New Starter, and other parts, but still won't start!

[djbsgraham]

Sorry that this gets long, on my first post. I am an "A" personality, and give a LOT of details....

I have an older 2001 Calabria Sport Comp VTS with a Mercruiser 350 MAG MPI engine. Several years ago, I had problems with the engine starting, and 2 shops couldn't fix it. I took July 4 holiday weekend, tore my compartments apart, replaced everything from the battery, cables, starter, solenoid, ignition switch, and impeller, and that seemed to fix my issue.

​Within the past 4-6 weeks, I've been having a problem getting the engine to start consistently. When it wouldn't start at the ramp, on July 29th, I replaced the battery, so the battery is new (and should not be my issue, hopefully). Once I got the engine started that day, I had to leave the engine running all day, for fear of it not starting again.

Symptoms: I turn my key, wait for the 2 beeps at my console, then I turn the key to engage the starter, and the starter may or may not engage. In many cases, all I hear is a click. After repairs today (see below), I am just getting a click, and the starter still doesn't engage and turn the engine.

​I took the boat in to my mechanic 3 weeks ago, and they said "We replaced 'a' solenoid, but it seems like your starter needs to be replaced". Since they wanted $230 + labor, I ordered a new starter myself, took my V-drive engine compartments apart, and got the NEW starter installed today. I also replaced the battery cables, because the shop crimped a new end on it, indicating it was not making a good connection.

​After putting everything back together, connecting my water hose, I turned the key, waited for my 2 beeps, and turned the key to engage the starter. The starter turned over briefly, for about a half a second, but not long enough to get the engine to fire and run. Then, nothing. I could turn the key to start, and would just get a 'click-click' as I engaged the starter. Granted, I know one gets bum parts, but I can't believe new cables and a new starter would wipe out the starter after 2 seconds of engaging it.

​Based on a recent search, I'm going to try shorting across the starter solenoid Sunday afternoon, to see if the starter solenoid is the problem. I should be able to pick one up locally, if that is the issue. However, if I still can't get the starter to turn over, what am I missing?

​Thanks for reading this and helping. I'd much rather play boater than boat mechanic, but it seems like my local shop isn't servicing my boat well enough beyond winterizing, and it's frustrating me they can't fix it.

 

[QBhoy]

Hi

Presumably it wouldn't be hydraulic locked with water from perhaps corroded riser/manifolds ?
I'm presuming this because any good mechanic would know to pull the plugs and check for signs of water in there, given the symptoms.
It sure sounds like a possibility, given all of the above.

 

[QBhoy]

I suppose the 350 mpi would have the new type safe risers too ? Could there be water ingress from somewhere else ?

 

[Scott Danforth]

Pull you plugs and try to turn it over with the plugs out. If it spins over then, it will most likely spit water out the plug holes.

If that happens fire your mechanic, pull your manifolds and test them

 

[Bt Doctur]

If the "click" is a soft click check the slave solenoid. If it is a "hard click" check for hydrolock condition

 

[tpenfield]

My first thought was hydrolock . . . having been there done that. As stated . . . when this happens, remove the spark plugs and see what you get in terms of anything in the cylinders and if the engine turns over.

 

[djbsgraham]

Thanks for the suggestions and insight so far!!!

Just now, I jumpered over the starter solenoid, to see if it was the issue. I still get the clicking (which sounds like it is at the starter), but I don't hear the starter engage or attempt to turn the engine in any fashion. Would this hydrolock not even allow the starter to try to turn the engine over? IE. Is the starter just engaging the gear, but not moving the engine at all?

It's just weird that 2 weeks ago, once I got the engine started, it ran all day. When I got back to the dock to trailer, that was the only time I shut the engine off, and turning the key would just give me the clicking sound. Then, after putting in the new starter, for about half a second, the starter at least engaged and cranked the engine, but not long enough to get it to idle. Now all I get is the clicking.

80+ degree weather this week in TN, and I just wanted a few more days on the lake....

 

[Scott Danforth]

Thanks for the suggestions and insight so far!!!

Just now, I jumpered over the starter solenoid, to see if it was the issue. I still get the clicking (which sounds like it is at the starter), but I don't hear the starter engage or attempt to turn the engine in any fashion. Would this hydrolock not even allow the starter to try to turn the engine over? IE. Is the starter just engaging the gear, but not moving the engine at all?

yes. pull the plugs. if you have water in there, you need to get the water out NOW, or save up for a new motor. PERIOD remove the plugs and try to turn it over. if it works, you have a leaking exhaust manifold. if water sat in the motor for two weeks, consider the motor JUNK at this point...... and fire your mechanic

 

[tpenfield]

Take the plugs out . . .

 

[djbsgraham]

Plugs out! They look just like old ones I would have pulled from my car. I don't see any water/condensation on them.

Also speaking with a friend of mine, who is a mechanical engineer, and had his own boat to work on. Wanted to be aware of any dangers while attempting to start the engine with the plugs out. He gave me the go ahead to give it a quick turn, to eliminate possibility of hydrolock (as I shared the information you provided). Still...just getting a 'click' each time I turn the key. Even tapped the side of the 'brand new starter' to see if that would do anything, as I've heard about some starters locking up and a tap might loosen them enough to turn over the engine.

This is being a challenge. It's been since my teen years (80s) since I've had to dig way deep into engines, as I work on computers nowadays. So, I'm tapping some older knowledge, and still hoping to get this resolved.

I appreciate all the input! These forums are great, and I appreciate your patience and suggestions.

 

[djbsgraham]

No Title

After everything I've been through, I may have found the (small, pain in the butt) problem. It appears my "Starter Fuse" is bad. Plus, I think when I put the leads back on the starter, I did it incorrectly. I had my positive cable, plus the leads in the bundle that connects to the starter, connected to this starter fuse, then had the starter fuse connected on the starter. Thus, battery and those other leads were all run through the stater fuse.

I'll have to connect correctly, like shown in this image I found elsewhere here...

We'll see what happens when I replace the starter fuse and put everything back together later this week. I don't like these daylight hours getting dark by 8p each night!