Bought a boat last year. Followed the winterization items in the manual to the letter, except the part where it suggested labeling the various battery cables, (I have a dual battery setup with a 1-2-BOTH-OFF switch).
This past weekend I was getting her ready to hit the water. Charged both batteries, then cabled them up. All accessories-GOOD. Trim-GOOD. Bilge-GOOD. Blower-GOOD. Turn the ignition key-NO GOOD. Starter would make a clicking sound, and the engine would not turn at all. After reading all the horror stories of cracked blocks here lately, I was sure I screwed up something and had a seized engine or something. Got out the breaker bar and was able to turn the motor easily, (whew, relieved it turned).
Pulled the batteries out and re-charged them a second time, then for good measure checked em with a voltmeter, 12.6 volts on both. Put them back in, and again, turn the key, just clicks, although now the engine did move ever so slightly. At this point I'm contemplating the cost of a new starter when when the wife comes over and asks what's wrong. I tell her whats going on and she says "I bet you're missing something you should have connected". It was at this point that I start re-checking every battery cable and notice that I do not see the ground cable from the block to the battery. Sure enough, it was hidden from view behind the blower vent hose, laying there. I hook it up, turn the key, and she starts up easily. I'm now happy that the motor is running, although pissed that I will be hearing I-told-you-so's from the missus.
My question is this, I must've tried starting the boat a dozen or so times without the engine ground cable connected to anything. Is there a chance I damaged the starter/solenoid? I never had it clicking for more than a few seconds each time it wasn't connected properly, and it seems to start fine now that its hooked up the right way.
Sorry for the long story, BTW, the setup in question is a 93 Sunbird with the Ford V8 302/OMC I/O. Thanks!
This past weekend I was getting her ready to hit the water. Charged both batteries, then cabled them up. All accessories-GOOD. Trim-GOOD. Bilge-GOOD. Blower-GOOD. Turn the ignition key-NO GOOD. Starter would make a clicking sound, and the engine would not turn at all. After reading all the horror stories of cracked blocks here lately, I was sure I screwed up something and had a seized engine or something. Got out the breaker bar and was able to turn the motor easily, (whew, relieved it turned).
Pulled the batteries out and re-charged them a second time, then for good measure checked em with a voltmeter, 12.6 volts on both. Put them back in, and again, turn the key, just clicks, although now the engine did move ever so slightly. At this point I'm contemplating the cost of a new starter when when the wife comes over and asks what's wrong. I tell her whats going on and she says "I bet you're missing something you should have connected". It was at this point that I start re-checking every battery cable and notice that I do not see the ground cable from the block to the battery. Sure enough, it was hidden from view behind the blower vent hose, laying there. I hook it up, turn the key, and she starts up easily. I'm now happy that the motor is running, although pissed that I will be hearing I-told-you-so's from the missus.
My question is this, I must've tried starting the boat a dozen or so times without the engine ground cable connected to anything. Is there a chance I damaged the starter/solenoid? I never had it clicking for more than a few seconds each time it wasn't connected properly, and it seems to start fine now that its hooked up the right way.
Sorry for the long story, BTW, the setup in question is a 93 Sunbird with the Ford V8 302/OMC I/O. Thanks!
sounds like your good to go!
