Starter getting stuck engaged out of ideas "replace solenoids 3 times"

[Messina305]

I have a 1990 vip 2.3 omc cobra I/O. I have brought my boat to the marina 2 times for this problem with no luck getting it fixed. I will start the boat and the starter gets stuck engaged, turn the key off and its still cranking. I have to run to disconect the battery. I touch the battery cable back and it starts cranking. I have replaced the solenoid 3 times. And connected the wires correctly each time even confermed it with the marina just to make sure i wasnt and idiot lol. Each time i replaced it it would fix the problem but then happens again. They fixed one short in my throtel body the first time and said it was fixed. The second time i brought it to them they said they went up and down the boat and could not find a short. Also one time when i was cruseing along out of no where it started cranking again any ideas. Also when i disconnect they yellow and red wire of the small terminal it is till cranking even with they key in to off position and i already replace the key switch. Who knows mabey its just bad luck with solenoids i know alot come from china so what is the best one to buy?

Is this possible i just read that sometimes water gets in the starter rusting the gears preventing it from disengageing. Do you think if water did get in there it could create a short possibly explaing why i am blowing through solenoids like crazy?

 

[Haffiman]

Re: Starter getting stuck engaged out of ideas "replace solenoids 3 times"

I see two possible sources that may create such a scenario.
1. A defective ign key switch.
2. The multi contacts on engine harness/instrument harness.
The only way the starter may engage the way you describe is for the solenoid to be activated by the yellow/red wire.
A 'leak' between the pins in the multicontacts is nothing new and that even goes for the ignition switch.
However if this happens when engine is running, I would start my search at the multi contacts. If a leak in ignition switch, the circuit should be broken by the switch in the remote control. If it only happens with engine in neutral I would just replace the ign switch.
You may 'test it as follows:
Make a test light and hook onto the yellow/red and ground on the wire coming from ignition switch. Whenever you start the engine, the light should go on and stay on as long as you are cranking. If you turn the key from start to run and light is still on, it means you still have current in the circuit.

 

[occarvers]

Re: Starter getting stuck engaged out of ideas "replace solenoids 3 times"

I had the same problem with my 2.3 Volvo Penta. Turned out to be the starter relay. $17.00 at Autozone.

 

[Haffiman]

Re: Starter getting stuck engaged out of ideas "replace solenoids 3 times"

I had the same problem with my 2.3 Volvo Penta. Turned out to be the starter relay. $17.00 at Autozone.

Probably not the starter relay but the starter ASSIST relay?

 

[occarvers]

Re: Starter getting stuck engaged out of ideas "replace solenoids 3 times"

Not sure of the proper name but mine was mounted to the intake just above the starter. At first I thought the starter or solenoid went bad, replaced the starter still ran on. It did not function properly until the relay was replaced. As far as the rust comment, my starter was corroded pretty bad, three out of four brushes were stuck. May want to check your drive bellows to see if it is ruptured. A ruptured drive bellows will allow water into the flywheel area and into the starter. Mine was due to condensation in the bilge.

 

[Don S]

Re: Starter getting stuck engaged out of ideas "replace solenoids 3 times"

The Volvo 2.3 and the OMC 2.3 are two completely different engines, the OMC is Ford, and the Volvo is a Volvo OHC engine.
OMC also doesn't use relays, but they do have a slave solenoid.

 

[Messina305]

Re: Starter getting stuck engaged out of ideas "replace solenoids 3 times"

My manual recomends a 12v 320 CCA battery with a 115 reserve. My battery is maxx-29 675 CCA and 875 MCA could that be burning out my solenoid?

 

[Haffiman]

Re: Starter getting stuck engaged out of ideas "replace solenoids 3 times"

You may put as much battery capacity as you like without burning anything!
(Provided you stay with 12 Volts)
That your alternator may burn due to overload is a different thing.
It will not go any more amps through the solenoid than what the starter may use.
If your starter shorts out a different story.