Plagued with starting issues
 

I will gladly take any advice you guys are willing to give and try anything to figure out my starting issues. Boat will not start probably 3 out of 4 times when trying. Battery is new. Starter is new OEM Mercruiser. Before replacing the starter and battery it would not hardly ever start. Now I can bump the key a few times pretty quickly and usually it will start maybe third or fourth try.

When it won't start it makes the dreaded rapid tapping noise, sounds like not enough voltage right? I hooked up a jump box to the battery just to be sure, same story, and jump box shows battery at 85% charge anyway. When I replaced the starter I checked all the wire ends, no corrosion or issues that I could see, everything looked fine.

I was going to check the starter relay, but I can't find one anywhere and I'm not sure this setup uses one, where would I look for one if there is one? This is a 5.7 mercruiser carbed setup. This issue is driving me crazy, I want this boat to be reliable so I can take it anywhere and not worry about it starting. It runs perfect after it starts... Somebody point me in the right direction!

Thanks for any help!

Matt

Re: Plagued with starting issues
 

No fun.... did you check the ignition switch? I know several members have replaced theirs over the years.

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Re: Plagued with starting issues
 

I have not. Where is it located and how do I check it?

Re: Plagued with starting issues
 

Sounds like its a bad solenoid. You can replace it your self for less than $50 i had the same issue.

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Re: Plagued with starting issues
 

Are we talking the starter solenoid? Located on the starter? Or separate slave solenoid located somewhere else?

Re: Plagued with starting issues
 

Probably the starter solenoid.


Thanks.

Re: Plagued with starting issues
 

Is it possible to be bad even though it's new? It was just replaced with the starter, they came together as one assembly. Let me know and thanks for the help!

Re: Plagued with starting issues
 

Maby... Heres how to remove it. I did it on mine. Depending on how old your starter is it will be easy to remove if its not very old. Use a t5 t6 or t7 female torque screw. Depending on were your starter is, you may have to remove the starter. They usually come in packs anyway.

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Re: Plagued with starting issues
 

If there is a rapid clicking sound, I doubt the solenoid is the culprit. It sounds like not enough current is getting to the starter. Even though you checked the cable ends, they could still be bad inside, where the copper cable contacts the terminal. The starter solenoid is on top of the starter and is not easily separated. You would need to remove the starter and it would be best to replace them both, but you have already done that. I would just replace both cables.

Re: Plagued with starting issues
 

I would use jumper cables from the battery to the starter to rule out any issue with those cables. Leave everything connected, just add the jumpers.