solenoid. With the ignition off, I had voltage on one side and 0 on the other side that leads to the starter. That's ok. I measured the voltage as my wife turned the key. The side that leads to the starter should then read about 13 volts, but it remained 0. I get the typical solenoid click, but no voltage.

I am getting another solenoind tomorrow.

What do you think?

Carl

when checking voltage, are you using the ground the starter uses or just grounding tothe block? sounds like you found the problem, though. good luck

I was using the ground on the starter.

good, i had a 115 evinrude once that the short ground strap from the starter to the block went bad. everything voltage checked out until i used the strap and them i lost power to the starter.

sounds like bad battery cables