Volvo Penta starter issues

wldiii

Recruit
Joined
Jul 23, 2022
Messages
3
Last May, I sold my 2003 Bayliner and replaced it with a 2019 Chaparral 237 SSX. The selling dealer installed a second battery, and I asked them to hotwire the bilge pump. I was told that they had and proceeded to go out on the lake after a particularly heavy storm. When I was unable to get the RPM over 2500, I checked the bilge, and of course, the bilge was full of water in that the pump had not been properly hot-wired. Predictably, in a few months, the starter began to experience problems and eventually failed totally. I assume it was due to water contamination. I had the wiring corrected and the starter replaced. I vowed to check the bilge before every cruise and have done so religiously. Unfortunately, after only eight months, the starter has failed again! The 237 SSX is powered by a Volvo Penta V6. My brother-in-law experienced a starter failure just a couple of months ago. He owns a 227 SSX with the same Penta engine. When I contacted my local Chaparral dealership (the one who fixed the starter initially - not the selling dealer) the rep said that these starter failures are quite common. Also, a rep for the local boat rental club said that they had experienced a rash of starter problems, too. About a third of their fleet consists of Chaparral boats. Since the starter replacement last December, I know that there has been no excess water in the bilge. The only water that remains is what's left after the float switch cuts out. When I search the iboats forums, I don't see many discussions of this issue which is surprising given my experience and discussions with other boat owners. Surely, a starter should not be that susceptible to water damage. Of course, if they get submerged, then that is a problem, but if the water level is as designed......? They operate in a water environment and, in fact, just above the bilge water. If the water never gets above float turnoff level, then the starter should not be in jeopardy. The engine placement was designed this way.
I'd welcome any comments regarding this issue. I don't think I should have to sponge out the bilge every time I take the boat out! Shouldn't starters be manufactured to withstand water penetration? They are, after all, installed in boats, and boats operate on, in, and around water. (Pardon my sarcasm; I'm just frustrated with this starter problem.) Thanks for commenting.
 

Bondo

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 17, 2002
Messages
71,258
Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard,...... Yer assumptions are correct,.....
8 months is unacceptable, unless it went swimmin',....

To be honest, 99% of starter problems are actually wirin' problems,.....
Removin', 'n cleanin' the wirin' ends in the start system is a common cure,....
Startin' at the battery, the connections should be shiny metal Clean,... both ends of both cables,....
Just lookin', 'n checkin' for tight ain't enough,....
Corrosion, 1 atom thick, can stop the flow of power,....

After I clean mine, I slather 'em with grease,.... no air, no water, no corrosion,.....

Many folks thought they needed a starter, blew the money on one, put it in, 'n think they were right, when the removin', 'n replacin' the wirin' is what actually "Fixed" it,...

Donno what yer starter is, but the new permanent magnet motor starters are 1/2 the weight, twice the power, 'n seem to hold up well in the marine environment,....
They do require bolts, 'bout 1/4" shorter though,... grindin' the tip off the originals will work too,....
 

muc

"Retired" Association of Marine Technicians...
Joined
Jul 7, 2004
Messages
2,206
Volvo Penta Parts Warranty -- North America
Standard warranty – 12 months
Volvo Penta Genuine Parts and Accessories that are supplied but not
fitted by an authorized Volvo Penta dealer are covered by our standard
12-month warranty.
Fitted-parts warranty – 24 months
Volvo Penta Genuine Parts and Accessories that have been supplied
and installed by an authorized Volvo Penta Workshop are covered for
24 months — including the labor involved in fitting the part.

This is Volvo's parts warranty. If you had your boat serviced at a authorized Volvo Penta dealer and they used genuine Volvo parts (like it states in their dealership agreement), this starter should be covered under their parts warranty for 2 years!

This only applies if the starter failed due to a manufacturing defect or faulty installation. Both Volvo and MerCruiser have us remove the lowest most thru bolt and examine it for rust. If the bolt is rusted --- no warranty, no rust -- covered.

I'm not sure what you mean by "hard wired" your boat should have been equipped with an automatic bilge pump float switch that is powered even if the battery switch is in the off position.

