3.0 Mercruiser LX, new starter, new slave solenoid, still just CLICKS

I have a 1998 Mercruiser Alpha One 3.0L LX motor, (don't have the serial number with me)

Opened it up for the year, charged the battery, turned it over motor just clicks. checked the starter, starter was bad, replaced the starter. same problem, motor just clicks.. battery has 12.5 volts, replaced the slave solenoid, same problem, it just does one CLICK. I jumped the terminals on the starter, and the starter motor runs, but doesn't engage the flywheel. anyone have any ideas? Thanks a lot.

Re: 3.0 Mercruiser LX, new starter, new slave solenoid, still just CLICKS

Did you try turning the engine over by hand? You can take the spark plugs out to make it easier.

Also check out this link from Don: http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=167035

Re: 3.0 Mercruiser LX, new starter, new slave solenoid, still just CLICKS

I Cant get to the front of the motor to try turning it over by hand.. any suggestions on how i can do that? sorry I don't know too much about boats.

abrx7 said:

Did you try turning the engine over by hand? You can take the spark plugs out to make it easier.

Also check out this link from Don: http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=167035

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Re: 3.0 Mercruiser LX, new starter, new slave solenoid, still just CLICKS

I had that same engine in the boat I just sold and believe me, I feel your pain. How old is the battery? Maybe the battery just doesn't have enough cranking amps to turn the motor over ( you can also try this with the plugs out). When you changed the starter did you install new starter bolts? If you didn't then i would highly recommend you do. Mine broke inside the motor. I had to pull the motor than get them out. I would first remove the spark plugs and see if it cranks. If it doesn't crank then put a breaker bar on the harmonic balancer and see if the motor will turn that way. If the motor turns over both ways then it sounds like your battery may not have enough amps.

Re: 3.0 Mercruiser LX, new starter, new slave solenoid, still just CLICKS

saj1420 said:

I have a 1998 Mercruiser Alpha One 3.0L LX motor, (don't have the serial number with me)

Opened it up for the year, charged the battery, turned it over motor just clicks. checked the starter, starter was bad, replaced the starter. same problem, motor just clicks.. battery has 12.5 volts, replaced the slave solenoid, same problem, it just does one CLICK. I jumped the terminals on the starter, and the starter motor runs, but doesn't engage the flywheel. anyone have any ideas? Thanks a lot.

Click to expand...

Ayuh,.... Dirty wirin' ends,.... Clean 'em All, shiny clean metal clean, 'n reassemble...

Includin' the Grounds....

Re: 3.0 Mercruiser LX, new starter, new slave solenoid, still just CLICKS

saj1420 said:

battery has 12.5 volts

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12.5V is a tad low for a completely charged battery. Did you measure the 12.5V while cranking the engine over, or was this measured while not cranking the engine. (... check the battery's voltage while cranking the engine)

I'd also do as Bond-o suggested, clean and tighten all battery cable connections.

Re: 3.0 Mercruiser LX, new starter, new slave solenoid, still just CLICKS

fishrdan said:

12.5V is a tad low for a completely charged battery. Did you measure the 12.5V while cranking the engine over, or was this measured while not cranking the engine. (... check the battery's voltage while cranking the engine)

I'd also do as Bond-o suggested, clean and tighten all battery cable connections.

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Terminals and cable ends have all been cleaned... Ill try a battery I know is good and I'll try pulling plugs and turning over. Thanks for the replys

Re: 3.0 Mercruiser LX, new starter, new slave solenoid, still just CLICKS

saj1420 said:

Terminals and cable ends have all been cleaned... Ill try a battery I know is good and I'll try pulling plugs and turning over. Thanks for the replys

Click to expand...

An that 12.5 was not measured while cranking. That was just with the battery sitting.

Re: 3.0 Mercruiser LX, new starter, new slave solenoid, still just CLICKS

saj1420 said:

An that 12.5 was not measured while cranking. That was just with the battery sitting.

Click to expand...

Measure it while cranking the engine, the voltage could drop significantly if the battery is bad.

Or, you could pull the battery, drag it down to the auto parts store, and have it load tested.