Cobra no power issue

[jkloppe]

A little back story, i have been prepping for the season and hoping to get the boat out soon. I have a 1987 Bayliner Capri with a OMC Cobra 3.0l. Over the winter we had a good day and i was going to take it out but it would not start. I put a different battery in and nothing, banged on the starter (probably not smart) and it cranked over. Got it started but did not take it out. While prepping it today i could not get it to crank. Battery is good and pushing just over 12v. I banged on the starter again and nothing. All it would do when pushing from off to on and to start with the ignition switch i would hear a click and thats it.

after doing that for a little while it stopped clicking and i heard nothing, no power to the panel or anything. I thought it was the ignition switch, i replaced it today and the same thing happened...nothing. I have power coming to the ignition switch but no power moving from there which is what does not make sense to me. I have power from the battery to the starter but no power leaving the starter that i can see. I tested the fuse panel and there is power to the panel and all fuses in the panel are good.

What does not make sense to me is where i am losing power. Since i transfer no voltage from the red wire going to the ignition switch to the purple and yellow im lost there also there is no power leaving the lead from the battery at the starter.

I checked the fuses that i found however, reading the manual i read about a 20 amp fuse that i have not been able to find.

does anyone know where this 20 amp fuse is? or have any idea what is going on?

thank you.

Justin

 

[jbcurt00]

This is the right place to ask about your OMC Cobra.

Other topics deleted as duplicates. Please dont start multiple topics in multiple forums about the same subject. If you start a topic in the wrong forum, PM any Mod and ask them to move it for you.

Thanks

 

[Bondo]

What does not make sense to me is where i am losing power. Since i transfer no voltage from the red wire going to the ignition switch to the purple and yellow im lost there also there is no power leaving the lead from the battery at the starter.

Ayuh,..... Welcome Aboard,..... Have ya checked the red wire on the switch to see if there's power there,..??

If there is, 'n then when ya turn the key, 'n there's no power at the purple or yellow, then the key switch is bad,.....

The cable from the battery to the starter either ain't hooked up to the battery or is broken,......
Are the terminals, 'n cable ends, Shiny metal Clean,..??

Are ya usin' a Test Light,..??

 

[bruceb58]

There is a fuse in the cable that leaves the starter and heads back toward your engine connector.

 

[jkloppe]

Thank you for the responses. I am using a test light. starting with the key switch, I am getting power to the red connection but none to either purple or yellow, I replace the key switch and same thing, power to red but nothing else. I will check the connections today and see if I can find anything out. The terminals on the starter are a little corroded, I will pull it and clean them off and see if that helps. I will also check the cable that leaves the starter for the fuse.

 

[Bondo]

I am using a test light. starting with the key switch, I am getting power to the red connection but none to either purple or yellow, I replace the key switch and same thing, power to red but nothing else.

So yer sayin' that with a new switch, on the back of the switch, there's power on the battery terminal, but none on the ignition terminal with the key "On", 'n none at the start terminal with the key on "Start",..??

If so, obviously, the switch is No good,.....

 

[jkloppe]

ok i found the power problem. There was corrosion on the starter solenoid, cleaned it and power to everything. I have another issue now and i think i know what it is. Once i got it cleaned i tried to start it and the engine was VERY hesitant to turn over. It turned maybe once with a putter and now the stater just clicks. I think the starter is bad. Is there a way to test that while it is in the boat or do i need to pull it to test it.

 

[Bondo]

It turned maybe once with a putter and now the stater just clicks. I think the starter is bad. Is there a way to test that while it is in the boat or do i need to pull it to test it.

Ayuh,.... Usually once in hand, it's obvious it's beat, but Ya, ya gotta pull it,....

Did ya check, 'n clean the Grounds,..?? both ends,..?? the Positive on the battery,..??

Pull a few spark plugs, 'n check for water,..??

 

[jkloppe]

I havent checked for water by pulling the plugs, the oil was just changed last week and was all clean, new oil in and still clean.

I pulled the starter out just a minute ago and tried to bench test it but got nothing from it just some sparks. Its weird to me because i got the starter rebuilt last season. I will take it in tomorrow and get it tested to see if it needs to be rebuilt again.

Any ideas as to why the starter would go bad after one season?

 

[bruceb58]

Did any water get on it at all?

 

[jkloppe]

there is quite a bit of corrosion on it and it looks like it rusted quite a bit as well, i would assume that somehow water got on it. Im not sure how though.

 

[bruceb58]

If you ever forgot to pull your plug and water got up to the starter level, it's toast.

 

[jkloppe]

Ok i finally got the boat running again!!! I ordered a new starter and got it in today, put it on and it started right up and started purring, its running pretty good for a boat old enough to vote. Thank you all for the help and quick responses.

Another issue after i got it running though, the lower unit will not trim up or down. I have been reading about it and i am pretty sure i know what it is. I can hear it clicking at the solenoid. My ground cable at the battery was getting hot when i was starting the engine and i saw a spark from it. I will be replacing the ground tomorrow and hopefully this will get the trim working again.

Do you think im on the right track with this?

Thank you again.

Justin

 

[Bondo]

Do you think im on the right track with this?

Ayuh,.... Ya might try just cleanin' it to shiny metal,.....

Electrically, heat equals resistance equals corrosion,.....

 

[jkloppe]

ok i found the issue, when i put the new starter on i did not hook up the red wire that goes to the solenoid for the trim/tilt. problem solved, boat going in the water this weekend, thank you for all of the help.