Starting issue

[Dwayne299]

I have a 1998 Mercury 200 EFI. It turned over before I left for the lake today, but when I arrived, the starter didn't/wouldn't engage. I could hear a faint buzz, so there was power. My battery was at 100%. I trailed it home, and the darn thing turned over. Any ideas would help this novice boat owner.

 

[Silvertip]

Did you disconnect the battery cables, clean shiny bright and then connect them making sure they were tight? And remember that those cables have two ends. It doesn't help to clean one end if the other end is the one that's bad or corroded. And how do you know the battery was 100%? Even if the charger says 100% that means nothing if the battery cannot hold a charge. Charge the battery and then have it load tested at your local auto store.

 

[Dwayne299]

I ended up buying a new battery and still a no go. When I got home after a 25 minute ride, it turned over like nothing ever happened. Could it be a solenoid?

 

[Silvertip]

Again - cables clean and tight. Could be bad start contacts inignition switch, bad solenoid, starter going bad. But troubleshoot! Don't replace parts Hoping you get luckey. Jump the solenoid to verify the starter is or is not good. Jump pos battery cable to small terminal on solenoid to verify solenoid.