89' 3.0 mercruiser - no power to the starter

[travatlanta]

I have a 1989 raven 190br with a 3.0 mercruiser

I have been working on it all week and when I began the engine would turn over just fine. About 5 minutes after the last time I turned it over the starter would no longer respond to the key turning. the only way I am able to turn the engine over now is to jump the starter from the cylinoid.
does this mean I need a new cylinoid?

the other problem is that even before the starter issue the spark plugs have not been sparking..
I've replaced all the plugs wires and rebuilt the inside of the cap as well as replacing the cap. I have also installed a new battery.
does this mean I need a new ignition coil?
or with both issues, does this mean I possibly need a whole new ignition?

all the other accessories on the boat, bilge pump, fans, gages, lights and trim all work no problem

any help is appreciated

 

[Don S]

Re: 89' 3.0 mercruiser - no power to the starter

Try this.

View attachment Troubleshooting a mercruiser Starting system rev2.pdf

 

[travatlanta]

Re: 89' 3.0 mercruiser - no power to the starter

Try this.

View attachment 195282

thank you, I will try this first thing in the morning when I go out there

 

[travatlanta]

Re: 89' 3.0 mercruiser - no power to the starter

any ideas about why there is no spark to the plugs? or could the two issues be related?

 

[dubs283]

Re: 89' 3.0 mercruiser - no power to the starter

any ideas about why there is no spark to the plugs?

depends on what type of ignition system you have points, electronic??

post a serial number and others here can direct you to some troubleshooting

 

[travatlanta]

Re: 89' 3.0 mercruiser - no power to the starter

depends on what type of ignition system you have points, electronic??

post a serial number and others here can direct you to some troubleshooting

thank you for the fast response,
i'm not sure about the ignition system but If I had to guess I would say points. how do you tell the difference/


i'll see if I can get some serial numbers tomorrow as well. thanks again

 

[dubs283]

Re: 89' 3.0 mercruiser - no power to the starter

pull the cap, if there is a points set and a resistor you have a conventional ignition, if just a rotor and a round pole pickup you have electronic

if you can post a pic, we can id it for ya, serial numbers will help too

 

[bonzoscott]

Re: 89' 3.0 mercruiser - no power to the starter

Based on your description, likely battery cables need cleaned on both ends (just as Don's file stated, rest in meaningless). After cranking for a while, the resistance at the dirty connections got worse. After cleaning with sand paper - wire brush, you may likely have fire too. Being an '89 boat, probably points. Change 'em.

 

[travatlanta]

Re: 89' 3.0 mercruiser - no power to the starter

yea I checked and it is points, I replaced everything.
battery cables where rusty but I had already cleaned them well with a wire brush but no change.

I was thinking tho, if the boat was in gear would that prevent me from starting the engine? I pull throttle out and then push forward to pump fuel into the carb, is it possible that it went into drive and that's causing the issue? and could that explain the why i'm not getting spark to the plugs?