1994 Mercruiser 3.0 stopped cranking after the oil change

[dlogvine]

I just got a 1994 Maxum with 3.0L Mercruiser engine. It started at first with the starter fluid but after some carburetor cleaning it was starting well with a little bit of extra gas on the throttle. It was running a lit low on idle, and I'll rebuild a carburetor later to fix it. However, I tried to clean up the engine, it was oxidized in multiple places, and later changed the oil and the filter. After the oil change I tried to start it again and not even a click from the starter. I know it is unrelated to the oil change and most likely it is some connector that is not sitting tight. I checked the battery connectors, all good there, and tried to short cut the starter with the screwdriver. There was a spark when I shortened the terminals but no solenoid click. I will try tomorrow to first try to clean all the connectors and terminals on the starter and then try to crank it with the remote starter. Any other suggestions before I take out the starter to the starter and alternator shop for testing? Thx

 

[alldodge]

Sounds like the starter, I would jump across the slave solenoid large terminals

 

[tlewis1]

Possible intention fuse some where? Do you have 12V going to the starter and the slave solenoid when the key is turned?

 

[tlewis1]

Meant to say 'ignition fuse'

 

[dlogvine]

Looked at the fuse box, no bad fuses there. And i believe there is power coming to the starter clemms. I will try to clean all the starter connectors and wires and try it again. I have a suspicion that i somehow affected starter connectors, while cleaning and decreasing the engine. Next step will be to test it with remote starter and if it all fails, will remove the starter and take it to the shop. Im pretty confident the starter is in decent condition, before i cleaned t he engine it was cranking really well and without any problems. And since there is absolutely no life, no clicking sounds when i turn the ignition key, i dont think it is a bad solenoid.

 

[Cortes100]

Another thing to check are the circuit breakers. (not the fuse panel). On my 2008, there was one by the battery and one on top of the engine. It's a small block with a push button or lever. Very easy to accidently push it when foolin around in the engine bay.

 

[dlogvine]

Circuit breaker was something i tried first. But it was not popped out, so unless it was completely broken it was not the case. Another thing I thought was a throttle lever not in neutral. Checked it out, not the case either. Then i cleaned the starter wires and connectors, did not change a thing. Tried to shorten the main power and solenoid connectors on the starter, cranked and kept cranking. So the starter was good. Then i started checking all the connections and somehow it worked, also im not really sure which wire connection was bad. Thanks everyone.

 

[dlogvine]

Looks like this turns into an intermittent problem and possible culpritis the circuit breaker panel. It happened today again, tried to start the engine, dead again, also the power goes to the starter. Wiggled the wires around the circuit breakerand it started. Turned of the engine, tried to start it again, same problem. Looks like something is setting it off. Will have to look at the wire connectors or possibly the circuit breaker itself. Any ideas as to how to check it out or what should I test in circuitry? Thx

 

[alldodge]

Wiggled the wires around

Remove the wires, clean and inspect terminals then put back on.

 

[dlogvine]

Will do this, but i am almost sure that it is the circuit breaker. When I managed to restart the engine each time i did push on a circuit breaker and wiggled the button. I should have tried to do just that and see if it resolved the issue, but the other thing hat makes me more certain about the faulty circuit breaker is that later on after the power was restored andi tried to crank he engine, after the initial crank the engine was dying and i had to touch the circuit breaker again to start it.

 

[alldodge]

OK, then make up a short 14 AWG wire jumper with alligator clips. When it wont start, jump across the two points and see if it will go again. The small jumper is used because if the breaker popped from to much current, the wire will get hot quick. Wire may even start to melt if current draw is that bad, but if not it should be fine for a quick test

 

[Bondo]

but i am almost sure that it is the circuit breaker.

Ayuh,.... A simple test light will tell ya whether the breaker is passin' power,..... or not,....

 

[dlogvine]

Ayuh,.... A simple test light will tell ya whether the breaker is passin' power,..... or not,....

Should have thought about this myself, that is what working outdoors when it is above 100F temperature does to my brain