[SCcdp]

Helping a friend try to get a boat running and there is a problem with getting it to start at all. After hooking up a fully charged battery and turning the ignition key all we get is a very high pitched hum/whine and no movement on the part of the starter.

Is that hum coming from the solenoid? Any insight on what the issue may be is greatly appreciated.


Thanks,

Matt

[tashasdaddy]

have you tried turning the spindle on the starter to see if the motor is frozen. sounds like a bad brushes, or armature. new starter is about as much as the motor is worth. take a jumper cable an jump from battery pos post, the the post on the starter. that by passes the solenoid, and ignition switch.

[SCcdp]

I turned the start spindle up into position with the flywheel but did not mess with it much more than that. I will try to jump it off the way you recommended -didn't even think of that! Thanks!

[steelespike]

Do you get a click?If no click the first place to look is the solenoid and circuit to the solenoid.You could test the starter CAREFULLY by using good jumper cables ground to good ground positive to the post on the starter.Don't make the final connection at the battery.

[SCcdp]

No click whatsoever just a high pitch whine when the key was turned.

[SCcdp]

So ground to a good ground source and attach one positive to the starter post and just touch the other positive to the positive post on the battery?

[F_R]

yes.

Solenoid buzz is a sign of bad connections or cables. You should fix all connections BEFORE making any attempt at starting the motor. If it should happen to start while the connections are still bad, it most likely will destroy the alternator rectifier and maybe the ignition amplifier. Result: Think mega $$$.

[tashasdaddy]

90% of starter problems are bad connections. remove and clean both ends of the battery cables, so that they are shiney, also the cable from the solenoid to starter. check for nicks in the cables. and make sure the connectors are on the wire good. the cable tend to corrode from the inside out, if nicked, corroded wires, and connections, heat up and cause resistance to the follow of electricity, thus the starter doesn't get enough. you can also take jumper cable pos battery post to large post on starter. with a good connection, the engine should spin. then if the starter is good clean everything and retest. then trouble shoot solenoid. starters can be rebuit at a starter/alternator shop, much cheaper than a new one.

also have the battery load tested at the auto parts store, free, i've had new batteries go bad