- Pull off your upper engine case, unclasping the cowl snaps by hand. …
- Place the positive lead from a voltmeter to the positive side of the main battery. …
- Check your cabin fuse box. …
- Look for the starter solenoid next to the starter on the engine block.
How do I know if my boat solenoid is bad?
The Symptoms of a bad boat starter are either boat won't start (starts after turning the key multiple times), gives
grinding noise
, or buzzing noise like an alarm clock while starting the boat motor. However, some other elements also pose similar signs, but the starter could likely be the culprit.
How do you test a starter solenoid on a Mercury outboard?
- Set the voltmeter to 20 volts. …
- Ground the black lead on the voltmeter to the block and touch the terminal end of the large red wire at the solenoid with the voltmeter's red lead. …
- Check the small wire on the solenoid by removing it with a small wrench.
How do you start a boat with a bad solenoid?
All boats with electric start engines have a starter solenoid through which the electricity flows from the battery to the starter motor.
If you turn the ignition key to the start position and nothing happens
, you may be having a solenoid problem.
When I turn the key on my boat nothing happens?
If you turn the key and nothing happens and all else checks out then possibly
a bad switch or cut
, broken, or corroded wire on the neutral safety switch on the trans. You could try moving the throttle at the helm forward and back and see if it cranks.
How do you test a solenoid?
- Engine Doesn't Crank or Start. …
- No Clicking Noise When Trying to Start the Engine. …
- Starter Spins Without Fully Engaging the Flywheel (Rare) …
- Engine Cranks Slowly (Rare) …
- Test the battery. …
- Check That Power is Getting to the Starter Solenoid.
How do you test a solenoid on a boat?
Place the
voltmeter
positive lead to the smaller wire terminal on the solenoid (usually purple or yellow), and the voltmeter negative lead to a ground source. Have your assistant turn the key to start the engine. The voltmeter should read 12.6 volts or more. Listen for the solenoid to click and the starter to spin.
What would cause a boat not to start?
Dirty or damaged spark plugs make it difficult for your engine to crank. Inspect your spark plugs and replace any spark plugs that are broken or dirty. If the spark plugs in your marine engine are improperly gapped, this can also prevent your boat from starting by delaying engine combustion.
How do you test a marine solenoid?
Place the voltmeter positive lead to the smaller wire terminal on the solenoid (usually purple or yellow), and the voltmeter negative lead to a ground source. Have your assistant turn the key to start the engine. The voltmeter should read 12.6 volts or more. Listen for the solenoid to click and the starter to spin.
Why is my outboard turning over but not starting?
If the engine cranks slowly or doesn't crank at all,
it's possible your battery may be dead or low
. Use a voltmeter to check the condition of your battery. If the voltmeter reads below 12 volts, your battery most likely is the problem and may need to be jumped or replaced.
How do I know if my ignition switch is bad on my boat?
Turn your ignition switch to “Start” and read the voltage
. If the reading is more significant than 9.5 volts, try to start the engine. If this test fails, then your boat starter requires replacement or rebuilding. If the reading is less than 9.5 volts, you have a voltage loss between the battery and starter.
How do you bypass a starter solenoid?
- Engine Doesn't Crank or Start. …
- No Clicking Noise When Trying to Start the Engine. …
- Starter Spins Without Fully Engaging the Flywheel (Rare) …
- Engine Cranks Slowly (Rare) …
- Test the battery. …
- Check That Power is Getting to the Starter Solenoid.
Will a bad solenoid click?
Our Expert Agrees: If your starter solenoid is bad,
you may hear a clicking sound when you turn the key
, or your vehicle may not have any power at all. Check the battery. If your starter is failing to engage, it may be because the battery does not have sufficient energy to power it.
What causes a solenoid to go bad?
Solenoid coil failure can be caused by a number of factors.
Applying an incorrect voltage to the coil will cause
it to fail and may cause the coil to burn out. Electrical surges or spikes may also damage the coil. Burnt out coils cannot be repaired and will need to be replaced.
How do you jumpstart a boat?
- Connect Both The Battery Terminals Properly. Connect the negative (black) jumper wire to the dead battery's negative terminal and the good battery's negative terminal. …
- Start The Boat. If the spare battery is in good condition, it will immediately start the battery.
