2004 Mercury 60/40 Jet Starting Problems

[JBsteelie]

I have a 60/40 jet that sometimes won't start. When it doesn't start, I turn the key over I can hear short buzzing noise coming from the starter. I've replaced the Solenoid and thought it fixed the problem until it did the same thing again recently. When it won't start, I'll trailer the boat home from the river and start it in the driveway and it usually turns over, so the viberations from the road knock something back into place to where it should be. I'm getting 12.75volts to the Solenoid and my battery is only 6months old so it isn't a dead/weak battery. I'm thinking it's the starter but want to hear others opinions before I fork over ~$200 for a new starter. Has anyone else had this issue and how'd you fix it.

Thanks in Advance,
Jake B.

 

[Don S]

Re: 2004 Mercury 60/40 Jet Starting Problems

Start with checking the connections on the battery. They need to be clean and tight. Nut just thumb tight with a wing nut, but tight with a wrench and regular nut.
If the connections are all ok (Positive and Negative) and it is the starter, take it to your local starter/alternator repair shop. It could be a simple fix. It could also be a faulty start solenoid.

 

[JBsteelie]

Re: 2004 Mercury 60/40 Jet Starting Problems

Well after trying to start it again in the driveway, all I got was clicking from the motor. So I went ahead and took the battery out and disconnected it. (PITA by the way where it's located). The Pos. terminal had a some corrosion on it and cleaned both terminals and wires connecting to with battery terminal cleaner and wirebrushing until it was silver on all connections, reconnected wires, turned the key over and it started! So I think it's fixed. Thanks again Don, sometimes it's the simple things I overlook. If the battery wasn't such a pain to remove and access I probably would have seen the corrosion and figured it out. I hope this solves the problem, if not I'll come back here for more help.

Thanks again,
Jake