Starter is Dead!! How do I check Solenoid???

[michaud500]

Hey fellas,

I got a 1969 mercury 500, SN# 2629264.

So I went to fine tune some carb work today and I turn the key and nothing! I push the electric choke button and that works as do the lights. I check and clean all of the connections and make sure all is secure. Than I check the battery, it reads 12.88. I did continuity test from the battery to the solenoid and the starter. They all seem good. What do I do to check if the solenoid is good or bad?? It ran fine last Sunday with not ever having issues before, granted I haven't even owned the boat a year. And of course! Where do I get one of them if I need to replace it????!!

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Starter is Dead!! How do I check Solenoid???

MMM is the lanyard in place. That is my first thought. Is the solenoid making a clicking sound when you turn the key, if it isnt check to see if you have 12 volts at the field wires first then check to see if it has 12 volts going to the starter, if their is then disconnect the wire going out to the starter its self and see what the ohm value is across the power contacts it should be 0. And you can order one right here from iboats.

 

[MercBlackMax1]

Re: Starter is Dead!! How do I check Solenoid???

check the fuse!

 

[michaud500]

Re: Starter is Dead!! How do I check Solenoid???

MMM is the lanyard in place.

What does this mean?? Second no. There is no clicking. Will check the field wires, those are the 2 small wires on the face of the solenoid right? One on the left is +? Next I need to turn the key than I check for the 12v. Correct?

There is no fuse that I know of. All ciruits that I know have continuity. Where would the fuse be?

 

[The_Kid]

Re: Starter is Dead!! How do I check Solenoid???

MMM is the lanyard in place.

What does this mean?? Second no. There is no clicking. Will check the field wires, those are the 2 small wires on the face of the solenoid right? One on the left is +? Next I need to turn the key than I check for the 12v. Correct?

There is no fuse that I know of. All ciruits that I know have continuity. Where would the fuse be?

I believe the lanyard he referred to was the one for the kill switch. The kill switch won't keep it from cranking, just from starting. With the key turned there should be +12 input on the small solenoid connection. The other small connection is ground. You should also have +12 on one of the large connections all the time. If you jumper from the large connector to the small connector you will bypass the key switch and fuse. Do this with the key off. Most auto parts stores sell a remote start switch for that kind of testing. In a pinch I've used a piece of 12 gauge wire to jump between the two of them. The fuse should be inline on the wire that feeds the small connector.

Something else to check is the throttle position. If it's not in neutral it won't crank with the key. Run it through the gears to make sure the neutral switch didn't get stuck.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Starter is Dead!! How do I check Solenoid???

Use a small jumper wire to connect the red thick battery wire on the solenoid to the thin yellow wire on the solenoid. The starter should spin. If so, the solenoid is good.

If no starter action, use an ohmmeter to make sure the small black wire on the solenoid makes a good ground. If it does, it is likely that the solenoid is bad.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Starter is Dead!! How do I check Solenoid???

Of course that presupposes the starter and the connecting cable is good. Mercs usually need a separate ground on the starter. You might check it for corrosion.

 

[michaud500]

Re: Starter is Dead!! How do I check Solenoid???

I'm an IDIOT!!!!

I guess I should move the Boat Cover out of the way so I can see. The shifter was in forward gear. Of course it wont tunover.

Thanks for the help!!!!