99 7.4 Mercruiser Starting Issue's
 

Hello everybody. So after being stranded I replaced my starter and replaced connectors to the starter and still didn't start .....tried turning the key a bunch. I then replaced the ignition switch turned the key and.... Nothing. But after 2 more turns of the key she fired up. After warming up it , she started first try like 5 times.....1 week passed I take the boat out turned it on and off 10 times w/ no problem.. Yesterday...take her out she fires up good ....turned on and off a few times. Then at home flushing the motor she won't turn on until the 3rd or 4th turn of the key...... When I turn the key I hear a light click in the motor but starter doesn't fire..... I'm guessing it's a bad connection somewhere but with new starter and connectors and a new ignition switch is there something I'm missing to clean or replace on the ignition system..... Any help is appreciated... Thanks

Re: 99 7.4 Mercruiser Starting Issue's
 

Did you check/replace the starter slave solenoid?

Re: 99 7.4 Mercruiser Starting Issue's
 

No....... Is it not the one that's attached to the top of the starter or is it a seperate solenoid like on old Fords...Where would it be located. Thanks for your help again Steve... This is driving me crazy not knowing if she'll start or not.... Not worried if I'm with my buddy's and we get stuck but I put a hold on taking my kids out until I get this resolved.

Re: 99 7.4 Mercruiser Starting Issue's
 

It's like the old Fords. I believe the slave solenoid on your motor is located on the back of the engine, near the 50A circuit breaker. I believe you have to remove the starboard, plastic engine cover to get to it. The slave solenoids have a tendancy to go bad and when they do you will hear a click but the starter will not turn. They are pretty inexpensive...worth a shot.

Re: 99 7.4 Mercruiser Starting Issue's
 

Thanks for your help.......again..
That is definitely going to be the problem. Going to pick one up at west marine now... Thanks again

Re: 99 7.4 Mercruiser Starting Issue's
 

Let us know how it turns out for you.

Re: 99 7.4 Mercruiser Starting Issue's
 

Still on my mission.. I bought a solenoid online and received a cheap Chinese solenoid. She was still starting with a couple turns of the key so I went fishing. Brought the solenoid with just in case. She turned on perfect a few times and then at the end of the day... She quit completely. Wouldn't hear a click or even the 3 beeps when you first turn the key.. So I throw in the new solenoid and ..... Nothing... I jump the solenoid and get her started and get to the dock..... Now she won't turn on at all without jumping it. I'm planning on buying a quicksilver solenoid now but I'm guessing it's a wiring issue so when I get the new solenoid I'm going to check the wires with a test light.....

Re: 99 7.4 Mercruiser Starting Issue's
 

Always good to use a test light or better yet a voltmeter to help diagnose rather than throwing parts at it. You should reference all your readings with either the test light or the voltmeter to the negative terminal of the battery (B-).
You need to follow the signal from the ignition switch. Ensure that you have 12V @ the "B" terminal of the switch at all times. If you are missing 12V at the B terminal then you need to check the 20A fuse in line with the Red/Purp wire. The red/purp wire shoudl be hot all the time. Turn the switch one click to ignition and ensure you have 12V @ the "I" terminal. Then turn the switch to start and ensure you are seeing 12V @ the "S" terminal. If you are getting all of these votlages then your switch is good...which it should be since it is new.
If all is OK under the dash, go back to your starter slave solenoid and monitor the Yellow/Red wire, this is connected to the "S" terminal on your ignition switch. You should see 12V at this terminal each time the switch is turned to start. If this 12V signal is missing you either have a bad neutral saftey switch in your shifter or a wiring issue between the ignition switch and the shifter or the shifter to the slave solenoid. If all is OK with this signal then turn your attention to the black or yellow/black wire on the slave solenoid. This wire goes back to the engine ground and eventually to the B- terminal of the battery. If this ground is intermittant your slave solenoid will not operate correctly.
Let us know how it turns out.
Steve

Re: 99 7.4 Mercruiser Starting Issue's
 

Thank you so much Steve .... Definitely should have diagnosed before replacing parts.... Learning things the hard way with my first boat....Anyhow I appreciate all your help with all my problems.

