My starter wiring

[mattomrog]

I've seen threads on starter wiring, but haven't quite found the pic I'm looking for. When I boat my boat (95 Sea Ray, Mercruiser 3.0LX) it started and ran great, but when I came back a couple of hours later and shut it down, the batter was too low to crank it back up again. I suspected a bad alternator, but when I went to pull it, the wiring looked funny to me (as a former electrician...:redface

I know the former owner replaced the starter, but it looks like he screwed up the re-connection. Please see the pic below. You can see where I disconnected the black lead from the solenoid to the starter motor. The prior owner had reconnected the alternator output (orange lead) to that same post. Isn't it supposed to be connected to the same post as the battery wires? Wouldn't his set up make the starter motor run all the time? I suspect he knew something was wrong but didn't bring it up, but then again he was not very mechanically inclined.

The starter motor works fine. Not sure if the alternator still does. If I disconnect the orange lead and crank it up and find around 14v on the orange lead, I'm guessing the alternator is OK? Thanks!


Mercruiser Starter by SprintRdr, on Flickr

 

[Bondo]

Re: My starter wiring

Not sure if the alternator still does. If I disconnect the orange lead and crank it up and find around 14v on the orange lead, I'm guessing the alternator is OK?

Ayuh,... Don't do that...

You're Right, the orange wire goes on the same terminal as the Battery wires...

Hook it back up, Properly, then start it,...
The battery, 'n anywhere else in the electrical system should show 13.6 volts or so, if the alternator is Working...
If it Ain't workin', you'll be reading whatever the battery voltage is, all throughout the system...

Btw,... That solenoid is mounted Oddly,...
It seems to be outa phaze, as it's normally the battery lug is at the top, 'n the starter lug is at the bottom...
That puts the exciter lug nearest the motor block, with the accessory lug farthest from the block...

 

[Don S]

Re: My starter wiring

If you fire it up with that orange lead off, you will damage the alternator.

Why is the one wire that goes to the starter motor off the solenoid?

I really don't understand the 2 wires going to the solenoid that are under the main battery cable, why are there no terminals on them. if they are just the bare ends rapped around the terminal, then that is probably your problem.

That terminal should have only 3 wires on it. The main battery cable, the orange wire that goes to the alternator, and the wire going to the circuit breaker. What does the other one go to?

 

[Don S]

Re: My starter wiring

Btw,... That solenoid is mounted Oddly,...
It seems to be outa phaze, as it's normally the battery lug is at the top, 'n the starter lug is at the bottom...

The new starters are like that anymore, have no idea why, but it does make it easier to get to the start terminal when you want to hook a remote starter to it.

How did you get ahead of me on this one, I must be slipping.

 

[Bondo]

Re: My starter wiring

The new starters are like that anymore, have no idea why, but it does make it easier to get to the start terminal when you want to hook a remote starter to it.

How did you get ahead of me on this one, I must be slipping.

Ayuh,... I'm wonderin' the Same thing,..??....

7 Minutes no less,.... 7 Seconds I could understand,...

 

[havasuboatman]

Re: My starter wiring

Betcha' that second red wire goes to his trim pump... If the alternator wire was aytached to the solenoid wire and the boat was run like that, the reason his boat wouldn't start after shutting down wasn't a battery or alternator problem. He just got that starter super hot. I would suggest testing the alternator and battery to verify that, and put a new starter on it. That one, even if it still works, very likely wont work for very long.

That's my opinion. It otta' be yours.

 

[mattomrog]

Re: My starter wiring

Hooked it back up with the orange on the battery post and it worked great. Over 14 v. Not sure why the red leads are unlugged - I need to put lugs on them. Pretty sure one of them goes to the trim motor. Thanks!

 

[Don S]

Re: My starter wiring

Without the terminal ends on those smaller wires, you will not be able to get that nut tight as it will keep squeezing out the stranded wires, and if you can't get it tight, you will have starting problems due to loose connections.

 

[havasuboatman]

Re: My starter wiring

That just boggles the mind. Who ever did that did save about 43 cents though. "A penny pinched is a boat burned"