2011 Tahoe Q5 not turning over, no gauges either

[tfiedler]

I have a 2011 Q5i with the fuel injected 4.3l Mercruiser engine.

I put my battery back in the boat today and when I went to start it, I get nothing. The blower, horn, and lights all work but the engine won't turn over.

I do not even get anything when I turn the key over. I also noticed that my gauges don't do anything either, the fuel gauge doesn't move off of E, the tach is sitting at 1,000 rpm even though the boat isn't running, and the radio doesn't come on either.

I did verify that the master switch was on and that the throttle was in neutral too. I checked the circuit breaker on the top of the engine and reset it just to be sure, and all of the fuses that I could find in the engine compartment. Tomorrow I plan to walk through the steps I found in this document: http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=167035

I noticed that from the battery there was a red lead coming off of the positive post to a ignition protection thing, a fuse? and then two leads came off of the other terminal. There appeared to be a button on one side of it that I could press but nothing happened when I did.

I am, perhaps prematurely, suspecting the 90 amp fuse others have mentioned. My question, is, can I just jumper from the positive lead connected to the starter to the other side of the solenoid fuse (to test of course) to see see if that is the problem?

Or, am I just missing something really stupid?

 

[qik46]

Re: 2011 Tahoe Q5 not turning over, no gauges either

you probably did what i did and hooked the battery backwards and shorted the fuse link that is bolted onto the starter. its a white looking box that the red battery lead goes to. if you take an 8 gauge wire and jumper from the red battery lead across the other side of that box to where the red and orange wire connect you should get your gauges to work and the starter will also work. its a 28 dollar part

 

[BoatDrinksQ5]

Re: 2011 Tahoe Q5 not turning over, no gauges either

Should be able to test fuse with any volt/multi-meter. If you don't have one you can snag a cheapy at any home improvement store or such. If not familiar with them and checking fuses there are some good tutorials all over the web.

I wouldn't jumper a fuse - they are there to protect things - mechanical and wiring.

You mention master switch and neutral....not sure if you checked the safety switch? I would turn it to OFF and back to ON to verify the contact is truely made.

Also the Mercruiser manual has a pretty good run down on all the fuses in your engine that could be effecting you.

good luck fellow Q5'er!

 

[qik46]

Re: 2011 Tahoe Q5 not turning over, no gauges either

also another way to check the fuse at the starter is to disconnect power from both ends of it. take an ohm meter and set it to where it beeps if there is continuity. when you put your meter leads across each side of that fuse if you get no beep that means its blown. jumpering the wire isnt a good idea unless you really know the system. i took my boat to a family member with 20 yrs 12V exp so thats what he did but he isnt a rookie when it comes to 12 v systems. 88-79023A91 is the part number

 

[tfiedler]

Re: 2011 Tahoe Q5 not turning over, no gauges either

you probably did what i did and hooked the battery backwards and shorted the fuse link that is bolted onto the starter. its a white looking box that the red battery lead goes to. if you take an 8 gauge wire and jumper from the red battery lead across the other side of that box to where the red and orange wire connect you should get your gauges to work and the starter will also work. its a 28 dollar part

I did exactly that. I remember the spark when I connected the positive lead the first time. After going back and looking at it, I had them backwards. Doh! I think the next time I get the urge to go do something, I'm going to stay on the couch.

I sure hope that it is only the fuse!

 

[AgentJ]

Re: 2011 Tahoe Q5 not turning over, no gauges either

Safety lanyard? Ive done that before.

 

[tfiedler]

Re: 2011 Tahoe Q5 not turning over, no gauges either

Okay, I replaced that fuse and now the gauges come on and the starter (or something back in the engine compartment) clicks when I turn the ignition key but it is not actually cranking the engine. I hear some whirring, maybe a fuel pump pressurizing the system, but nothing else.

Suggestions on what to check next?

 

[tfiedler]

Re: 2011 Tahoe Q5 not turning over, no gauges either

Found the culprit. There is a crack in the housing that the 90 amp fuse is attached to, and it causes the top brass contact on the backside of where the large post attaches to the solenoid to not make contact. When it isn't touching, no start. When it is touching, the engine cranks and starts right up.

SO, can I just replace the starter solenoid or do I have to pull the whole starter? AND, if I can just replace the starter solenoid, do I have to pull the starter to do it?

Thanks!

 

[tbrog]

Re: 2011 Tahoe Q5 not turning over, no gauges either

Same problem here this year with our 2007 Tahoe. What did you figure out to fix your boat?

 

[tfiedler]

Re: 2011 Tahoe Q5 not turning over, no gauges either

Same problem here this year with our 2007 Tahoe. What did you figure out to fix your boat?

My problem was user error. First in the comedy of mistakes was that I connected the battery wrong, which blew the solenoid fuse. I went an bought a new one at the local marine shop, paid my $25, took it home and the second item was when I promptly broke the solenoid housing because I used a 1/2" socket to torque it back on. I ended up having to pull the starter and replace the solenoid, for a total of $150 for the part and hour of work. Started just fine after that.

 

[tbrog]

Re: 2011 Tahoe Q5 not turning over, no gauges either

My problem was user error. First in the comedy of mistakes was that I connected the battery wrong, which blew the solenoid fuse. I went an bought a new one at the local marine shop, paid my $25, took it home and the second item was when I promptly broke the solenoid housing because I used a 1/2" socket to torque it back on. I ended up having to pull the starter and replace the solenoid, for a total of $150 for the part and hour of work. Started just fine after that.

We also blew the solenoid fuse due to a similar comedy of mistakes. Thanks for the heads up on the socket. We ordered the part and hopefully will install it before the holiday weekend. Enjoy the summer - happy boating!

 

[tfiedler]

Re: 2011 Tahoe Q5 not turning over, no gauges either

We also blew the solenoid fuse due to a similar comedy of mistakes. Thanks for the heads up on the socket. We ordered the part and hopefully will install it before the holiday weekend. Enjoy the summer - happy boating!

Just to clarify, the 1/2" was referring to my mistake in using a 1/2" drive. Use a 1/4" drive, don't remember the socket size of the top of my head. I don't know what the torque spec is but when I put it back, I just torqued it to a bit past hand tight.