Re: 99 7.4 Mercruiser Starting Issue's
 

Hello Everybody ...... Happy Thanksgiving

Finally bought a good test light and checked everything according to my manual provided by Hudson River Steve (thank you so much ) and first problem I came across was the new ignition switch has power where it should up until the cranking position and won't energize the yellow/red wire that goes to the slave solenoid. So I figure it's just the new west marine ignition switch is garbage ..... But then I try to jump the slave solenoid with a screwdriver just to run the boat on the hose and she won't crank at all. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh:mad::confused:

I put my battery charger on but it showed battery's at full charge...long story short..I clean all battery terminals .. I get main power at the starter and I get power at the starter solenoid when I jump the slave solenoid ... So that means the starter is bad also??????? I'm planning on taking it off Saturday and getting it tested and getting a new ignition switch under warranty..... The starter may be bad because it was a cheapo ebay starter and I'm going to a local place to buy a actual marine quality starter if it's bad.

Re: 99 7.4 Mercruiser Starting Issue's
 

Electrical issues are always fun....especially intermittent ones. Years ago, I saw this issue in a car I owned. It turned out to be a bad wire going to the starter. I cleaned the connections, replaced the solenoid, replaced the ignition switch, checked the battery and finally looked at the wires. What was happening was a wire was partially broken/corroded near the connector, when I went to start it would sometimes work and sometimes fail...I finally found it by taking a VOM meter and checked to see where I had voltage and where it stopped. I had to do this when the car would not start. I found the wire ( I believe it was 6 ga). that went from the battery to the starter had corroded internally. Replaced the wire and problem solved.

Hope this helps..... I used a long wire with alligator clamps to connect to one end and my meter on the other.

Re: 99 7.4 Mercruiser Starting Issue's
 

I gave up already... I bought a new quicksilver (mercruiser) starter new slave solenoid and cleaned the battery terminals and now the boat is worst than ever . After changing everything I turn the key and hear no warning beeps and the fuel pump didn't even click on which has never happened...I switch the battery selector to 2 batt instead of All and I hear the fuel pump ...won't start with the key so I jump the solenoid....I run her for 10 mins and the boat just turns off abruptly.....which it has never turned off on me before....at this point I give up and throw in the towel. Definitely a wiring problem somewhere.Now I'm trying to find a good boat mechanic in Miami. Icing on the cake is the new puppy I gave my daughter 3 months ago decides to eat all the decorative icicles on my Christmas tree and and a iPhone gel cell phone case and I had to pay $1000+ in vet bills. So the boats on hold for a few weeks.....Sucks:confused::mad:

Re: 99 7.4 Mercruiser Starting Issue's
 

She's worst than a woman.... Left out that I just pampered her with all new trailer rims,tires,lugs and hub covers and all new trailer lights and she does this to me......Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh .....Still love her

Re: 99 7.4 Mercruiser Starting Issue's
 

Wow, you are having a run of bad luck. Your electrical issue is sounding like you have a intermittant ground issue between the block and the B- terminal of the battery. That would explain why it abruptly shut off and why it won't start sometimes. Did you ever check the connection of the large diameter black wire that is usually attached to a stud on the rear of the engine? If you have corrosion/rust on this connection or if the crimp betwen the wire and the lug is flakey....you would be experiencing what you have been. It is tough to see this connection since it is all the way at the rear of the motor where the bell housing it bolted to the block.

Re: 99 7.4 Mercruiser Starting Issue's
 

I think it will definitely be a grounding issue but I'm going to let the mechanic handle it. I'm done with trying to play boat mechanic. My buddy from a local marina knows a mechanic that supposed to be the best with cheap prices but we'll see how that goes... I think I'm going to have him change all the battery connections and check all the connections that I made. I just want her to turn on when I turn the key.... The fishing in Miami is amazing now and I'm watching from the sidelines. Thanks again to steve and other for the advice.

Re: 99 7.4 Mercruiser Starting Issue's
 

Took her to the mechanic and it was running 5 hrs later.... He said there was a short in a main power supply ( whatever that is ) and the ground was bad which prob. means that it was only a ground issue. I really don't care ....... He also replaced the ignition switch again..He charged me $300 bucks which I found fair. I guess.....I'm just happy I have my boat running again. I just bought the complete bellow & gimbal kit and I'm going to have him service my Outdrive & Change the gimbal bearing. Still want to thank everybody that helped me out......
Also.... My pos puppy ended up costing $1200 bucks to cut him open and clean him up but he's all better now.....