Starter problem?

[jeb1]

When I pushed the starter button the other day on my 1982 365, nothing happened. No clicking, no buzzing, no noise of any kind, and needless to say, the engine didn't start. It's the first time this ever happend. My engine has always started within seconds of pushing the button, even the first time each spring.

I fully charged both batteries, replaced the battery selector switch (it was cracked and I was going to do it anyway) and still no sound at all.

All the other electrical components work fine: lights, bilge pump, VHF, water pump, fridge, stereo, etc.

It started fine last time I used it, just last week.

Does anyone have a handle on this? Starter? Starter button?

thanks -- Jeb1

[HoneyDoII]

Although I'm not familiar with that particular engine my bet would be that your Starter Relay or solenoid has frozen up. It you have a relay try jumping across the positive & Starter terminals with a screw driver or wire (your key should be in the run position. If you have a soleniod you can simply hit it once with a wrench or hammer (hit it don'k kill it - often thats enough to free it up.

[jeb1]

Thanks, Kevin. I'll give it a shot.

[jeb1]

By the way, I meant to say Pearson 365. It has a Universal 44 hp diesel.

[SteveInMD]

It could be many things. For this case I start at the starter solenoid. Are you handy with a multimeter? If so, remove the small wire from the solenoid (it maybe labled "S") and check for 12 volts from the of the wire to ground when the button start button is being pushed. The wire usually connects to the solenoid with a spade connector and is often yellow with a red stripe or white. Careful of the large red cable as it goes straight to the battery and it will have 12 volts on it.

If you get 12 volts the problem is down stream, either the solenoid, the starter, (which is more likely) or the engine, or transmission (which is less likely). If you don't get 12 volts the problem is between battery, engine wiring harness or engine panel.

The are more trouble shooting steps depending on what you find.

[btrayfors]

Also, check your ground connection. A poor ground to the engine can cause this.

Bill

[therapy23]

Transmission neutral cutout switch?

[hellosailor]

No nothing--no noise at all--just means there is no power getting to the starter motor. Your best bet is to get out the schematic and a test light, or multimeter, and start testing out the entire starter motor circuit, which will be something like this:

Battery-starter button-starter-starter solenoid-ground.

Something may just be loose or corroded. Usually there's no fuse or breaker in the starter power lead, but a fusible link wire instead. If you can't get a schematic, you start at the starter and trace everything back to the battery. Sometimes you'll find a previously owner installed a "secret switch" in the starter solenoid wire, so a boat thief can't start the engine so easily. If that's gone bad, or someone inadvertently flipped "What's this do?", same problem.

[SteveInMD]

On my boat it goes...

Battery - "B" post on the solenoid - starter panel - "S" terminal on the solenoid - starter - ground.