Battery smoking and motor doesn't start.

Euroshowoff

Cadet
Joined
Jan 5, 2014
Messages
10
Seems every day I'm discovering new gremlins. On an attempt to troubleshoot a no fire in cylinder 1, after some failed attempts the motor doesn't want to crank over anymore. When turning the key it putters once and I noticed the positive battery terminal is starting to smoke. Where should I start?
 

GA_Boater

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
May 24, 2011
Messages
49,038
First take both battery post connectors off and clean them shiny bright. Second charge the battery.
 

gm280

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Jun 26, 2011
Messages
14,605
STOP. Don't try to start it again until you do some investigation work. For a battery to smoke, you are pulling some very serious current. And that spells a short somewhere. Do you have a meter, and if so do you understand how to use one? I suggest you take a serious look at the two battery cables now to see if they are toast. I suspect they are and may need replaced. And then there is the starter solenoid and starter themselves. I would check them both out. Maybe even have the battery, and starter tested at an auto parts place. Can you turn the engine over by hand. I mean can you check to see if the engine is locked up or not. Try turning the flywheel to verify it is not locked up. Then start cleaning terminals at the now tested battery and engine to see if that helps. Post back any results for us to read and help you along further... JMHO!
 

jerryjerry05

Supreme Mariner
Joined
May 7, 2008
Messages
18,134
Hot posts.
Bad / loose connection.
Loose ground on the motor.
Bad starter.
Low compression.
If the battery's weak it shouldn't melt a post.
The bearings in the lower unit, they can seize.

Bought a boat and the owner had hooked the battery's up for 24v.
He said that the motor was a bit slow in turning over.
Turns out the bearings were rusted and the lower was seizing.
But he said he just had this boat out 60mi in the gulf and NOT 1 problem:(
 

Jiggz

Captain
Joined
Oct 23, 2009
Messages
3,909
Start with the easy ones first. As mentioned, start by cleaning the battery and cable terminals on both ends. And I mean shiny clean and then re-tighten them. Charge the battery. Try again and if the starter is still dragging jumper the starter straight to the battery. If dragging stops then replace solenoid. However, i it still drags remove plugs and try again. If it is still dragging, drop the LU. If problem persists, then overhaul or replace starter.
 
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