Starter wont crank in cold weather

[CedarRiverTrapper]

I have a 1989 40hp on my duck boat and for the last two mornings its been about 37-40 degrees when I've tried to start it. When I turn the key the motor just clicks and doesnt even try to turn over so I checked all the battery and starter connections and they all seemed to be tight. When I tried to pull start it and it started right up. When I leave my blind later in the morning its around 45-50 degrees and it cranks over just fine with the key. Is it possible that its too cold out in the morning for my starter to turn my motor over?

 

[dwco5051]

Re: Starter wont crank in cold weather

1. Brushes about gone in the starter motor.

2. Corroded contacts in the solenoid.

3. Battery was low when you rope started it and charged back up from running.

Next time it does that jump the across two large terminals on the starter and see if it is the starter or solenoid.

 

[F_R]

Re: Starter wont crank in cold weather

They tell me that batteries get weak with extremely cold weather, but anything above freezing shouldn't hurt it. Maybe it is just ready for a new one??? Whatever, normal troubleshooting methods apply.

"Tight" connections by themselves don't get it. They have to be CLEAN and tight. By clean, I mean take them apart and clean them up shiny bright with some sandpaper or something. Then reinstall and tighten.

 

[CedarRiverTrapper]

Re: Starter wont crank in cold weather

What do you mean by jump across the two large terminals on the battery? Do you mean take them off the starter and touch them together to see if they spark?

 

[dwco5051]

Re: Starter wont crank in cold weather

The solenoid contacts connect the battery to the starter when closed. The starter should run when the solenoid is bypassed. This can be done by either disconnecting the wires and touching them together or using a jumper cable and clipping on one terminal and touching the other end to the other side of the solenoid.

This will only isolate the problem when it isn't starting my the key.

When you heard the click it meant the solenoid was pulling in but the starter wasn't running. Now you have to make sure voltage is going to the starter. If jumping the solenoid doesn't cause the starter to turn you have you have now isolated the problem to the starter.

As was stated my someone before be certain all the connections are cleaned up and then tightened first.

I would venture a guess that on a twenty some year old motor that your starter brushes are worn to the point that they are reason for the intermittent starting problem. However guesses are never a good substitute for logical and thourgh trouble shooting procedures.

 

[Haffiman]

Re: Starter wont crank in cold weather

Take the battery to a shop and do a load test on it.
If the shop has a fridge, even better.
Keep it in the fridge over night before testing!!!
I used to do it the other way around when temp dropped below 30C up in my cabin during new-year.
Took it out of the car, put it in the kitchen oven for some time, back in the car.
Never got stuck!!
Wife not happy, mother not happy, but car very happy!!!