volvo penta AQ 125a does not start

[Xynthas]

I am both new to this forum and to boating in general. I have a 1984 bayliner capri 1950 with volvo penta aq125a engine and 270 outboard.

I have tried everything I could find here on the forums. The engine simply "clicks" when I turn the key to the start position. I have replaced both the ignition switch/key and the starter relay (as the volvo penta has the relay and not the slave solenoid). I have tested the relay plug-in per don s.' instructions on the sticky.

Using a test light with fully charged batteries and gear in neutral.
"A" lights up
"B" lights up when key is turned
"B" terminal on starter solenoid does NOT light up
so by those tests, everything should be working fine.

I have also been able to short the starter solenoid just fine and it turns wonderfully. I just can not get the engine to crank nor figure out how to "jump" the starter relay as I have no slave solenoid to jump and the only way i can see to jump the starter relay is to remove the relay itself and use the plug-in (as in the sticky for troubleshooting engine starter systems)

any suggestions on what to test next or possibly what the problem is.

Many thanks

 

[Xynthas]

Re: volvo penta AQ 125a does not start

as a side note for this. We had the engine tuned and running in tip top shape. we shut the boat down and moved it from 1 backyard to another. that was on oct 1st 2011. when we got back into the boat on nov 22nd to do routine maintenance and check everything out this problem started.

 

[Don S]

Re: volvo penta AQ 125a does not start

The engine simply "clicks" when I turn the key to the start position.

What is clicking? I know it's not the engine since it does turn over, so is it the relay, or the starter solenoid that's clicking?

 

[Xynthas]

Re: volvo penta AQ 125a does not start

I am pretty sure it is the relay that is clicking. I can feel the relay click and can hear it with my ear close to it when the key is turned to start. I replaced the relay not 3 days ago hoping that was the problem but it did not fix the problem.

 

[Maclin]

Re: volvo penta AQ 125a does not start

Is the starting battery (charged) up to the task?

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: volvo penta AQ 125a does not start

Start testing the electrics.The key switch then the neutral safety switch(in the shifter)
then the solenoid.Sounds like the solenoid is not working.
Fill out the profile.You might be close to someone who can help.

 

[Xynthas]

Re: volvo penta AQ 125a does not start

Start testing the electrics.The key switch then the neutral safety switch(in the shifter)
then the solenoid.Sounds like the solenoid is not working.
Fill out the profile.You might be close to someone who can help.

I just replaced the relay and the key switch. Not sure how to test the neutral safety switch other than jiggling the throttle while trying to start the boat. Also not sure how to test the solenoid other than jumping the 2 large posts which I have done and that will turn the solenoid but not crank the engine.

 

[sqbtr]

Re: volvo penta AQ 125a does not start

Test light is your best friend, check for power at term 30 or 87 on your relay.

 

[Don S]

Re: volvo penta AQ 125a does not start

If the relay is click, and it's working, it can only be two things. Either the solenoid on the starter is defective, or the wiring going to it from the relay is bad.

To check to see if the relay is the problem, remove the relay and jump between the 30 and 87 terminals on the socket. The engine should crank. If it does, the relay is bad.

 

[dennis461]

Re: volvo penta AQ 125a does not start

I am both new to this forum and to boating in general. I have a 1984 bayliner capri 1950 with volvo penta aq125a engine and 270 outboard.

I have also been able to short the starter solenoid just fine and it turns wonderfully. I just can not get the engine to crank nor figure out how to "jump" the starter relay as I have no slave solenoid to jump and the only way i can see to jump the starter relay is to remove the relay itself and use the plug-in (as in the sticky for troubleshooting engine starter systems)

Too bad you don't live in NJ, this would be easy to diagnose in person :-(

Now, I've quoted your original post above.
A solenoid does not "turn" as you wrote, however, if you are able to get it to "pull in", which I think you did, you are almost home.
If the solenoid "pulls in" it makes a loud click, not like the quiet relay click.

If the large (thick as your finger) battery cable is securely attached from battery to the solenoid, you may have a dead starter or weak battery.

Do that trick again "..short the starter solenoid just fine and it turns wonderfully..."
and check with test light at A and C on the solenoid/starter.

 

[Mullin]

Re: volvo penta AQ 125a does not start

If the starter motor is fried it could require an excessive amount of amps to operate (more than the battery can provide). If that is the case then the solenoid will just click and the starter will not crank.

Check the starter by jumping it directly from the battery. + post to the S switch on the starter solenoid (has the yellow and red stripe wire) With a charged battery, it should crank.

If it does nothing at all, it my be just a bad solenoid. If the solenoid clicks but it won't turn, the starter motor is bad or the battery has insufficient amps to crank it (try jump starting before swapping parts to be sure).

 

[sqbtr]

Re: volvo penta AQ 125a does not start

I have also been able to short the starter solenoid just fine and it turns wonderfully

It's not the starter

The relay should close the contacts from term 30 to term 87 when the coil terms 85 and 86 are supplied with a ground and power. In this case the positive wire is the trigger, meaning when you turn the key to start and the nutral safety switch is closed either 85 or 86 will become energized, test light will light up if it is clipped to a known good ground.
Check the ground coil circuit by clipping your test light to a known 12v positive source

Terminal 30 is fed from a different higher amperage rated circuit.

A test light will save wasted time throwing parts at it. Find where the circuit is loosing it and correct the problem. Could be as simple as changing a ring terminal.

 

[Mullin]

Re: volvo penta AQ 125a does not start

It's not the starter

Based on "I have also been able to short the starter solenoid just fine and it turns wonderfully. I just can not get the engine to crank" I'm not certain. Does that mean he jumped it off of the motor? If it was on the motor then why didn't it crank? Not enough info to rule out the starter.

Jumping the starter as I suggested using a nice fat wire or cable (10g min) should start the motor and completely bypass the ignition switch, N switch, and relay. I think this guy needs help isolating the problem. There are not many components in a starter system, this should be pretty easy.

 

[Xynthas]

Re: volvo penta AQ 125a does not start

I did another round of tests using my test light again and using the how to written by don s. in the sticky. everything checked out except for term b on the solenoid itself. with the key in the "on" position the test light did NOT light up. However, when the key is turned to "start" the light comes on. Does this mean the solenoid/starter is bad and needs to be fixed/replaced?

 

[Xynthas]

Re: volvo penta AQ 125a does not start

Based on "I have also been able to short the starter solenoid just fine and it turns wonderfully. I just can not get the engine to crank" I'm not certain. Does that mean he jumped it off of the motor? If it was on the motor then why didn't it crank? Not enough info to rule out the starter.

Jumping the starter as I suggested using a nice fat wire or cable (10g min) should start the motor and completely bypass the ignition switch, N switch, and relay. I think this guy needs help isolating the problem. There are not many components in a starter system, this should be pretty easy.

I used a screwdriver and jumped from terminal A to terminal C on the solenoid as seen in the how to from the sticky. if that helps you understand what I did

 

[Xynthas]

Re: volvo penta AQ 125a does not start

Thanks for all of the help everyone. My neighbor arrived home from an extended vacation and he is a mechanic (car not marine but is familiar with engines from the '80s) He took a look at the engine and says that the solenoid plunger is not working properly to send the Bendix (sp?) key forward so that the starter (he says starter is just fine) engages the flywheel. Now I am not sure what all of that means but I am sure that you guys will. Needless to say he told me to take the boat to a marine mechanic and have them either fix (if possible) or replace the solenoid.

 

[Mullin]

Re: volvo penta AQ 125a does not start

I used a screwdriver and jumped from terminal A to terminal C on the solenoid as seen in the how to from the sticky. if that helps you understand what I did

That's the wrong way. You need to jump the C terminal (+ input from battery) to the S terminal with the red and yellow wire (D in the sticky). Jumping from A to C and the starter will spin but not engage.

If you think it is the solenoid there is no need to take the whole boat in. Take off the starter and either take it to a rebuilder or buy a replacement, although I'd test it first. If it is spinning and you have not jumped it correctly yet, it may be just fine. If you have it off and in hand most big auto parts places will bench test it for free.

I did another round of tests using my test light again and using the how to written by don s. in the sticky. everything checked out except for term b on the solenoid itself. with the key in the "on" position the test light did NOT light up. However, when the key is turned to "start" the light comes on. Does this mean the solenoid/starter is bad and needs to be fixed/replaced?

I just saw this part. So jump to C and the starter spins, jump to S (D) and nothing = bad solenoid.

You can get a solenoid separately from the starter, but from what I saw it's only a couple of bucks more for the whole motor/solenoid assembly.

 

[Xynthas]

Re: volvo penta AQ 125a does not start

Mullin, I am pretty sure it is the solenoid. I have not removed it yet and I am confused by what you are saying. I do not have a slave solenoid. I have a volvo and thus it uses a relay so I can't jump the solenoid as you are suggesting otherwise I would probably have had this solved alot sooner lol. Anywho, You say the terminal with the yel/red wire, I can see that wire where it attaches to the relay but it ends there. for some reason they changed the wire colors from the relay to the solenoid but I am fairly sure it is wired correctly as the boat did start and run in the recent past for us. also you keep saying the "s" terminal or "d" terminal from the sticky... in the sticky the D terminal is the ground terminal. do I jump from the + term on the battery to the ground in the relay? or do I go from the battery to the "c" terminal which is switch on when the key is turned to start? I tried following the sticky on jumping to bypass and all that but as I have a relay and not a slave solenoid (again yay for volvo and their "creativity" heh) I can not just take wires off and put them together or jump them.

If someone could please give me a step by step on how to try and jump with a relay and not a slave solenoid, I would be much appreciative, I haven't taken the boat in just yet so a few more tests won't hurt.

Thanks

 

[Mullin]

Re: volvo penta AQ 125a does not start

If you are getting power when the key is turned and nothing is happening then it should be the solenoid.

I have a volvo and thus it uses a relay so I can't jump the solenoid as you are suggesting

I have a volvo AQ125A as well (pics of boat in my sig). In fact I have it parked in the shop right next door and took a few photos for you.

To completely bypass the ignition switch, N safety switch and relay and jump it at the solenoid:
Locate the terminal connected directly to the battery power and jump it to the terminal that is fed from the relay. In this photo the constant battery power is the terminal on the right with the rusty nut and the switch terminal has a red wire connected to it.:

Another view clearly showing the wire from the relay to the solenoid:

If you bridge those two connections the starter should crank the motor. If it doesn't then it is either a battery, solenoid, or starter motor problem.
If you bridge the two main posts the starter motor will just spin and not engage the ring gear. (Look at the 2nd pic you can see the arc marks where I double checked this for myself) But at least you know the battery is charged and the starter spins.

If you CAN jump the motor like this then the problem is either the relay, N safety switch, or Ignition switch, or a broken wire somewhere.

 

[Xynthas]

Re: volvo penta AQ 125a does not start

thank you so much for the photos mullin. I found the terminals you were talking about. my solenoid is slightly different than yours. it has the 2 large terminals 1 on top and 1 on bottom with the s terminal (neatly labeled start 50) on the right and another terminal on theleft (not being used? or rather nothing is plugged to it) I jumped from the + terminal from battery and the terminal labeled start 50 and just get sparks, nothing happens, no spinning of the starter and no crank of the engine. so it sounds like it is definately the solenoid yes? (I just took the batteries off the charger so they are fully charged and the starter spins when i jump the 2 large terminals)

also i noticed that you have a purple wire attached to the solenoid. what is that for? I do not have one attached as your's does