starter motor sounds bad

[keithlake]

'96 bayliner with 3.0 mercury alpha-one 4 cyl. ran boat all day but noticed starting sounded worse each time. it took longer and sounded more harsh each start until finally it wouldn't. It would make the "rrrr" sound once then nothing, every time which lead me to believe it wasn't the battery. Battery checked fine. Is the starter a good place to start?

 

[Don S]

Re: starter motor sounds bad

Could be the starter, could also be loose, corroded, nasty battery cables. Both Positive, and negative cables.

 

[keithlake]

Re: starter motor sounds bad

Thank you for the input. i will check the cables to be sure. the voltage gage reads 11 - 12 volts. even after putting the battery on the charger. fish-finder, stereo, lights all work. so i assumed the starter would be next in line. would the ignition even turner over if the problem lies in the solenoid? I also always fear the worst and am afraid to think the engine could be locked up for some reason. Do you have to replace the starter and solenoid as a combo, sinced they are connected together? and last question for know, i removed the back canister of the starter. how do you removed the other half (with the three loose gears inside the larger gear?)

 

[waterone1@aol.com]

Re: starter motor sounds bad

Usually the starter is removed as a whole piece, not part by part. The starter should be bolted on to the block by two 9/16 (I think) bolts that run up from the bottom of the starter into the block.

 

[MH9371B]

Re: starter motor sounds bad

thekudude:<br /><br />The starter motor comes off as a complete assembly. There are two bolts at the stern side of the motor that screw in from below. Unhook the negative terminal on your battery, disconnect the wires connected to your starter, remove the two bolts, and the whole motor will come off.<br /><br />I have had your exact problem before. Do as Don says, and clean off all the terminals/connections until they are shiny new. If that doesn't solve the problem, get a new starter. You can get a remanuf. one on ebay fairly cheap. Try this link:<br /><br /> http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...ategory=31284&item=4563569856&sspagename=WDVW <br /><br />I have bought from these people before and they are very good, all their stuff comes w/a 1 year warranty.