won't start

[d_miner]

Hello all,

I have a 1996 Mariah with a 5.7 liter mercruiser inboard. I have just replaced a hydraulic lifter myself on the engine and after me replacing it I have having a starting problem.
My motor has always started after 2 or 3 turns, even after sitting in the winter months (always been lucky)

Now after changing the lifter and I turn the key over I get a quick clicking sound from the motor compartment and then I lose all power to the boat for a few minutes then I get power back into my boat.

After trying that over and over again I do get lucky a couple times and the boat starts. I know the batteries are good and have a full charge because when the motor does get the juice to the starter it turns over right away.

I'm thinking it has something to do with the starter or coil....... is there a circuit breaker with an automatic reset somewhere in the starting system?

For example; When I go to start my boat I will have the blower going and it has plenty of power and I turn the boat over to start it I get that quick clicking sound form the motor compartment and then lose all power (blower turns off) and wait aprox. 5 minutes and the blower turns back on.

Is there a grounding issue? The starter has some corrosion on the outside but the terminals look clean. I would hate to buy a new starter to find out it wasn?t the issue.

Any help or ideas would be great.

 

[flargin]

Re: won't start

For example; When I go to start my boat I will have the blower going and it has plenty of power and I turn the boat over to start it I get that quick clicking sound form the motor compartment and then lose all power (blower turns off) and wait aprox. 5 minutes and the blower turns back on.

Is there a grounding issue? The starter has some corrosion on the outside but the terminals look clean. I would hate to buy a new starter to find out it wasn?t the issue.

Any help or ideas would be great.

I would say you have some loose connection, Since you did not pull apart the motor base, where the ground and starter is, I would start with a bit of sandpaper on the terminals (both) and clean them up, and re-connect them tightly. if that does not work, try the other ends, if there is corrosion, you might just want to do it, it will give you problems at the worst time...

otherwise, you may want to look at the key switch, a common place for this type of problem.

 

[d_miner]

Re: won't start

Thank you I'll give anything a try but dirty terminals wouldn't explain why it shorts out and then resets it self.

Mechanical I can understand but that darn electrical issues always troubles me

 

[cr2k]

Re: won't start

Exactly. It is more of a short or overload. Always make sure your engine battery cables are the first ones to go on the battery terminals i.e. bottom of the stack. No to mention clean. check starter connections and if starter is loose (bad ground).

Have you checked your battery with a load tester?

It may have good surface voltage (blower running, etc.) but no depth for a start.

 

[dubs283]

Re: won't start

ALL electrical connections clean and tight.

check out the troubleshooting engine starting system in the adults only sticky, great info there