Advice please

[ClintonW]

Hi All,
Firstly thank you for letting me join this awesome forum!
I have a 3.0 MerCruiser inboard and can’t seem to get the engine to crank after sitting for 4months.
Battery good as have kept it charged, no corrosion on cables to starter solenoid, starter relay clicking when turning the ignition switch.
When turning the ignition switch, there is a fan type of noise coming from the engine but does not crank. See video.
Do you think the starter solenoid could be the issue or something else?
Appreciate the advice

 

[dubs283]

Operator presence switch?

 

[ClintonW]

Operator presence switch?

Thanks for the reply. There is no operator seat presence switch. 2007 Four winns 180 horizon bowrider.

 

[dubs283]

Operator seat presence switch. Not referring to your lawn mower

You own a multimeter?

 

[ClintonW]

Operator seat presence switch. Not referring to your lawn mower

You own a multimeter?

Switch is okay

 

[dubs283]

Cool,

Is the presence of the 12 volt positive okay?

 

[Bt Doctur]

starter solenoid on the starter or the starter slave solenoid?

 

[ClintonW]

Thank you for the suggestions. Seems like a similar issue to this thread on the forum, starter motor sounds like its spinning, but not engaging the flywheel to crank for some reason: https://forums.iboats.com/threads/mercruiser-starter-issue-spins-but-no-crank.545372/
I am taking off the starter motor t have a look

 

[Grub54891]

If the starter is spinning but not engaging, it's probbaly the battery. Even keeping a battery charged won't work if it's no good. Easier to remove battery and have it tested.

 

[alldodge]

I would say either at actuating arm is disconnected, or the starter is loose from the engine block

 

[kenny nunez]

If you find rust on the shaft next to the gear try cleaning it. Sometimes that will cause what you are describing.

 

[ClintonW]

If you find rust on the shaft next to the gear try cleaning it. Sometimes that will cause what you are describing.

Definitely some rust, I will just pick up a new one

 

[QBhoy]

Yup. Definitely your bendix isn’t throwing up. Either solenoid sticking or a compromised and lack of juice to the starter causes this.
Now the starter is off…test it with jumper leads across it on the workbench. If she’s not coming up..take it apart and have a look in there. Likely full of carbon dust and/or corrosion water ingress signs even.

 

[tank1949]

Hi All,
Firstly thank you for letting me join this awesome forum!
I have a 3.0 MerCruiser inboard and can’t seem to get the engine to crank after sitting for 4months.
Battery good as have kept it charged, no corrosion on cables to starter solenoid, starter relay clicking when turning the ignition switch.
When turning the ignition switch, there is a fan type of noise coming from the engine but does not crank. See video.
Do you think the starter solenoid could be the issue or something else?
Appreciate the advice

pull and put starter on a work bench and spin it over via jumper cable. If not, may be a bad starter. Pray that you have not hydro locked motor during offseason and the humming is due to starter Bendix being toast or ring gear toast.

 

[ClintonW]

Changed the whole starter motor/solenoid and all good now. Suspect it was rust or starter solenoid. Thanks all, just in time for Aus summer happy days!