I was running the boat one day and after stopping at an island for a quick people drop of and when I went to start it again it didn't want to crank after a couple of turns of the key it finally started to crank with a turn over and running. Then later that day when it was time to leave I turned the key and all i could hear was a click like the starter solenoid was engaging.. I finally was able to start it with a screw driver jumping the starter solenoid. I replaced the starter solenoid thinking it was bad but nothing. Still the same one click when I turn the key. Help!! Any ideas?

On 7/31/2014 3:20 PM, wrote:
I was running the boat one day and after stopping at an island for a quick people drop of and when I went to start it again it didn't want to crank after a couple of turns of the key it finally started to crank with a turn over and running. Then later that day when it was time to leave I turned the key and all i could hear was a click like the starter solenoid was engaging. I finally was able to start it with a screw driver jumping the starter solenoid. I replaced the starter solenoid thinking it was bad but nothing. Still the same one click when I turn the key. Help!! Any ideas?


Sounds like a sulfated (sp?) cell in the battery.. Either way, check the
battery.

In laymans terms, and God help me if I am slightly off here but in a
nutshell:


When you try to crank the battery it's a couple volts low from the
sulfated cell or two so the car won't start but the battery heats up big
time while you are cranking. Do this a couple times and the heated
battery can start the engine... once, maybe twice... Once one or more
cells are shot, the battery can't work properly any more and should be
replaced or repaired if that is possible on some types...

On 7/31/2014 3:20 PM, wrote:
I was running the boat one day and after stopping at an island for a quick people drop of and when I went to start it again it didn't want to crank after a couple of turns of the key it finally started to crank with a turn over and running. Then later that day when it was time to leave I turned the key and all i could hear was a click like the starter solenoid was engaging. I finally was able to start it with a screw driver jumping the starter solenoid. I replaced the starter solenoid thinking it was bad but nothing. Still the same one click when I turn the key. Help!! Any ideas?


Sorry, I forgot to say, have someone do a "draw down" test on the
battery... then buy a new one

On 7/31/14 3:20 PM, wrote:
I was running the boat one day and after stopping at an island for a quick people drop of and when I went to start it again it didn't want to crank after a couple of turns of the key it finally started to crank with a turn over and running. Then later that day when it was time to leave I turned the key and all i could hear was a click like the starter solenoid was engaging. I finally was able to start it with a screw driver jumping the starter solenoid. I replaced the starter solenoid thinking it was bad but nothing. Still the same one click when I turn the key. Help!! Any ideas?



Almost the same thing happened to me years ago with a 90 hp Merc. After
a while it occured to me that one of the cables running from the 12v
battery might have been loose. That was it. It wasn't making good contact.

On Thu, 31 Jul 2014 12:20:58 -0700 (PDT), wrote:

I was running the boat one day and after stopping at an island for a quick people drop of and when I went to start it again it didn't want to crank after a couple of turns of the key it finally started to crank with a turn over and running. Then later that day when it was time to leave I turned the key and all i could hear was a click like the starter solenoid was engaging. I finally was able to start it with a screw driver jumping the starter solenoid. I replaced the starter solenoid thinking it was bad but nothing. Still the same one click when I turn the key. Help!! Any ideas?

Check the ground on the engine block. Sounds very much like the problem I had with the Yamaha 150.
Turned out the ground was loose.

On 8/5/2014 11:26 AM, Poco Loco wrote:
On Thu, 31 Jul 2014 12:20:58 -0700 (PDT), wrote:

I was running the boat one day and after stopping at an island for a quick people drop of and when I went to start it again it didn't want to crank after a couple of turns of the key it finally started to crank with a turn over and running. Then later that day when it was time to leave I turned the key and all i could hear was a click like the starter solenoid was engaging. I finally was able to start it with a screw driver jumping the starter solenoid. I replaced the starter solenoid thinking it was bad but nothing. Still the same one click when I turn the key. Help!! Any ideas?

Check the ground on the engine block. Sounds very much like the problem I had with the Yamaha 150.
Turned out the ground was loose.



That would make sense now that you mention it.. When you try to crank
with a bad ground, it won't start necessarily, but it will heat up.
Doing this a few times could heat it enough to make the ground better as
it were, and allow the engine to start but would think it would make
more sense on the hot side... Dick might be able to add to this....

On 8/5/2014 11:49 AM, wrote:
On Tue, 05 Aug 2014 11:26:30 -0400, Poco Loco
wrote:

I finally was able to start it with a screw driver jumping the starter solenoid

This certainly makes it sound like something in the "S" circuit to the
solenoid. (Ignition switch, connector or a broken wire in the
harness).


Well, I am not backing away from the Sulfated Battery (sp?) or cell, but
a bad connection could do the same thing...

Either way if the battery survives the draw down test, it's time to
check the wiring for sure...

On 8/5/2014 1:42 PM, wrote:
On Tue, 05 Aug 2014 13:23:12 -0400, KC wrote:

On 8/5/2014 11:49 AM, wrote:
On Tue, 05 Aug 2014 11:26:30 -0400, Poco Loco
wrote:

I finally was able to start it with a screw driver jumping the starter solenoid

This certainly makes it sound like something in the "S" circuit to the
solenoid. (Ignition switch, connector or a broken wire in the
harness).


Well, I am not backing away from the Sulfated Battery (sp?) or cell, but
a bad connection could do the same thing...

Either way if the battery survives the draw down test, it's time to
check the wiring for sure...

Does anyone ever "back down" around here ;-)


Absolutly, in my last post I actually differed to Dick to come in and
verify, or kill my observation..

wrote:
On Tue, 05 Aug 2014 13:44:12 -0400, KC wrote:

On 8/5/2014 1:42 PM, wrote:
On Tue, 05 Aug 2014 13:23:12 -0400, KC wrote:

On 8/5/2014 11:49 AM, wrote:
On Tue, 05 Aug 2014 11:26:30 -0400, Poco Loco
wrote:

I finally was able to start it with a screw driver jumping the starter solenoid

This certainly makes it sound like something in the "S" circuit to the
solenoid. (Ignition switch, connector or a broken wire in the
harness).


Well, I am not backing away from the Sulfated Battery (sp?) or cell, but
a bad connection could do the same thing...

Either way if the battery survives the draw down test, it's time to
check the wiring for sure...

Does anyone ever "back down" around here ;-)


Absolutly, in my last post I actually differed to Dick to come in and
verify, or kill my observation..

There is one quick way to eliminate the idea of a bad battery. Turn
the lights on and try to start the boat. If the lights don't dim or go
out completely, you are not closing the circuit to the starter. It is
not a battery.

You can sort this whole thing out with a meter in a couple of minutes
but even a test light would be very helpful.

Also, the ground circuit will heat just like the hot circuit. Same current
amount should be flowing in both circuits. Especially in a Fiberglas boat.

wrote:
On Tue, 05 Aug 2014 14:19:37 -0500, Califbill
wrote:


Also, the ground circuit will heat just like the hot circuit. Same current
amount should be flowing in both circuits. Especially in a Fiberglas boat.

On an outboard, the "ground circuit" is basically the battery cable
from the block to the battery.

Very much as the hot circuit. Loose or corroded connection on either post
of the battery well heat up. Or a broken cable, with only a few strands
making contact. Look at the terminals and see if any discoloration. Or
feel the connections while cranking. Or get a meter and look at the
voltage at the motor while cranking.