Won't start all of a sudden.. Load too much...

[kimchee]

I have a 5.8L mercruiser V8 I/O engine in a 1996 maxum 2300SC (that is to say it is a 23 footer)... I have been riding my boat fine, however after not riding the boat for about 2 weeks I decided to goto the marina just to keep the batteries nice and charged.. When I got there, I tried to start the boat, but I could not not turn it over, When I turned the key, it just clicked once, as if the starter had too big a load to crank over... When I tried again, I heard a loud slam, and then the engine froze again, as if it locked... I was getting nervous, so I figured what the hell, let me try again... When I did, it happened again, a loud slam, then it locked again... It seemed obvious at this point, that whatever I was doing, was causing damage to the engine. So I stopped.... At this cross road, it seems I have a couple of options...<br /><br />-Pull the boat out of the water, and worry about it next summer, (I live in New York City)<br />-Call a mechanic, and be at his mercy...<br />-BEG YOU GUYS TO HELP ME OUT !!! and see if there is anything I can do...<br /><br />You all really helped me through changing the starter, oil, plugs, cap and rotor.. Please help me through this...<br /><br />Am I screwed... Has my engine been blown... How can I relieve the load off the starter.<br /><br />Thanks Everyone...

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Won't start all of a sudden.. Load too much...

My vote is that your engine is hydrolocked, meaning it has water in one or more cylinders. You can check this by removing the spark plugs, and trying to crank the engine over. If it cranks over easily & pushes water out, viola, that's your problem. If that isn't what happens, then I'll have to guess more later!

 

[kimchee]

Re: Won't start all of a sudden.. Load too much...

THANKS... But I don't understand what you mean by "remove the spark plugs..." Do you mean all 8 of them, or some of them? and if I do... How can the engine turn over if there are no spark plugs in it?? Sorry if I sound like an idiot...

 

[Don S]

Re: Won't start all of a sudden.. Load too much...

Remove all of them. You aren't even sure if water is the problem at this point, so you have to check all of them.<br />While I am not sure where "jghjhg" is exactly, if it's in salt water, you better get it checked out and turned over and running very soon (Within HOURS) or you can call your engine JUNK.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Won't start all of a sudden.. Load too much...

You are not trying to start it at this point, just get it to turn over, (spin).....You cannot compress water, and when you compress to a certain point the starter says: No More!.....If the engine spins freely with the plugs out, and you see water come out it is time to check your manifols and risers for leaks....JK

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Won't start all of a sudden.. Load too much...

make sure you flip the stop switch to stop when cranking with the plug wires off. and dont forget to flip it back to run when you attepmt the next starting attempt.

 

[trebor0301]

Re: Won't start all of a sudden.. Load too much...

Hey Kimchee.You might want to read other posts with your troubles.Go to the top of the page and click on the SEARCH.Look under(type in the box) "water in cylinders"I think that will help you more clearly unerstand what might be going on.