5.7 no start, I seriously can't win

[jasoutside]

You guys were helping me with my 4.3, well that engine is gone and I've spent the last two days installing my new (old donor) 5.7. Everything is aligned, plumed, rigged, ready to roll. So last night I make my way to the big moment, turn the key....

Turn, turn, turn, fire.

Turn, turn, turn, turn, turn, turn, fire.

Then, nothing. At all. No turn, no click, nothing.

Then I go to bypass and attempt to run it like a ground start, just like I did the other day....

Click.

Click.

Advance the motor manually, turn, turn, turn, fire.

Click.

Click.

Click.

Turn, turn, turn, turn, fire.

Click.

This morning I tried again to bypass the wiring harness.....

Click.

Turn, turn, turn, turn (I didn't let it fire, it was way too early in the morning)




I've attached a video if it helps explain.

So as I see it I believe I may have two different problems here, both electrical (related maybe, but probably unrelated, not sure):

1. Something happened to my key switch, I get nothing from that now. I am guessing that I must have blown a fuse somewhere, or the key switch went bad, or something in the wires somewhere.

2. Bypassing the key and harness entirely, I'll get a click. Then, at random times I can get it to turn. This seems to be the bigger issue to me. Why the heck would it only give me a click sometimes and then randomly turn over other times? I think I need to figure out this first then go to the key and wiring harness.

What in the word is going on here?

Should I take up bowling or golf or something? Cuz I suck a building boats!

 

[achris]

Sounds like a bad ground. Recheck your negative leads from battery to engine block.

 

[tpenfield]

What Chris said . . . I would also go through the high amperage side of things, both on the ground and + voltage side. Check the main circuit breaker and the starter connections. I assume that the 'click' you are now hearing is the solenoid. . . maybe check the other side of the solenoid with an ohm meter to see if you are getting a connection there. It could be that the solenoid decided to crap out.

 

[jasoutside]

Yah, I double checked my bat + and - connections and it seems that they are all good and solid. Unless i am missing something in there.

I dunno is this is meaningful or meaningless, these two bolts...

Should there be something connected to these. It looks like there may have been at some point. Both the screws are partially backed out as if something was connected to them at some point. Maybe it's nothing and the engine started and ran fine before and I haven't changed anything.

All right, solenoid, I'll look at that too.

 

[tpenfield]

Also, think about the things on the engine that may have come loose or gotten jarred during the installation. Ignition wires, coil wiring, etc.

 

[jasoutside]

AOK, I did try to jump the posts on the solenoid, nothing.

 

[tpenfield]

If you have a multimeter, you can check for voltage at various places. Also, in the picture you posted, isn't there a circuit breaker reset button below where your little finger is pointing?

 

[achris]

I would also be doing 'voltage drop' checks. It's another troubleshooing technique good for finding where the current path stops. It effectively uses the multimeter (as a high impedance device) to 'complete' the circuit, thus telling you where the loss is.

Chris.....

 

[jasoutside]

If you have a multimeter, you can check for voltage at various places. Also, in the picture you posted, isn't there a circuit breaker reset button below where your little finger is pointing?

Yup, breaker there. I tried a reset and it seemed as though is wasn't tripped.

I would also be doing 'voltage drop' checks. It's another troubleshooing technique good for finding where the current path stops. It effectively uses the multimeter (as a high impedance device) to 'complete' the circuit, thus telling you where the loss is.

Chris.....

I've not worked with a multimeter before so another steep learning curve coming my way I suppose. I don't even know where to begin with that.

 

[achris]

I'll do a document explaining how to do it and how to interpret the results in the next day or 2.

 

[jasoutside]

I'll do a document explaining how to do it and how to interpret the results in the next day or 2.

Man, that would be awesome. I've watch your videos many times, super helpful. I'm sure your orange jumpsuit makes some people nervous, not me.

 

[Rick Stephens]

Yah, I double checked my bat + and - connections and it seems that they are all good and solid. Unless i am missing something in there.

