Starter Problem
#1
1980 Mercruiser 260 starter proplem
I am having a problem with my starter on my mercruiser 260 with GM motor (350). The problem seems to be at or near the slave solenoid. The solenoid clicks but the starter does not engage. I can hot wire the starter and it turns fine. (new starter) The manual said to run a wire from the s terminal on the slave solenoid to the positive side of battery and disconnect the wire on that terminal. I get nothing. with or without the wire on the terminal. If I jump the two large wires on the solenoid the starter engages. But when I turn the key switch all it does is click the solenoid. I have cleaned all the wires and terminals and I can not find any wires that appear to be bad in any way. I was thinking that possibly the ignition switch was bad but why would it make the solenoid click? The battery is fully charged, and I tryed jumping with an additional battery, with the same results. Any ideas? Jim
PS I purchased another solenoid and hooked that up with the same result.
PS I purchased another solenoid and hooked that up with the same result.
#2
Ok you have done all the necessary troubleshooting.
The slave solenoid is bad replace it, dont bypass it.
Try not to make any spraks while you are down there, always
disconnect the battery first when working on the engine.
You can bench test the slave sol too when you do get it out.
The slave solenoid is bad replace it, dont bypass it.
Try not to make any spraks while you are down there, always
disconnect the battery first when working on the engine.
You can bench test the slave sol too when you do get it out.
#4
by applying power to one of the small posts and grounding the other small one you will "engage the solenoid".
You can then test for continuity with an ohmmeter
across the large posts. If you have a curcuit, its good.
You will have infinite resistance, and that is bad.
good job.
You can then test for continuity with an ohmmeter
across the large posts. If you have a curcuit, its good.
You will have infinite resistance, and that is bad.
good job.
#5
Ok, solenoid is fixed, but now I have a problem with the starter. When I try to start motor with key the starter engages and then disengages after only turning the motor maybe a quarter of a turn. If I jump the wires at the starter it will engage and turn the motor over fine. I have tryed shimming the starter a number of different ways, but that does not help at all. The starter is new and it is the right one for the motor. Any ideas? Jim
Now I have replaced the ignition switch, and still the same. Can not understand why starter will not stay engaged with key. It is as though the bendix does not fully engage the flywheel then slips out and trys to reengage but will not. Sounds awful when it does that.
Now I have replaced the ignition switch, and still the same. Can not understand why starter will not stay engaged with key. It is as though the bendix does not fully engage the flywheel then slips out and trys to reengage but will not. Sounds awful when it does that.
Last edited by JAllen72; 09-25-02 at 05:23 PM.
#6
You have again all the proper diagnosis, and the answer is
that starter solenoid has failed.
We fixed the relay problem last time.
Now the starter mounted solenoid is bad. When you bypass it
it turns the motor fine, so ignore any mechanical failure, ie
shimming etc.
The bendix is being pushed out and then the contact is broken. Take it back to where you bought it and ask
if they could replace the solenoid.
that starter solenoid has failed.
We fixed the relay problem last time.
Now the starter mounted solenoid is bad. When you bypass it
it turns the motor fine, so ignore any mechanical failure, ie
shimming etc.
The bendix is being pushed out and then the contact is broken. Take it back to where you bought it and ask
if they could replace the solenoid.
#8
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mercruiser 4.3 starter/ starting problems
I'm not sure what your starter is /is not doing for you to want to test it. Start by seeing my posting about my starter hot start condition.
Now, if you want to just test the starter and bypass the electrical system on the boat, it's easy.
Take a known good battery. Run an auto jumper cable from the big (+) terminal on the starter to the battery + plus. Connect the other wire to the battery - neg terminal. Touching the remaining end to any non painted part of the motor (- ground) should turn the starter.
The starter motor has a gear in the nose that should jump forward to engage the flywheel. If the starter turns, but doesn't engage, it's starter gear rebuild time. Of course, if the starter doesn't turn and test connections are good, it's also starter rebuild time.
See my hot start problem posting before getting the starter rebuilt (or buying a rebuilt).
Now, if you want to just test the starter and bypass the electrical system on the boat, it's easy.
Take a known good battery. Run an auto jumper cable from the big (+) terminal on the starter to the battery + plus. Connect the other wire to the battery - neg terminal. Touching the remaining end to any non painted part of the motor (- ground) should turn the starter.
The starter motor has a gear in the nose that should jump forward to engage the flywheel. If the starter turns, but doesn't engage, it's starter gear rebuild time. Of course, if the starter doesn't turn and test connections are good, it's also starter rebuild time.
See my hot start problem posting before getting the starter rebuilt (or buying a rebuilt).
#9
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Just dropped a rebuilt 4.3 in and am having problems getting the starter to turn the flywheel.
If I jump directly to the start with auto jumper cables the, I can get it to click (as if the battery was low charge)...but then if I repeatitively tap the battery with the cable wire on the positive terminal, it clicks and then sometimes seems to kick in. When it seems to kick in I hold it there and the starter sounds like it's spinning, but not hitting the flywheel. I even pulled the starter off and ran it with just the battery which made the starter appear to work just fine. I tried shimming th starter, but again, it didn't help.
It seems like the starter isn't meshing up with the flywheel or it doesn't have enough juice to turn the flywheel over.
Ideas?
If I jump directly to the start with auto jumper cables the, I can get it to click (as if the battery was low charge)...but then if I repeatitively tap the battery with the cable wire on the positive terminal, it clicks and then sometimes seems to kick in. When it seems to kick in I hold it there and the starter sounds like it's spinning, but not hitting the flywheel. I even pulled the starter off and ran it with just the battery which made the starter appear to work just fine. I tried shimming th starter, but again, it didn't help.
It seems like the starter isn't meshing up with the flywheel or it doesn't have enough juice to turn the flywheel over.
Ideas?
#10
the starter bendix is bad. engages but wont crank the engine.
the starter gear is spinning on the shaft. it happens when the
starter is engaged but the engine is locked up from water
intrusion, why did you have to rebuild yours, hmmm
yup see it a lot, just have it rebuilt, sound like it needs a
solenoid anyway.
the starter gear is spinning on the shaft. it happens when the
starter is engaged but the engine is locked up from water
intrusion, why did you have to rebuild yours, hmmm
yup see it a lot, just have it rebuilt, sound like it needs a
solenoid anyway.
#11
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I am having a problem with my starter on my mercruiser 260 with GM motor (350). The problem seems to be at or near the slave solenoid. The solenoid clicks but the starter does not engage. I can hot wire the starter and it turns fine. (new starter) The manual said to run a wire from the s terminal on the slave solenoid to the positive side of battery and disconnect the wire on that terminal. I get nothing. with or without the wire on the terminal. If I jump the two large wires on the solenoid the starter engages. But when I turn the key switch all it does is click the solenoid. I have cleaned all the wires and terminals and I can not find any wires that appear to be bad in any way. I was thinking that possibly the ignition switch was bad but why would it make the solenoid click? The battery is fully charged, and I tryed jumping with an additional battery, with the same results. Any ideas? Jim
PS I purchased another solenoid and hooked that up with the same result.
PS I purchased another solenoid and hooked that up with the same result.
Thanks
#12
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I ahve a 1983 Mercruiser 260 hp that when I turn the key it gives me a quarter crank and then nothing. I installed 2 new batteries at $125 a piece. I reached down to feel connections and starter. Bottom side of starter is hot along with positive cables. Any Ideas???