'96 Yamaha 200 hp will not turn over at times when ignition is keyed. When the key is turned, 3 things can happen: (1) engine turns over immediately w/o hearing the starter solenoid click (95% of time); (2) starter solenoid just clicks; or (3) starter solenoid clicks and engine turns over a split second later.
Batteries show 12.6 v. I've cleaned all positive and negative terminals from the batteries, to the solenoid, and to the starter motor. They were already in good shape and tight. Didn't fix the problem.
Got the wife to turn the starter key switch on repeatedly while I checked the voltage from the Brown ignition switch connection on the solenoid body to ground. After about 25 tries (w/ the kill switch off), the engine turned over every time. The plan was to determine if the Brown wire was delivering 12v to the solenoid when the engine did not turn over. If it was 12 v, I think I could assume the ignition switch is OK.
But, I noticed that the voltage from the Brown wire to ground was only 6.5 v w/ the ignition key engaged and the engine turning over. Apparently 6.5 v is enough to engage the solenoid. Voltage from solenoid (large terminal) to starter was 12 v w/ the engine turning over.
I've read the FAQs and searched posts for help and couldn't find anything that fits my situation. Question is whether the problem is the ignition switch ($150), solenoid ($65), or starter ($?).
I talked w/ a Yamaha mechanic and he said it is very difficult to determine if an intermittent starting problem is caused by the ignition switch, solenoid, or starter. Said it could take him several hours to find the problem. That's a bunch of money.
Any thoughts? Sorry for the long post.
Bob
Batteries show 12.6 v. I've cleaned all positive and negative terminals from the batteries, to the solenoid, and to the starter motor. They were already in good shape and tight. Didn't fix the problem.
Got the wife to turn the starter key switch on repeatedly while I checked the voltage from the Brown ignition switch connection on the solenoid body to ground. After about 25 tries (w/ the kill switch off), the engine turned over every time. The plan was to determine if the Brown wire was delivering 12v to the solenoid when the engine did not turn over. If it was 12 v, I think I could assume the ignition switch is OK.
But, I noticed that the voltage from the Brown wire to ground was only 6.5 v w/ the ignition key engaged and the engine turning over. Apparently 6.5 v is enough to engage the solenoid. Voltage from solenoid (large terminal) to starter was 12 v w/ the engine turning over.
I've read the FAQs and searched posts for help and couldn't find anything that fits my situation. Question is whether the problem is the ignition switch ($150), solenoid ($65), or starter ($?).
I talked w/ a Yamaha mechanic and he said it is very difficult to determine if an intermittent starting problem is caused by the ignition switch, solenoid, or starter. Said it could take him several hours to find the problem. That's a bunch of money.
Any thoughts? Sorry for the long post.
Bob