Bad starter or need new battery?

[arminius]

2012 19' Bayliner with 3.0 Merch I/O. Over the summer, the starting process has got progressively worse. Now every time I attempt to start a cold engine, I turn the key and get one click (no turnover). I typically have to do this anywhere from 4-8 times before I get a turnover, and about 50% of those time it starts.

Thoughts on the issue? What steps to repair? Thanks

 

[NHGuy]

By any chance is the click anything like a thunk? If so there could be water getting into the combustion chamber(s). Or it could be corroded connections between the battery and the starter. Doesn't act like a weak battery.

 

[stonyloam]

Sounds like a bad slave solenoid. Open the cover, have someone hit the switch and see which solenoid the "click " comes from. Slave (midengine) or starter.

 

[Chigwalla]

First things first, pull all of your battery terminals off one by one and clean them to bright metal.
That means battery, starter, battery switch and don't forget the block ground behind the exhaust riser.
With a charged battery, that usually solves the problem.

 

[Scott Danforth]

First things first, pull all of your battery terminals off one by one and clean them to bright metal.
That means battery, starter, battery switch and don't forget the block ground behind the exhaust riser.
With a charged battery, that usually solves the problem.

exactly