Re: starting electrical issue on 1984 mercruiser 488 , 4 cylinder ?

[budiv]

Re: starting electrical issue on 1984 mercruiser 488 , 4 cylinder ?

What was the final verdict on this problem as I have the same issue. (Same engine and year) My battery also drains overnight even with the battery selector off.

 

[Bondo]

Re: starting electrical issue on 1984 mercruiser 488 , 4 cylinder ?

Re: starting electrical issue on 1984 mercruiser 488 , 4 cylinder ?

Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard,.... Now you have yer Own thread, insteada the Hi-jacked thread this was on,....

Please fill in the blanks, 'n explain, Exactly, Yer problem, 'n what you've done,....


'n,... When you see that Big Red Banner, Don't post in that thread, unless yer the original poster,...

 

[budiv]

Re: starting electrical issue on 1984 mercruiser 488 , 4 cylinder ?

Re: starting electrical issue on 1984 mercruiser 488 , 4 cylinder ?

Thanks for the input!
1984 Mercruiser 488 4 cylinder engine
Serial #6721970
When I turn the key nothing happens--no clicks, clanks or sputters. With the key on it is registering below 12 volts on the panel. This is a brand new marine deep cycle battery.

I will post pictures of the slave solenoid, coil, stater, and ignition switch. After reading the other post and following Don S diagrams I doubled checked the wiring and it looks to be correct.
I used a remoter starter on the slave solenoid and it fired right up. I put the alligator clips on the yellow/red wire marked (S) on the post and the purple/yellow (I) post.

I assume there is something going on from the switch to the slave solenoid but need to know where to look.

Also, after running the boat, the next day I went to test the wires again and the battery is completely dead. I did shut off the battery selector and the alternator is brand new(one wire alternator)
Should the trim work without the key? Can't remember exactly but I think it worked even with the battery selector on off.

Hopefully this is enough information.

First boat and new to this forum any help will be greatly appreciated.

 

[Don S]

Re: starting electrical issue on 1984 mercruiser 488 , 4 cylinder ?

Re: starting electrical issue on 1984 mercruiser 488 , 4 cylinder ?

Try this updated testing method.

View attachment Troubleshooting a mercruiser 470 Starting system rev2.pdf

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: starting electrical issue on 1984 mercruiser 488 , 4 cylinder ?

Re: starting electrical issue on 1984 mercruiser 488 , 4 cylinder ?

what is it in the last pic? you have a solenoid on the starter, a slave solenoid that should be there but what is the other thing?

 

[budiv]

Re: starting electrical issue on 1984 mercruiser 488 , 4 cylinder ?

Re: starting electrical issue on 1984 mercruiser 488 , 4 cylinder ?

Thanks for the troubleshooting guide this is just what I needed. I will be getting to that on Saturday morning.

The last pic is the ignition switch.

 

[stonyloam]

Re: starting electrical issue on 1984 mercruiser 488 , 4 cylinder ?

Re: starting electrical issue on 1984 mercruiser 488 , 4 cylinder ?

That red wire on the coil, do you have a electronic module in the distributor? The trim should work without the key.

 

[budiv]

Re: starting electrical issue on 1984 mercruiser 488 , 4 cylinder ?

Re: starting electrical issue on 1984 mercruiser 488 , 4 cylinder ?

Yes

 

[budiv]

Re: starting electrical issue on 1984 mercruiser 488 , 4 cylinder ?

Re: starting electrical issue on 1984 mercruiser 488 , 4 cylinder ?

Ok I ran the troubleshooting guide and didn't get very far! These are in reference to the guide: the F terminal on the circuit breaker did not light up with test light or J terminal on the slave solenoid. (The E terminal did light up on circuit breaker)

All the connections are good. I assume this wire is bad. The guide doesn't say what to do in this situation. Do you run a new wire and leave the old one there?

 

[dwco5051]

Re: starting electrical issue on 1984 mercruiser 488 , 4 cylinder ?

Re: starting electrical issue on 1984 mercruiser 488 , 4 cylinder ?

Circuit breaker needs reset or is defective. The real question is what killed the battery and is it related to the circuit breaker not having continuity.

 

[budiv]

Re: starting electrical issue on 1984 mercruiser 488 , 4 cylinder ?

Re: starting electrical issue on 1984 mercruiser 488 , 4 cylinder ?

If the wire from the starter to the circuit breaker is lighting up wouldn't that cancel out the circuit breaker being bad?

 

[dwco5051]

Re: starting electrical issue on 1984 mercruiser 488 , 4 cylinder ?

Re: starting electrical issue on 1984 mercruiser 488 , 4 cylinder ?

If the wire from the starter to the circuit breaker is lighting up wouldn't that cancel out the circuit breaker being bad?

If the circuit breaker wasn't open both E and F should light up.

 

[budiv]

Re: starting electrical issue on 1984 mercruiser 488 , 4 cylinder ?

Re: starting electrical issue on 1984 mercruiser 488 , 4 cylinder ?

I will reset the circuit breaker and retest the line. I'll run a test line as well and see that works.
Thanks

 

[budiv]

Re: starting electrical issue on 1984 mercruiser 488 , 4 cylinder ?

Re: starting electrical issue on 1984 mercruiser 488 , 4 cylinder ?

dwco you were correct!! Replaced the circuit breaker and it fired right up. I will check the battery tomorrow to see if I'm still drawing juice.

Thanks again to all that helped out!

 

[dwco5051]

Re: starting electrical issue on 1984 mercruiser 488 , 4 cylinder ?

Re: starting electrical issue on 1984 mercruiser 488 , 4 cylinder ?

Love a story with a happy ending.

As far as a battery drain with the battery turned off one of the first things to check would be your bilge pump. If it has a float switch to control it it should be wired in ahead of the disconnect. The float switch could be stuck in the run position or if you are keeping your boat in the water you may be taking on water in the bilge over time. A closed switch should be easy to detect as you should hear the pump running even with the battery disconnect turned to off. Water leaking into the bilge, or heavy rains could be the problem. I don't know where you are located but here in my area of Pennsylvania we have had heavy storms about every other day. 1 inch in less than an hour today, last week 4" in two hours and just eleven miles away over 8" in the same time period. Even the best covers can not always keep water out of a boat with that kind of a downpour.

 

[budiv]

Re: starting electrical issue on 1984 mercruiser 488 , 4 cylinder ?

Re: starting electrical issue on 1984 mercruiser 488 , 4 cylinder ?

Dwco,
I didn't get the chance to check the battery yet. When I was troubleshooting the wires I did notice the wire to alternator was out of the connector. I did put a new connector on and hope that could have been part of the problem.
I live in NW Pa so I know the rain you speak of this summer. As a matter of fact its down pouring right now!
I go to an archery rendezvous that might be in your neck of the woods. Its at ski Denton and we've been through some serious storms during the weekend there. Beautiful country there and looking forward to this year.