starter just clicking

[brian2586]

I'm in the process of trying to fix an engine I bought for cheap because it wasn't running. I think everything is good exept something in the starter or starter solenoid. When I turn the key it just clicks once and the starter motor does not raise up to engage the flywheel. The battery is fully charged so its not that. Is there a way to test the starter motor to make sure its not that? I don't know which part to replace first. Thanks.

 

[JMichael]

Re: starter just clicking

Hi Brian, I'm new to the forum but not new to mechanical work. You can bypass the solenoid by using a jumper to connect the 2 large connectors on the solenoid. One of them will be the hot cable coming in from the battery and the other will be the cable going to the starter. If your starter spins and engages when you jump the solenoid, check for dirty or loose cable/wire connections before you start replacing things.

 

[brian2586]

Re: starter just clicking

A little more info. Its for sure the solenoid that's just clicking and nothing else happening with the starter motor.

 

[detoolman]

Re: starter just clicking

Yes, you can test all of this out very easily. I am going to make a guess here and say it is your starter motor.

First if you know where the starter relay is, you can bypass the relay by shorting to the positive terminal of the starter motor. You will get some sparks, but if the starter motor spins at all, then it is probably ok. If it does not spin, remove the starter motor and hook it up directly to boat or car battery. If it still does not spin, you need a new starter or you can attempt to crack that one open and fix it.

If at any point the starter motor does spin, then it is either a bad conection or a bad starter relay.

Good Luck.

 

[brian2586]

Re: starter just clicking

Thanks for all the quick help. I hooked the starter straight up to the battery and it spun. So I guess that means its the solenoid.

 

[brian2586]

Re: starter just clicking

Ok I have another question. Some how I've got myself confused with the wiring. I have a brand new wiring harness that I'm installing. The harness does not have the positive and negative battery cables biult in like the old one did. I have some battery cables but where do I hook them up to? My repair manuel diagram shows a positive cable going straight from the battery to the starter solenoid. Is that correct? What about the negative?

 

[JMichael]

Re: starter just clicking

You haven't said what motor this is but most applications I've seen have the + (pos) going to the solenoid and the - (neg) grounded on the engine.

 

[brian2586]

Re: starter just clicking

Its a 89 merc 50 hp. Does it matter where on the block the negative goes?

 

[JMichael]

Re: starter just clicking

As long as you get a good ground and it doesn't interfere with any linkages etc it shouldn't mater.

 

[detoolman]

Re: starter just clicking

the negative should go straight to the starter motor, from the starter motor it will ground to the case