Mercruiser 4.3L Just clicks once when trying to start! Help!!

[Adarduk]

Working on a 2000 Bayliner Capri that I bought from an auction. This is my first time trying to start it. When I try to start all I get is one click thats coming from the slave solenoid on top of the engine and nothing else.

Here is what I've tried so far:

Jumping the 2 bolts on the slave solenoid does nothing but give off a few sparks.

I've tried scrubbing the battery connections to no avail. I replaced the positive terminal on the starter along with the 90amp fuse because they were corroded. (I wasn't able to reach the negative terminal on the engine tho). But that didn't change anything.

Then I went in with the multimeter. 12.7v at the battery. I checked the power in (Red/Purple) from the battery at the slave solenoid it showed 11.8v. The yellow red for the solenoid showed nothing by itself but I had someone turn the key and at the click it showed 11.8 aswell. I tested the same wire at the starter and it was getting 11.8v aswell. I assume this means the slave solenoid is working fine because its doing it job, which is sending power to the starter.

From this testing I've concluded I either need a new starter or a new starter solenoid (the big one on the starter).

I don't know what else to try before I take out the starter, which will be a nightmare given the limited space around the engine. Any thoughts suggestions would be appreciated?

 

[dlogvine]

Working on a 2000 Bayliner Capri that I bought from an auction. This is my first time trying to start it. When I try to start all I get is one click thats coming from the slave solenoid on top of the engine and nothing else.

Here is what I've tried so far:

Jumping the 2 bolts on the slave solenoid does nothing but give off a few sparks.

I've tried scrubbing the battery connections to no avail. I replaced the positive terminal on the starter along with the 90amp fuse because they were corroded. (I wasn't able to reach the negative terminal on the engine tho). But that didn't change anything.

Then I went in with the multimeter. 12.7v at the battery. I checked the power in (Red/Purple) from the battery at the slave solenoid it showed 11.8v. The yellow red for the solenoid showed nothing by itself but I had someone turn the key and at the click it showed 11.8 aswell. I tested the same wire at the starter and it was getting 11.8v aswell. I assume this means the slave solenoid is working fine because its doing it job, which is sending power to the starter.

From this testing I've concluded I either need a new starter or a new starter solenoid (the big one on the starter).

I don't know what else to try before I take out the starter, which will be a nightmare given the limited space around the engine. Any thoughts suggestions would be appreciated?

The battery is a little low, try to fully charge it before starting again. And if you shortcurcuit the poles of the starter solenoid, it should at least crank a little, clicking means your solenoid might be bad. But it is easy repair and pretty cheap one. Much cheaper than replacing the whole starter.

 

[nola mike]

The battery is a little low, try to fully charge it before starting again. And if you shortcurcuit the poles of the starter solenoid, it should at least crank a little, clicking means your solenoid might be bad. But it is easy repair and pretty cheap one. Much cheaper than replacing the whole starter.

Battery isn't low (12.7v). You're getting a bit of a drop when cranking, but 11.8 should be enough to get it to turn over. Have you made sure that the engine turns over by hand? Have you tried jumping the terminals at the starter? There's a good troubleshooting section in the stickies...

 

[alldodge]

Is this a new to you boat?
Do you know what it was doing before this issue?

 

[Bondo]

(I wasn't able to reach the negative terminal on the engine tho). But that didn't change anything.

Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard,...... If the ground is as corroded as the positive, that could explain the voltage drop,......

Either dig deeper, 'n clean it, or jumper it to by-pass it for testin',.....

 

[Adarduk]

This is my first boat, but I have experience in automotive so it's not too hard to figure out. I have no idea the last time this thing ran or what's wrong with it, auctions can be hit or miss.

I did some more testing, I unplugged everything and just put a jumper cable to the starter with the ground on the starter body and the positive on the post. I then tried to jump the Yellow/Red wire which I believe should activate the starter........and Nothing! To me, it looks like a dead starter or at the very least the solenoid on it.

Is there any way I can test the starter itself and bypass the solenoid on it? I'm definitely not looking forward to removing the starter but I think I have to.

 

[Bondo]

This is my first boat, but I have experience in automotive so it's not too hard to figure out. I have no idea the last time this thing ran or what's wrong with it, auctions can be hit or miss.

I did some more testing, I unplugged everything and just put a jumper cable to the starter with the ground on the starter body and the positive on the post. I then tried to jump the Yellow/Red wire which I believe should activate the starter........and Nothing! To me, it looks like a dead starter or at the very least the solenoid on it.

Is there any way I can test the starter itself and bypass the solenoid on it? I'm definitely not looking forward to removing the starter but I think I have to.

Ayuh,..... If you jumper to the bottom stud on the starter's solenoid, the starter should spin, but the bendix will Not engage the motor,.....

 

[Adarduk]

Ayuh,..... If you jumper to the bottom stud on the starter's solenoid, the starter should spin, but the bendix will Not engage the motor,.....

Yup that's what I tried. No luck. I also tried jumping the other terminal on the starter solenoid and that did nothing either. I have a feeling that the starter was submerged or heavily drenched in water at some point in time. All the bolts are corroded and like I said the 90amp fuse on it was literally falling apart. Luckily starter for this engine is around $70,

You know BOAT stands for Bring Out Another Thousand, so not much else I can do.

Thank you guys for the help and for the fast replies. I will not hesitate to ask future questions because this definitely won't be the last issue. I hope it is, but I'm realistic. :/

 

[Bondo]

Yup that's what I tried. No luck. I also tried jumping the other terminal on the starter solenoid and that did nothing either. I have a feeling that the starter was submerged or heavily drenched in water at some point in time. All the bolts are corroded and like I said the 90amp fuse on it was literally falling apart. Luckily starter for this engine is around $70,

You know BOAT stands for Bring Out Another Thousand, so not much else I can do.

Thank you guys for the help and for the fast replies. I will not hesitate to ask future questions because this definitely won't be the last issue. I hope it is, but I'm realistic. :/

Ayuh,.... Starters don't like to go swimmin', 'n fail shortly after they do,.....

For the replacement, go with a permanent magnet starter,....
1/2 the weight, 'n twice the power,....

 

[rickyg.]

Did that fix the boat??.