Having trouble starting engine

[Biggredd]

So I spent the last week and a half getting it ready for the season and did the last of what needed to be done. I was having some trouble getting it started initially and my mechanic buddy helped me get it started. We think it was the main engine circuit breaker but I'm not completely sure. Since then it has fired up on muffs every time. took it out on the water the other day and drove around for a few. Was getting gear ready to wakeboard and tube and the engine refused to start up. you could hear a click but no attempt to want to fire up. I did check battery was ok, had power to rest of boat, engine just wouldn't start. We tried playing with that engine circuit breaker but couldn't figure anything out. Had to get towed back in. Lame start to the season. Its a 1996 Marada 21' open bow with 5.0 Mercruiser V8 I/O. Should I be checking the starter?

 

[kd7isf]

Re: Having trouble starting engine

First place to check is the heavy red battery cable from the battery to the starter.
Next place is the heavy black one from the battery to the engine.

Sounds like one or the other is loose.

Next thing would be having someone listen to the starter.
Does the click come from the starter or the slave solenoid?

Check the battery again as well.
--Just because it measured good right after you took it off the charger does NOT mean it will hold a charge for long....
--Next time you get the engine to start, check the battery voltage to see if the alternator is charging the battery -- if not, the engine electronics will slowly kill the battery.... Not to mention the power used up by the blower (which you are using, right?)

Hope this helps...

 

[Biggredd]

Re: Having trouble starting engine

I have a friend coming over tonight to look into it. I actually took the battery to an auto store to test and they advised good (if that matters) without it being on the charger. Hopefully we can figure it out tonight.

 

[Maclin]

Re: Having trouble starting engine

Since it was running out on the water and then would not turn over it could be hydrolocked, hopefully not. I would want to pull the spark plugs and see if any water comes out.

 

[Biggredd]

Re: Having trouble starting engine

I'll try pulling a plug and see.

Also, I didn't realize til later there was quite a bit of water that came out of my plug when I put the boat back on the trailer. We didn't get in the water and can't imagine any waves put that much into the boat. hope there isn't some other issue I didn't realize. But I'll follow up after I get off work and take another look.

 

[Maclin]

Re: Having trouble starting engine

Remove all the spark plugs to check for hydrolock. If the engine ingested water via internal exhaust manifold leaks or reversion it could be in any of the cylinders.

 

[ktbarrentine]

Re: Having trouble starting engine

Last time I had a situation like that with that amount of unexpected water in the boat (so early into the excursion), I found my exhaust elbows (rubber boots) clamps all had loosened up over the years. Hope your exhaust shutters are working right....

 

[Biggredd]

Re: Having trouble starting engine

I had to get the wife from airport last night so didn't get a chance to work on it but my buddy who had helped me last time told me the main engine circuit breaker had gone off and wouldn't go to a reset position until he had disconnected the power and then it popped out for him to reset it. I wonder if that might be the problem. I have since removed the battery to go get it tested, wonder if the power being disconnected will allow that breaker to reset now. I most certainly will check the cylinders for water, its an easy test even if there isn't water in it.

 

[kd7isf]

Re: Having trouble starting engine

When you tried to restart it, you said that you heard a "click".
--If it hydrolocked, it should have been more of a clunk... (Regardless, its an easy check and worth the few minutes it will take)
--A click is usually either a bad solenoid or a lack of power (bad cables, loose cables, bad circuit breaker, bad battery...)
---If your friend fixed the same symptoms before by resetting the breaker, I'd suspect the breaker needs to be replaced or you have a battery cable rubbing on something metal somewhere..

Hope this helps

 

[Biggredd]

Re: Having trouble starting engine

we almost thought it was hydro locked, we actually found out it was the starter. there was actually water dripping out of it when we got it pulled out. so I'll get that swapped out soon and field test it while staying close to the dock this time. lol. Thanks for all the suggestions.

 

[81 Checkmate]

Re: Having trouble starting engine

Bigredd......Are you saying that the starter was wet when you pulled it.....if so you have a problem.

The bilge area should not be getting wet!

 

[2005bay]

Re: Having trouble starting engine

Sounds like a bad ground or bad starter. Getting the starter wet shouldn't make a difference unless it was completely submerged, and even then it might work. Automotive starters are regularly saturated with water.

 

[81 Checkmate]

Re: Having trouble starting engine

Sure - if a starter gets wet it shouldn't be a problem for it to start......but why is it geting wet is the question?

 

[NHGuy]

Re: Having trouble starting engine

Once you get the starter fixed and it runs, go dunk the boat and watch the bilge. You are getting water in and need to stop it.

 

[Biggredd]

Re: Having trouble starting engine

First thing after the starter I'll check the water issue. One thing I didn't think about it is that its been raining quite a bit here lately and maybe I didn't have my boat level and water collected up front and finally got drained to the back once I started driving it around? also, after I had finished un-winterizing it maybe I didn't put the plugs on firmly? either way its an issue I hope was more user error than something serious. should be getting the starter this week. I realize starters should be able to get wet, was just something we noticed with water dripping out of it when we removed it. not sure why that would be the only issue but it is a 1996, could've just been its time and just happened to have a little water in it.

 

[81 Checkmate]

Re: Having trouble starting engine

Biggred..........When your boat is sitting outside in the weather......jack up the trailer so the boat has its bow higher than the stern. Not level!

Make sure bilge plug is out so water will drain out.

It has rain here so much in the last few weeks...(If i left the bilge plug in my boat)...... it would have filled the bilge with water to the top of the motor.

Also check your drain petcocks on your motor to see if they are tight.

 

[Biggredd]

Re: Having trouble starting engine

normally I do keep the bow up. I had a really bad day last week. I got on the water and the boat broke down and had to get towed in. Then when I got home my jack stand broke of all things. Way to cap off a bad day. I actually have another thread about that. The pin that holds the gear to the handle broke. I ended up getting the two wheel 1500 lb jack stand from harbor freight and I absolutely love it. The thing is solid and now I have the front end jacked up high enough now.

 

[81 Checkmate]

Re: Having trouble starting engine

I feel for ya.........if it aint one thing its another.

Take a deep breath and relax it will come out in the wash!

Good Luck.