merc 4.3l 1993 not starting issue

[kulle]

so ready to fire up boat after bellows replacement. had battery inside on trickle charge over winter. is a 3+ year old batt. put in new ignition switch which matched up identically with old. stop-run(access)-start

when i attempt to start i hear the starter just make a "slam" style noise like it attempted to turn engine over but couldnt. batt voltage is like 12.5 at rest. have it on a 15amp charger now to see if for some reason its weak. anyone experience similar?

 

[Scott Danforth]

first, make sure all your battery cable connections are good. this means undoing them, sanding everything down to shiny metal and re-bolting the connections

are you hearing the pilot relay or the starter? if the starter is indeed engaging, and not turning over your motor, you may have other issues

pull the plugs and inspect if any are wet or rusty, report back.

 

[kulle]

i jumped the starter solenoid and it sounds like its clicking and i think i hear the starter try to engage. i checked and my outdrive was put on fine, while in forward position, neutral allows the propeller to spin freely and fwd/rvs seem to be ok.

i dont think its the new ignition, since it wont turn over when jumped. but i bought and installed this https://www.iboats.com/shop/sierra-...b-1-boss-screw-push-to-choke-marineworks.html

could be locked up starter?

 

[Rick Stephens]

could be locked up starter?

Probably not.

Did you pull plugs and inspect?
Did you disconnect battery connections and clean to bright shiny?

 

[kulle]

gonna do the battery stuff in a few

 

[kulle]

put my foot on the starter while jumping the solenoid. i could def feel the starter kick, almost like its locked up. bang on it?

 

[kulle]

UPDATE

gave the starter a few taps with mallot and now when i go to start soinds like the starter is spinning, very high rpms lile dremel tool sound, but not engaging. is it something that just needs lube? is it difficult to remove starter from the 4.3l or just buy a new?

 

[kulle]

.....so going to sum it up to bad starter solenoid. might as well just buy a whole new starter/solenoid

 

[kulle]

is it reasonable to say my starter slave solenoid and starter solenoid are good, considering voltage checks put and the starter motor spins with ignition and that the starter motor bendex gear is just not engaging due to some issue, grease, gunk, rust?

 

[Bondo]

is it reasonable to say my starter slave solenoid and starter solenoid are good, considering voltage checks put and the starter motor spins with ignition and that the starter motor bendex gear is just not engaging due to some issue, grease, gunk, rust?

Ayuh,..... The starter's solenoid is what pushes the bendix drive out,.....

 

[kulle]

ok, so if thats bad, looks like you have to replace the whole starter unit as a whole. so initially when i turned the key, it would just made a loud clunk at the starter. i tapped on starter, now it spins but wont engage. sound like a "just replace it" option?

 

[kulle]

have 12v on battery terminal on starter solenoid. Get 12v on yellow/red post on solenoid when trying to start. i also am getting 12v from connector wire from solenoid to starter motor but the solenoid isnt clicking. even when i jump solenoid, it just spins up starter motor. from those checks does that point to a bad solenoid?

 

[kulle]

Having some trouble locating starters, seems the application information isnt matching my needs. I have a 1993 4.3L, merc. But a lot of the product descriptions say 1998 and up. My engine serial# 0F022537 - i found this starter..looks like the need is 11 tooth and fora 14inch flywheel. Would this fit my engine properly does anyone know?

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,..... Chevy marine starters only come in 2 flavors,.....

The staggered bolt pattern for the 14" flywheel, 'n the straight across bolt pattern for the 12" flywheels,.....

 

[QBhoy]

I’d still pull the plugs as suggested. You may have another issue that caused an issue with your starter.

 

[kulle]

Pull what plugs-spark plugs? If that's what you mean, they have been replaced. The starter motor spins when using the key so the wiring is good. The shaft just isnt engaging flywheel- maybe stuck or starter solenoid shot? Wondering if the starter solenoid could fail in such a way as to still allow 12V to motor, but just fails to engage to lock the motor shaft?

 

[kulle]

Ayuh,..... Chevy marine starters only come in 2 flavors,.....

The staggered bolt pattern for the 14" flywheel, 'n the straight across bolt pattern for the 12" flywheels,.....

Ok thanks, I did come across that, I have the staggered then , since its a 14" flywheel.

 

[kulle]

Ok now really confused.... so pulled starter off. Hooked up to 12V on battery to main 12V post on starter. Hooked up ground from battery to starter body. Jumped from 12V post to "S" terminal and the solenoid"BLUE" it pushes the plunger to engage flywheel which was NOT happening before. When I jump the 12V post to the main connection going to starter "RED", it just sparks and does not turn motor. 2 Questions:

1. is the motor not starting cause of the ground going to battery and not engine block? I have a good , charged battery
2. The fact that with Key, it just spins the starter motor and doesnt seem to engage the soleniod could me what !?

I have not touched any of the wiring at the starter prior to putting it away for winter. THE ONLY thing i did recently was install a new ignition switch which was identical to the old and I hooked up and double checked the wiring. Hooked up same 3 wires, see photo. Or could it have just been stuck, I pulled on it with my hands prior to testing?? 1 year, made good repairs but one thing after another, very frustrated.

 

[H20Rat]

Are you 100% absolutely sure the starter is spinning when you hit the key? Keep in mind that when you hit the key, it will also spin up your fuel pump. If the starter isn't running, the fuel pump will be surprisingly loud. You normally wouldn't hear that since your engine &/or starter would be running.


Ironically enough, I had nearly IDENTICAL symptoms in my 4.3l last weekend. Hit the key, got a slam noise, nothing else. I ended up pulling the starter out and completely taking it apart, cleaning, and reinstalling. It works now, although I ordered a replacement. I suspect a combination of rust and possibly stopping in a bad spot was the reason it wasn't going to move. (it may or may not have been submerged last July)

 

[kulle]

i literally pulled off the starter hooked it up to battery and jumped the terminals. I held them down and it spun up and plunger pushed bendix like it should. Starter actually looks good. Put back on and same sound. starting to wonder if my flywheel is seized. wish I had a way to manually turn my engine to see. my just sell as-is for a freakn loss ( had 45 mins on it since i had it just over 1 year) or take to shop. Hate to buy another starter and have same issue. i've about had it. All the repairs I did for the first time, went smooth and fine, now this !