I dunno is this is meaningful or meaningless, these two bolts...

Should there be something connected to these. It looks like there may have been at some point. Both the screws are partially backed out as if something was connected to them at some point. Maybe it's nothing and the engine started and ran fine before and I haven't changed anything.
.

Those two bolts normally mount the plastic shield cover.

 

[jasoutside]

Those two bolts normally mount the plastic shield cover.

Ah, yah, that was broken and fell off, that makes sense now. Thanks!

 

[enginesilo]

No Title


Did you jump the solenoid on the right mounts? I'm guessing you did but figured I'd post a picture to show the 2 that you need to jump. Note that a clicking solenoid doesn't mean its actually good, it will still click when bad. However if you jump the solenoid it will attempt to start no matter what. If you already tried to jump these posts and you still got nothing, the solenoid is probably not the problem.

Also, this is probably worth scanning, especially the diagrams:
http://forums.iboats.com/forum/engin...tarting-system

 

[jasoutside]

Did you jump the solenoid on the right mounts? I'm guessing you did but figured I'd post a picture to show the 2 that you need to jump. Note that a clicking solenoid doesn't mean its actually good, it will still click when bad. However if you jump the solenoid it will attempt to start no matter what. If you already tried to jump these posts and you still got nothing, the solenoid is probably not the problem.

Also, this is probably worth scanning, especially the diagrams:
http://forums.iboats.com/forum/engin...tarting-system

Yup, those were the two I attempted to jump. Nothing. Thanks a bunch for checking though!

Man, a loose neg cable or a bad solenoid, either one of those would have been welcome solutions. Not for me though, it seems everything has to be ultra complex or impossible to figure out!

Ugh...

Thanks a bunch for the link, I'll try and work through that this afternoon.

 

[enginesilo]

Yup, those were the two I attempted to jump. Nothing. Thanks a bunch for checking though!

Man, a loose neg cable or a bad solenoid, either one of those would have been welcome solutions. Not for me though, it seems everything has to be ultra complex or impossible to figure out!

Ugh...

Was worth a try, agreed it would have been the easier fix if it were only a solenoid. I went all season with a bad solenoid that only worked when it wanted to, so I kept a screwdriver on the boat and would jump start the posts regularly. Definitely study those wiring diagrams to see if there are any possibly wrong wirings. Also I'd suggest removing each wire and cleaning with a bit of sandpaper and then put back one by one. You never know if its just a corroded connection somewhere not making good contact.

All these other guys have way more experience than I do and I can't thank them enough, you are in good company to get help that's for sure.

 

[notlef]

It could be your start crapped out on you. I have twin 5.7's in my pursuit. When the port starter went bad it did the very same thing . I'd hit the kit nothing, no click from the solenoid, nothing . Whacked the starter a couple of times with a hammer got a click, hit the key again motor turned over and started. Killed the motor and tried to re-start and no joy.
Don't know why I killed the motor after I got it started as I was 10 miles from home. It was a long slow, wet ride back to my slip on one motor and a thunderstorm.
Get a voltmeter and start going thru your wiring. Just take you time. It's not as bad as it seems. My bet is it will end up being a simple fix.
Whenever I have an electrical problem, I pick one end to start from and work my way back. Also I keep a notepad and pencil, as I step thru I write all my findings down.

 

[jasoutside]

No golfing for me!!!

So I stopped by the auto parts store and grabbed a test light. I started working through the procedure outlined by ol Don up there. I checked the starboard side small terminal, good. Then the center bow side terminal, no good. Sure enough, I think Chris had it from square one. I do believe I had a bad ground somewhere in the mix. I pulled off my grounds, cleaned em off a bit and re bolted em up. FIRE! Then I hooked up the main harness again, tried the key, FIRE!

EXCELLENT!

Thanks guys, next round is on me:becky::thumb:

 

[jasoutside]

Well, that's not the right video, here we go...

 

[dozerII]

Right on Jason, now for a great splash:thumb:and really there are a lot worse places to drift to than Kanuckland:bounce: