won't even turn over... Volvo Ponta... worked 3 weeks ago

[aggiedave98]

about 3 weeks ago I got out my 2004 Stardeck with the Volvo Penta 5.0 GL-E for the first time this season. It started up just fine. I let it run a while and put it back in the garage.

This morning I got it out and turned the key and nothing. It won't turn over at all. I tried a new battery that I just bought for my trolling motor and still nothing. It should be pretty simple going from the key to the starter I would think. I did see there is a starter relay. What's the easiest way to test the relay? Are these relays really marine or are they a generic car part? Is there a breaker or anything going to the starter?

Any advice on where to go from here?

thanks!

dave

 

[Don S]

Re: won't even turn over... Volvo Ponta... worked 3 weeks ago

DId you check to make sure it was in neutral?

Up in the Adults Only sticky is a How to on checking the starting system, might want to have a look a that, you can also download the wiring diagram for you engine at the link below.

http://www.4shared.com/account/file/55944245/14d260c/7743606_GL-_GS_A_thru_E_wiring_diagrams.html

 

[havasuboatman]

Re: won't even turn over... Volvo Ponta... worked 3 weeks ago

Can you hear the relay click when you turn the key to the start position? Is there power to the helm? Your batteries are on, right? Check the breaker on the engine. Yes, an automotive relay will work. That is the easiest way to see if the relay is bad...replace it with a known good one.

 

[aggiedave98]

Re: won't even turn over... Volvo Ponta... worked 3 weeks ago

Thanks again Don. I will look up there and at the wiring diagram. You have a really good point on neutral... I've never started in drive, but I did prime it and can't say 100% I may not have accidentally primed it in drive... I will check.

Don, with your experience would it be likely that it starts fine in the driveway a few weeks ago and then now the starter would be out?


Yes, I do have power to stuff. And I could hear a click when I moved the switch, but even when I took the relay out, I could hear a click (probably the fuel pump relay...).

DId you check to make sure it was in neutral?

Up in the Adults Only sticky is a How to on checking the starting system, might want to have a look a that, you can also download the wiring diagram for you engine at the link below.

http://www.4shared.com/account/file/55944245/14d260c/7743606_GL-_GS_A_thru_E_wiring_diagrams.html

 

[Don S]

Re: won't even turn over... Volvo Ponta... worked 3 weeks ago

Pull the start relay out and put a jumper across the 2 yellow/red wires and see if it cranks. IF it does, check with a meter across the Red and black terminals on the relay socket and see if you have battery voltage. If you have voltage at the red and black wires, that means you have a good ground and voltage, if it cranks over with the jumper then your problem is the relay.

 

[havasuboatman]

Re: won't even turn over... Volvo Ponta... worked 3 weeks ago

The fuel pump relay wont click when turning the key from run to start. It should cycle the fuel pump when turning the key from off to run. Are you sure you pulled the correct relay?

 

[Don S]

Re: won't even turn over... Volvo Ponta... worked 3 weeks ago

The fuel pump relay wont click when turning the key from run to start. It should cycle the fuel pump when turning the key from off to run. Are you sure you pulled the correct relay?

Not on a carbed engine it won't.

 

[havasuboatman]

Re: won't even turn over... Volvo Ponta... worked 3 weeks ago

Not on a carbed engine it won't.

Hey Don,
Are the condesending remarks really necessary? Aggiedave is the one who suggested his boat has a fuel pump relay. Personally, I've never seen his boat, I therefore have no idea what kind of changes or modifications he may have made. But then, I don't pretend to know everything, either. I'm just offering him some advise based on the information he's supplied, for no other reason than; he asked, and I've been making a living as a Marine Mecanic for nearly 30 years. I still do it, every day.
You are the moderator of this site, I would think you should know better.

 

[Don S]

Re: won't even turn over... Volvo Ponta... worked 3 weeks ago

It was not a condesending remark, it was just a statement of fact. When you turn the key to the run position the electric fuel pump on a marine engine, Volvo, Mercruiser, OMC, or whoever, will not run. Or at least it shouldn't. I would expect any marine tech to know that fact.

 

[havasuboatman]

Re: won't even turn over... Volvo Ponta... worked 3 weeks ago

Are you suggesting I said it that it would run? Scroll up and look. I said that an electric fuel pump will cycle, when the key is turned to on.

 

[Don S]

Re: won't even turn over... Volvo Ponta... worked 3 weeks ago

It should cycle the fuel pump when turning the key from off to run.

I said that an electric fuel pump will cycle, when the key is turned to on.

Yes, I understand what you said. But the pump will not cycle when you turn the key from off to on/run position on a carbed engine, it will on EFI, not on a carbed engine.

 

[aggiedave98]

Re: won't even turn over... Volvo Ponta... worked 3 weeks ago

allright guys... not sure about whether I could hear the fuel pump relay when going from off->on or on->start, but I definitely have a fuel pump relay and could hear a click even when I took the starter relay out.

All of that doesn't matter though because the PROBLEM was that the 12V cable going to the starter wasn't quite tight enough. So even though NOTHING was touched or changed from when it worked 3 weeks ago, it was that cable and I had to tighten it down and everything is good.

Thanks guys.