New style starter slave solenoids, "problematic"?

[fishrdan]

I had a 10 year old starter slave solenoid from a Mercruiser 3.0L go bad and replaced it with a matching aftermarket part. That solenoid lasted 2 years and went it ka'-put, no engine start, no click, nothing. The small lugs on the solenoid show infinity resistance between them so the coil inside has a broken/fried wire, same as the original Mercruiser part.

Do I have bad luck or do these solenoids fail that often? I had an old style slave solenoid on a 72' 140HP Mercruiser that was original and still working after almost 40 years!

It's a real pain to replace the new style slave solenoid on my 140HP Frankencruiser (nuts behind a plate with little clearance) and I'm thinking of replacing it with an old style solenoid if they are more reliable. Either that, or I'm going to order 2 of the new style solenoids, for when it goes out again...

 

[Don S]

Re: New style starter slave solenoids, "problematic"?

I've had problems with aftermarket solenoids quite often. Not working right out of the box. I now stick with OEM electrical parts instead of the lowest bidder aftermarket parts.

Also be careful not to turn the studs on the small terminals. That can break the fine wires to the coil for the solenoid.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: New style starter slave solenoids, "problematic"?

I agree, I can get a new style Quicksilver solenoid for $20, where the aftermarket's are $15. If I go with the new style solenoid again, it's going to be the Quicksilver part,,, this time around. :facepalm:

On the first solenoid I could have twisted the small lugs a bit, but I was very careful to not turn them on the new aftermarket solenoid. Maybe I hosed up the OEM one by turning the lugs and the aftermarket was just a cheap part?

I'm really trying to determine if it's going to be better to go with an old style slave solenoid, or stick with the new style. The new style solenoids have stuck me on the water twice with no-start situations, and I go out in conditions where this could be dangerous. I can pop the engine cover and jump it, but...

 

[fishrdan]

Re: New style starter slave solenoids, "problematic"?

On the first solenoid I could have twisted the small lugs a bit

I was wrong on that, the 2001 wiring harness has slip lugs for the new style solenoid, so there was no way for me to tighten the small lugs too much. It must have been bad solenoids both times.

The old style solenoid had the small lugs nutted down and I could have tightened down those too much, but it never failed...

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: New style starter slave solenoids, "problematic"?

No OEM parts are made in the USA.
thermostats are Israel
all Merc parts "Hencho en Mexico"
Just got to take your best shot at buying parts

 

[Don S]

Re: New style starter slave solenoids, "problematic"?

The problem is not so much WHERE things are made, but of the materials used and the quality standards required by the company buying them.

A lot of aftermarket cheep stuff is made with no quality control and very loose standards. That cuts down on costs, thus making the parts cheaper.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: New style starter slave solenoids, "problematic"?

I found and bought an old style NOS QuickSilver solenoid that's marked "Made in USA". Hopefully, that resolved my solenoid issue.