Starting Problem

[Hammondaj1]

I have a 1996 boston whaler rage 15 with an OMC 115hp motor in it. Recently I have been having electrical issues that have been preventing me from being able to start it. I had it out once this year and it ran great but then I let it sit for a week and a little bit of water was in the bildge. When I went to go out on it after letting it sit for a week, when I turned the key to start it all I got was a click from the solenoid and the starter motor, which is brand new, didn't even move. I thought it was a bad solenoid so I went and bought a new one but I am still just getting a click and no movement from the starter. I cleaned all the contact points that are on the motor because there is only a few which is very simple, but the motor still won't spin. I pulled the brand new motor off and did a bench test with it and it worked. I also tested for voltage at the starter motor when I turn the key and got a reading of 13 volts which confuses me a lot. I also thought that I had the solenoid wired backwards but I looked at wiring diagrams for the boat and everything is right. I also replaced the battery last fall before winterizing it so its relatively new.

 

[alldodge]

when I turn the key and got a reading of 13 volts which confuses me a lot

Check your ground cable, both ends. There should be a voltage drop when the starter is energized. Its a bad connection somewhere

 

[mike_i]

When you said "I turn the key and got a reading of 13 volts" is that voltage reading while the key is in the start position (second position) and not just the first click "on" position?

 

[Hammondaj1]

When you said "I turn the key and got a reading of 13 volts" is that voltage reading while the key is in the start position (second position) and not just the first click "on" position?

Yes it is being held on in the start position

 

[mike_i]

If you have a jumper cable connect one end to the pos of the battery then touch the other end to the starter and see what happens.

 

[Hammondaj1]

Hi Thank you all with the help. I did the jumper cable thing and my starter motor didn't budge so I went out and bought the OME starter motor and it worked great.

 

[The Begginer]

If you have a jumper cable connect one end to the pos of the battery then touch the other end to the starter and see what happens.

Wich stud?? Tgere are 3 rught but wich speccificlly thanks fyi im not the maker of this thread

 

[ParrFour]

Which stud?? Tgere are 3 right but which specifically thanks fyi im not the maker of this thread

Specifically I would send it to the starter signal input (S wire/pin/post, the smaller wire). This will signal the solenoid to toggle and also the starter to spin (both are activated)

In general testing you can apply 12v at these places to test also.
1. Starter relay signal input terminal (the small one with the yellow/red wire)
This will signal the relay to close and allow the 12v to move from the larger input terminal to the output terminal (and then on to the starter)
2. Starter relay output terminal (the larger one that runs to the starter to signal it to turn on)
3. The starter signal input terminal (the small one)
This will signal the solenoid and starter to engage, basically the same as 2 as this is the other end

The way 12v is applied can vary and often people just jump it over from the starter relay input (the large one, red) or the starter B wire/pin/post. I prefer using a jumper cable to the battery or another source in case you have 12v issues at those inputs and posts.

 

[Hammondaj1]

Thank you for all the help. after trying everything I thought there was only one thing that wasnt OEM involving it starting which was the new starter motor that i put on. I went out and bought a OEM starter motor which was very pricey and it worked.