Opinions on Solenoid?

[rlabair]

Ran the boat for 1 1/2 hours other day. Turned off motor at gas dock. Motor would not start back up. Turned key, and engine made one click and nothing else. I thought battery died on me.
Hooked at multimeter to battery and it was registering 13 volts. Good there.
I kept turning key and kept hearing just that one click. About the 12th time, the motor started.
I turned motor off again and repeated process. After about 3 turns of key to single clicks again, the motor started.
When the key is turned, the starter isn't being turned.
I'm thinking that the solenoid is probably bad.
Any opinions?

 

[Don S]

Re: Opinions on Solenoid?

Doesn't mean a thing about what we THINK it is, could be a number of things. Short of replacing everything or guessing what it might be, why not follow this troublshooting thread to find out exactly what the problem is.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=167035

 

[zbnutcase]

Re: Opinions on Solenoid?

Something as simple as a loose battery cable can cause that!

 

[SledHed89]

Re: Opinions on Solenoid?

use a screwdriver to jump from the s terminal (smaller stud) to the positive terminal (big stud) on the solenoid if it cranks over you have a bad solenoid. generally a bad connection or low battery will produce a series of quick clicks, and a bad solenoid will give you just one.

 

[rlabair]

Re: Opinions on Solenoid?

I'm going to start out by buying one of those testing lights. I'm starting to get an idea of where to start at least. I'm no the most mechanically inclined person. But, I do my best.