Sounds like dead battery but its not

[snyderman]

My mother in-laws boat turns over slowly once or twice but will not start. It sounded like a dead battery so she purchased a new one and that was not the problem. Any ideas?<br />thanks<br />sean

 

[McKenzie]

Re: Sounds like dead battery but its not

make sure connections to the battery and starter are clean (i keep mine coated in grease to prevent rust and corrosion). It is probably the starter, but check the cables anyway. BTW, i've inadvertently bought car batteries that weren't fully charged, so check the voltage.

 

[Trent]

Re: Sounds like dead battery but its not

So your Mother in law bought a new boat because it would not turn over? Can I have the old one? <br /><br />Clean all the connections from the battery and to ground on the engine. and come back You did not say make, model and year?

 

[flashback]

Re: Sounds like dead battery but its not

A lot of times the starter motor has gone bad and is dragging.... in other words, using excessive amperage .................. clean and secure all connections as Trent said, and then consider the starter motor..........Trent, by the way did you see my post on engine alignment, I could sure use your help..........flash.............

 

[boat doc]

Re: Sounds like dead battery but its not

So your Mother in law bought a new boat because it would not turn over? Can I have the old one?....... lmao, now thats clever....lol<br /><br />I am not trying to scare you, this is usually far fetched, but I have seen it happen. If the boat ran great last time you took it out, and now all of a sudden its dragging when you try to start. I see people run poor gas, or there boats get hot, or timing is a little off. They go to shut there boat off, and it diesels, guess what, chances are (unless your exhaust flaps are in great shape) you sucked some water in through your engine. Now the engine wont turn over because it has hydrostatic lock. Now you try to turn your engine over, and you bend your connecting rods.<br /><br />anyway, one thing worth checking when your engine mysteryiously <spelling< drags and it was fine the last time you used it, and battery voltage is 12 plus. pull your spark plugs, and turn the engine over, see if any water comes out. This only takes a few minutes, and can save you a fortune.<br /><br />oh yea, do what these guys said first, check connections and voltage, that is easier

 

[snyderman]

Re: Sounds like dead battery but its not

Basically she took the boat for a spin two weeks ago, it ran fine. she stopped for some sunbathing and music. When she tried to start it again it wouldn't start, so she assumed it had a dead battery.<br /><br />The next week she took my wife and I boating and it would not start, that is when she told me about her last boating trip. She said she thought the battery would charge itself. No problem I said I'll charge the battery.<br /><br />After charging the battery and it still did not work I took the battery to be tested. I was told it was fully charged and ready to go.<br /><br />I came back with the good/bad news. The battery is good but now we have to look somewhere else.<br />The relatives were on their way over for our camping trip.<br /><br />Her brother said it had to be the battery, and maybe the test wasnt right. so they opted to buy a new one and try it anyways.<br /> <br />We put the new battery in and cleaned all the connections, but it still did not start.<br /> <br />I have never worked on a boat myself but am familiar with cars and jetski's. From what I know about starters is that when they are bad they either grind (bad teeth) or just spin and not engage. From the sound of it the starter is engaging and turning the motor over although It sounds weak. <br /><br />I do not have the boat at my house right now and can't get ahold of my mother in-law but I believe it is a 1993 Searay.<br /><br />Sorry for all the story telling but I am not to good at keeping things real short.<br /><br />I have a really dumb question though. When testing the motor outside of the water using the "ear muffs" do you turn the water on before trying to start the motor or immediately after you start the motor.<br /><br />On my jetski for instance if you turn the water on before the jetski is running you can force water into the cylinders. Is this true with boat motors?<br /><br />Thank you all for your reply's so far.<br /><br />BTW she didn't buy a new boat, although a friend of hers was nice enough to loan us his boat for our trip.

 

[DJ]

Re: Sounds like dead battery but its not

Don't condemn that starter too fast. There are alot of batteries and starters replaced because of poor connections.<br /><br />You say you cleaned the connections. Remember, those battery cables have TWO ends. One at the battery and one at the engine. REMOVE the connections at the engine end and clean them up.<br /><br />Turn the water on first.