Sometimes the key just goes click....why?

[craze1cars]

I have a sporadic problem with my 1992 Rinker 181 with a 3.0 Merc Alpha 1.<br /><br />We waterski a lot. For safety reasons I demand ignition be OFF anytime someone is entering, leaving, or on the swim platform of the boat. So it's not uncommon for this motor to get turned on and off 20 to 30 times in a 4 hour outing.<br /><br />On occasion we turn the key to restart, and I hear a click from the motor area but the starter doesn't spin or engage...just one quiet click. If I turn the key off and on again, it works fine and cranks strong and starts right up. Battery is strong and fully charged, cable connections are clean and tight, cables are all 2 gauge. I do not wiggle the control handle so I really don't think it's the neutral safety or cable adjustement. One (occasionally two) off-on cycle(s) of the ignition switch is all it takes to get it to turn over fast and strong.<br /><br />What's my best plan to troubleshoot this before it dies on me for good? Being so sporadic it's tough to pin down. I have no objection to throwing reasonably priced new parts at it...for instance I thought I might go ahead and just replace the ignition switch. I'd think for sure that was it....but that irritating "click" in the back tells me that power is getting there so it may not be the switch at all. I'd hate to buy a starter as a guess, as it's a bit more expensive. What about the starter solenoid? Can it be replaced separate from the starter on these rigs? What else could this be?<br /><br />So what, in all your experiences, is the most likely cause of such a problem?

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Sometimes the key just goes click....why?

Since it is so interrmittant, and you are not jiggling anything, it sounds like a solenoid problem. However , I would check/clean all of the starting system electrical connections before replacing anything....JK

 

[Don S]

Re: Sometimes the key just goes click....why?

Take a test light with you next time and try this.<br /><br /> http://www.iboats.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=24;t=012808;p=1#000000

 

[Scaaty]

Re: Sometimes the key just goes click....why?

A solenoid is a mechanical switch. Every time you hit the key, those contacts come together. Kinda like a welder striking an arc. They get pitted. I would replace that first. Cheap. Well, not for a boat. Car $20. Harley $40. Boat $60. Difference? Twenty bucks

 

[craze1cars]

Re: Sometimes the key just goes click....why?

Outstanding! Thanks for the info...especially Don's intense trouble-shooting thread. Looks like pretty basic "old car" starter stuff, and I have an old test light. Planning to take it out again next weekend if the weather holds...so I hope to squeeze one last day out of it. But then the season's about over here so I have some time to start digging in to make it like new for spring.<br /><br />Just for fun I might slap a new solenoid on it over winter regardless since it doesn't cost much.<br /><br />Thanks again for the direction.

 

[craze1cars]

Re: Sometimes the key just goes click....why?

Ok....another opinion please. Would something like this be a good idea or a bad idea? <br /> http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/STAR...Z6755QQitemZ4577724004QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW <br /><br />$19 beats the snot outta the $134 quote I got over the phone from my marina....I'm thinking one of us has looked up the wrong part! I haven't checked my model number yet, but this price may be REAL good assuming it's the right one. However, if they're junk I don't want to waste my time or effort. What has been your experience with aftermarket parts such as this? They claim it's a Delco.<br /><br />Also, since the slave solenoid is a completely different part from the solenoid on the starter, I'm thinking I may just slap a new slave on it since it's dirt cheap ($19 OEM from the marina) Just thinking out loud here....I wish it was more predictable, when it acts up it fixes itself within 5 seconds so I don't think I'll have time to reliably troubleshoot with the test light. I think I'd rather just throw the cheap parts at it before I get "lucky" and have a complete failure that tells me exactly what's wrong with my testlight while I'm bobbing helplessly in the middle of the lake! Thanks for letting me bounce stuff off you guys.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Sometimes the key just goes click....why?

Go with the new slave $20.00 is cheap & why wait....JK

 

[Don S]

Re: Sometimes the key just goes click....why?

There were 3 different starters used on your engine, so without knowing which one you have, it's impossible to say if the ebay one will work or not.

 

[Fuzzydog]

Re: Sometimes the key just goes click....why?

Your symptoms are exactly the same as I recently had on a Jeep Cherokee and that turned out to be the solenoid. Seems the consensus on this board is solenoid as well.<br />One thing to keep in mind is that if it does fail on you completely, it is a very simple matter to jump the terminals to start the boat. All you need is a big open end wrench and touch one to the other. This way you totally bypass the corroded parts inside and it will GET YOU HOME. I'm not advocating waiting til this happens, but if it does....<br />Now that I think about it, it would sure be easier to do this in a boat than on a vehicle.

 

[Scaaty]

Re: Sometimes the key just goes click....why?

Originally posted by Fuzzydog:<br />[QB] Seems the consensus on this board is solenoid as well.<br />One thing to keep in mind is that if it does fail on you completely, it is a very simple matter to jump the terminals to start the boat. All you need is a big open end wrench and touch one to the other. This way you totally bypass the corroded parts inside and it will GET YOU HOME. I'm not advocating waiting til this happens, but if it does....<br />/QB]

Just want to add that if that ebay solenoid look the same as yours, get it. They are all outsourced from overseas anyway. Look at most any Sierra part box..."Made in Taiwan". And yes, the darn thing only cost a few bucks to make (its just a shell with two brass contacts, a washer, rod and spring, and small electro magnet, and the local brick and mortar store has overhead and people too pay, hence 10 times more in price. And also agree with Don on the fitting a Merc...they sure do have a way of complicating a motor. <br /> We are heading toward a "Walmart" society, like it or not. I kept my boat and Harley dealer in business for years, but now I do 90% ebay or mail order. Sorry, but I have done my part, and fixed income says cheap or no go. On the ebay dealer. he sounds pretty legit to me. <br /> On the emergency jump in a boat. I would highly avoid if possible. Fumes down in that bilge you can't see or smell, can blow yer A$$ to kingdom come.

 

[Scaaty]

Re: Sometimes the key just goes click....why?

Hey Don, in case you didn't look, you are averaging 100 posts a DAY. Thanks. You help more than you think.<br /><br />WHOOPS! 10 helpful post a day...(age, such a wonderful thing to aquire)

 

[craze1cars]

Re: Sometimes the key just goes click....why?

OK, I know you're all sick of me....so here's my final question and I'll leave you all alone. My motor is a 1992 Mercruiser 3.0 model #D719950. I can't read the part # on my starter without removing it...don't really want to do that 'till the season's completely over (real soon, unfortunately.)<br /><br />Will this starter fit and work properly? The seller says yes and he's 100% positive feedback, but I trust you guys more.<br /> http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-...31284QQitemZ4577889132QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW <br /><br />If yes, I'm just gonna buy a whole new starter which comes complete with a new solenoid, plus a $19 slave solenoid from my marina. For barely over $100 I'll replace my entire 14 year old starting system with no troubleshooting guesswork, and I can carry my old functional parts as spares. I feel it'll be money well spent. Am I overlooking something?<br /><br />Ditto on the kudos for Don...a very helpful guy and his efforts are certainly not going unnoticed.

 

[Scaaty]

Re: Sometimes the key just goes click....why?

Spend the dough...ya sleep better at night broke with new stuff