5.0L Mercruiser Won't Start?
 

I have a '98 Bayliner with a 5.0L Merc engine. I am having intermittent
starting issues. What usually happens is the boat will start and run
fine for a while, then after being shut down for 20mins - 1 hour or so,
we'll go to restart the boat and nothing will happen. We'll hear a
faint warning buzzer that always comes on when the key is in the
accessory position, that will die down when turning the key, and
nothing, no clicking, no accessories will work. Have replaced the
battery. During this scenario, if I hook a jumper box up directly to
the starter, the boat will crank over fine.
I'm thinking it may be the battery cable that goes from the starter to
the + terminal of the battery may be bad? That's my next step.
Any other advice for this issue would be helpful!

Thanks!

Bad solenoid.

"Eric" wrote in message
ups.com...
I have a '98 Bayliner with a 5.0L Merc engine. I am having intermittent
starting issues. What usually happens is the boat will start and run
fine for a while, then after being shut down for 20mins - 1 hour or so,
we'll go to restart the boat and nothing will happen. We'll hear a
faint warning buzzer that always comes on when the key is in the
accessory position, that will die down when turning the key, and
nothing, no clicking, no accessories will work. Have replaced the
battery. During this scenario, if I hook a jumper box up directly to
the starter, the boat will crank over fine.
I'm thinking it may be the battery cable that goes from the starter to
the + terminal of the battery may be bad? That's my next step.
Any other advice for this issue would be helpful!

Thanks!

We've replaced the slave solenoid on the top of the engine. I believe
the starter solenoid is in the same housing as the starter?

On 16 May 2005 09:48:38 -0700, "Eric" wrote:

I have a '98 Bayliner with a 5.0L Merc engine. I am having intermittent
starting issues. What usually happens is the boat will start and run
fine for a while, then after being shut down for 20mins - 1 hour or so,
we'll go to restart the boat and nothing will happen. We'll hear a
faint warning buzzer that always comes on when the key is in the
accessory position, that will die down when turning the key, and
nothing, no clicking, no accessories will work. Have replaced the
battery. During this scenario, if I hook a jumper box up directly to
the starter, the boat will crank over fine.
I'm thinking it may be the battery cable that goes from the starter to
the + terminal of the battery may be bad? That's my next step.
Any other advice for this issue would be helpful!

Thanks!

Try tapping the starter solenoid while someone has the key turned. That was a
trick I often had to use on a motorcycle a while back. If it starts, then your
solenoid is shot.
--
John H

"All decisions are the result of binary thinking."

You could have a bad field coil in the starter.

Seeing you didn't ssay, I'm guessing this is a late 70's to early 90's
mercruiser with the GM engine.

Well, GM/Delco in all their great wisdom decided that when copper was a
buck a pound, and aluminum was .40c a pound. they decided to make the
fields out of aluminum. which eventually corrodes and doesn't allow
current to pass though it effectivly, especially when hot. If yiou take
the starter apart, which is no great task, you might find that the
fields are aluminum, and you can replace them yourself with regular
automotive copper fields. it's really not that hard of a task. either
that, of find a field barrel that has the copper fields already
installed. again, not a difficult task.

That will give you an excellent oppertunity to inspect the brush's as
well.

BTW, there is no diffrence between the automotive and the marine field
set. the only thing on the field frame, is the grommet on the solonoid
lead wich is a better seal than the aautomotive type grommet.

Tim

I have a '98 Bayliner with a 5.0L Merc engine. I am having intermittent

starting issues.

Sorry Eric, you DID say a '98. When I started reading I was interrupted
by the phone.

Anyhow, the same rules should apply. when the starter gets warm,
there's not a good current flow.

But, yes...check all your battery connections.

Tim

Tim,
Thanks for your input. My only question regarding your message is
that when I hook a battery box up directly to the starter and turn the
key, the boat fires right up..? Would that rule out a bad starter?

Eric. I think you're on the right track.


OK, probably would rule it out a bad starter.

sounds like you have a bad cable and/or connection as you suspected.

Tim

On 16 May 2005 09:48:38 -0700, "Eric" wrote:

I have a '98 Bayliner with a 5.0L Merc engine.

Sell it!

Everybody knows Bayliners are junk.

Me and the wife
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/harkra...bum?.dir=/1323