Alternator overcharging? Also Start solenoid? New to boats and I need guidance.

[simcole]

Hello,

This is my 2nd question ever on my new (used) boat. It's a 1996 Godfrey Hurricane Sundeck 24" with a 5.7L Volvo Penta dual prop out drive. I SWEAR I saw that it was a SX-C but isn't that a single prop unit?

Anyway to my alternator problem. I was out the other day on a fairly new battery and everything has been fine. I usually show a charge of 14 amps but I didn't put a lot of stock in the validity of the gauge because I have some wiring problems to sort out still. I saw my volt gauge show almost a 16 amp charge yesterday. I just happened to have my volt meter on board and I opened the hatch and tested the alternator right off the leads. I DID in fact have 16 volts coming off the alterantor. I assume I'll cook off the battery soon if I don't get the alternator's voltage regulator fixed. Is that built into the alternator itself? Here is a picture of it:
http://colemanworld.net/sa/alternator_thumb.jpg

2nd question: I'm having a start problem. It's not the wiring in this case, it's the plunger and contacts on the starter. I have a local place that I can get new contacts from if/when I pull the starter out. It's on the back left of the engine and IMPOSSIBLE to get to. I mean I can probably get to it if I take the engine hatch off, and use a mirror to blindly find the bolts that hold it in, but I assume it's going to be a 4 hour job instead of a 30 minute one. Does anyone have any tricks to getting a starter off an engine like I described above?

Also how do I find my EXACT engine model? There is NO sticker on it anywhere except a little thing that says displacement 5.7 liter.

 

[Don S]

Re: Alternator overcharging? Also Start solenoid? New to boats and I need guidance.

Your alternator problem could be a defective regulator in the alternator, poor connections, or even a bad battery, new or not. Get the battery load tested to make sure it's ok, not just a voltage check.

2nd question: I'm having a start problem. It's not the wiring in this case, . I have a local place that I can get new contacts from if/when I pull the starter out. It's on the back left of the engine and IMPOSSIBLE to get to. I mean I can probably get to it if I take the engine hatch off, and use a mirror to blindly find the bolts that hold it in, but I assume it's going to be a 4 hour job instead of a 30 minute one. Does anyone have any tricks to getting a starter off an engine like I described above?

Welcome to the wonderful world of marine mechanics. Most of the work is done by feel, not by sight. Boat design engineers could care less if something needs fixed, just make it look good. I have had to pull the engines out of boats to change not only starters, but raw water pump impellers, fuel pumps, even tuneups. So a starter being tough to get to is no biggy. Sounds normal.

Just curious, since you don't know what a solenoid is called (it's the plunger and contacts on the starter) how do you know it's not the starter slave relay?

View attachment Troubleshooting a Volvo Starting system.pdf

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Alternator overcharging? Also Start solenoid? New to boats and I need guidance.

Your gauge on your dash indicates volts...not amps. Yes, it is putting out too high of a voltage.

As far as getting the starter out, sometimes its easier if you can disassemble sections of the boat seating to get at it better. Some boats are just designed poorly to work on and there are rare ones that need the engine to com out to replace the starter. Post a picture of what you are dealing with. Maybe someone can give you some advice. make sure you post a picture of the whole interior rear of your boat.

Your drive can easily be an SX-C and have a duoprop. The duoprop is just the lower unit and could have been added on.

 

[simcole]

Re: Alternator overcharging? Also Start solenoid? New to boats and I need guidance.

Your alternator problem could be a defective regulator in the alternator, poor connections, or even a bad battery, new or not. Get the battery load tested to make sure it's ok, not just a voltage check.

Just curious, since you don't know what a solenoid is called (it's the plunger and contacts on the starter) how do you know it's not the starter slave relay?

View attachment 189469

1)Battery was load tested at 2 places. Battery is in perfect condition. It's the alternator or more specifically the voltage regulator that's the problem. Is that an all in 1 unit? Is it contained within the alternator? I know it's not on my motorcycle for example.

2)I have a 3 year old talking to me and I blanked on calling it a solenoid. I've replaced them in the past. I do NOT know that it's not the relay, but it's my guess. Sometimes the boat starts right away, sometimes it clicks (just once) and sounds like the plunger didn't go out (based on previous experience).

3) Any ideas on finding exact engine model? These are chevy motors right?

 

[Don S]

Re: Alternator overcharging? Also Start solenoid? New to boats and I need guidance.

Yes, the regulator is built into the alternator as I mentioned before. Have your local starter/alternator shop check it out and repair it. It will cost a lot less than a quality replacement and cheaper than a lot of the aftermarket cheap offshore junk being sold.

Did you read the troubleshooting file for the starting system.

Here is how to ID the engine.
This, How to identify your engine or drive

And this

View attachment Volvo Engine ID.pdf

 

[simcole]

Re: Alternator overcharging? Also Start solenoid? New to boats and I need guidance.

Hey. Thanks for the good info so far. I found the engine model today:
Volvo Penta 5.7 GI PNCACE which I guess means Power Steering, NC = 1996, A=model code, CE=Emissions junk that the ECU controls. My engine is fuel injected, so that makes it 280HP or 300HP?

I did some of the testing today on the starter, following the PDF you attached Don. I haven't finished it yet, but it looks like the starter solenoid is the problem still.

The alternator worked fine today with no problems, so that's kind of weird. I may hold off on that repair till it duplicates again.

If I can avoid the rain I plan on taking the starter off tomorrow with a mirror and flash light. I'm betting it's at minimum a 2 hour job to get it off the first time lol.