About the only way to get rust inside the starter is to let it get submerged, a little splashing won't do it. I've been retired for a few years now, but starter failure without submerging is very rare here in Minnesota. All bets are off with a rental fleet -- most renters are idiots or just don't care. Never buy a rental boat, it was abused.
 

wldiii

Recruit
Joined
Jul 23, 2022
Messages
3
Volvo Penta Parts Warranty -- North America
Standard warranty – 12 months
Volvo Penta Genuine Parts and Accessories that are supplied but not
fitted by an authorized Volvo Penta dealer are covered by our standard
12-month warranty.
Fitted-parts warranty – 24 months
Volvo Penta Genuine Parts and Accessories that have been supplied
and installed by an authorized Volvo Penta Workshop are covered for
24 months — including the labor involved in fitting the part.

This is Volvo's parts warranty. If you had your boat serviced at a authorized Volvo Penta dealer and they used genuine Volvo parts (like it states in their dealership agreement), this starter should be covered under their parts warranty for 2 years!

This only applies if the starter failed due to a manufacturing defect or faulty installation. Both Volvo and MerCruiser have us remove the lowest most thru bolt and examine it for rust. If the bolt is rusted --- no warranty, no rust -- covered.

I'm not sure what you mean by "hard wired" your boat should have been equipped with an automatic bilge pump float switch that is powered even if the battery switch is in the off position.

About the only way to get rust inside the starter is to let it get submerged, a little splashing won't do it. I've been retired for a few years now, but starter failure without submerging is very rare here in Minnesota. All bets are off with a rental fleet -- most renters are idiots or just don't care. Never buy a rental boat, it was abused.
Thank you very much for your reply. I believe I wrote "hot wired" by which I meant exactly what you indicate that the bilge pump float switch is powered even with the battery switch off. When the selling dealer installed a second battery, they wired it incorrectly. The bilge filled with water with the battery switch off and submerged the starter. I should have checked the float switch when I had the second battery installed. The selling dealer had already demonstrated their incompetence when they delivered the boat. They left the quick drain open causing the engine to overheat seconds after leaving the dock. When the starter eventually failed due to its submersion, this same dealership would do nothing to help even though they had clearly caused the problem. Thankfully, I took the boat to the local Chaparral dealership and had them replace the starter. Thus, your reminder regarding the warranty provisions is a timely one. The only problem is that I have to transport my boat again to the Chaparral dealership which is an hour's drive from my location. I reside directly on a lake and do not own a trailer. It cost me approximately $500 to get it to the dealership last time. At least, the dealership should pick up the parts and labor. I was not aware of these provisions, so thank you again for your response. It should save me $800!
 

wldiii

Recruit
Joined
Jul 23, 2022
Messages
3
Thank you very much for your reply. I believe I wrote "hot wired" by which I meant exactly what you indicate that the bilge pump float switch is powered even with the battery switch off. When the selling dealer installed a second battery, they wired it incorrectly. The bilge filled with water with the battery switch off and submerged the starter. I should have checked the float switch when I had the second battery installed. The selling dealer had already demonstrated their incompetence when they delivered the boat. They left the quick drain open causing the engine to overheat seconds after leaving the dock. When the starter eventually failed due to its submersion, this same dealership would do nothing to help even though they had clearly caused the problem. Thankfully, I took the boat to the local Chaparral dealership and had them replace the starter. Thus, your reminder regarding the warranty provisions is a timely one. The only problem is that I have to transport my boat again to the Chaparral dealership which is an hour's drive from my location. I reside directly on a lake and do not own a trailer. It cost me approximately $500 to get it to the dealership last time. At least, the dealership should pick up the parts and labor. I was not aware of these provisions, so thank you again for your response. It should save me $800!
 

muc

"Retired" Association of Marine Technicians...
Joined
Jul 7, 2004
Messages
2,206
Maybe check with your service provider. Some offer mobile service calls. Ask for pricing and also what happens if the tech shows up but isn't able to fix the boat and it has to go back to the shop.

I belive in customers being able to make an informed decision.
 

Lou C

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Nov 10, 2002
Messages
13,262
There are other things to check as far as this issue goes….look at the drain for that exhaust manifold….is it right over the connections for the starter solenoid? Does it drip a bit of water? If so it will corrode those terminals & you will have intermittent no crank problems. The cure is use gasket sealer on the threads and make sure it does not leak. I had that on my OMC Cobra with the one piece bat wing manifolds. Now I have the Barr aftermarket V6 manifolds & those have rear drains. But still use gasket sealer. Salt water.
I have used ARCO starters & alternators with good results. Even my old Delco direct drive starter lasted about 10 years here in the salt pond before it started slowing down. That was one heavy beast to install, the ARCO PMGR starter is like half the weight.
 
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