Patrick
Not quite enough information. Do you leave your boat tied to a dock with a battery charger on when unattended or are you unplugged so the batteries could get depleted? When you switch off your batteries, does this disconnect the battery charger? What engine model do you have?

You may have an issue with the starter solenoid. The click you hear is the solenoid actuating. The solenoid is an electromechanical device that is attached to the side of your starter. Its round and smaller than the starter motor. When you engage the key switch, the solenoid pushes the starter gears out and they engage teeth in the flywheel. When the gear shaft extends, it closes a mechanical switch that provides power to the starter motor. Some starter solenoids have a second terminal that normally has power and disconnects when the key is engaged. This is supposed to disconnect you car air-conditioner but can be used to disable other stuff when starting the engine. If the solenoid fails to move the gear shaft far enough, the switch won’t close and the motor won’t start. You get similar behavior if the switch contacts are worn or dirty. You can usually nurse a bad solenoid by rapping the starter with a hammer when someone else turns the key. If the hammer trick doesn’t work, it probably isn’t the switch or solenoid. It could either be a weak battery or a bad connection from the battery to the starter motor. The terminals on these battery cables sometimes get corroded. Disconnect the wire on the starter and clean the terminal ends with sandpaper. A poor contact at the battery or a poor ground will cause the same problem. You can diagnose this kind of problem by attaching a voltmeter to the power lead on the starter. When you close the ignition key switch, the voltmeter should show between 9 and 10 volts. If it shows less than 9 volts, its a bad battery or connection. If it shows more than 10 volts, its likely a bad solenoid or starter. If the same reading taken on the battery posts shows over 9v, its the connections.

I recommend that you remove your starter and send it out to a starter shop to have it serviced. Starters are a service item and should be serviced every few years. I service mine every three or four years. Service costs less than $100. They are easy to remove. Disconnect the battery cable, key cable, and usually three mounting bolts. The starter will pull out. They are heavy. While the starter is out, clean the battery cables with sandpaper. There is a spray product that you can apply to battery terminals that protects them from corrosion. Wal-Mart sells the it in very small spray cans.

If it turns out to be your battery, you might add a dedicated starter battery. This is an automotive battery that just starts your engine and does nothing else. There are a number of ways to wire this up. Contact us if you want instructions. Deep cycle batteries aren’t designed for high-current applications such as starting your engine. A dedicated high-current starter battery will insure that you can always start your engine even if your house bank is depleted.

Regards
Rich
BlackSheep

The problem sounds like a classic case of corroded ground, positive
terminals on the engine or need a new starter solenoid. Just for
grins, try whacking the starter solenoid or relay (I just thought of
that-it could be bad too).

Typically you’ll find it’s corrosion.

Bob

On 4/7/09, Patrick Walters <> wrote:

I’ve been holding off on asking this question hoping to do some more
troubleshooting myself but I figured I’ll throw it out and see what you all
think.

After sitting at the dock for a while (daysmonths) the engine does not
start.
Starting procedure:
Turn on the key (listen to annoying bell)
Hold down Glwo POlug for 15 seconds
Push Start
I get a single click from the area of the starter and nothing.
I can then go down with a screw driver and start the engine by connecting
the starter switch post to the + terminal.

I think that is telling me I have a bad starter switch or wiring tofromin
the switch to the solenoid.

Now to screw all that up, after running the motor for a bit the engine
starts up just fine which makes me think its my batteries not giving enough
umph, but if that’s the case why can I start the engine with the screwdriver
bypass?

Prior to starting, the battery test in the nav station reports >12v. The
engine gauge is in the yellow I think that is right at or under 12v when the
key is on.
I checked the SG on a couple of batteries this weekend and they looked full
and measured fine.

I actually think it’s the batteries, because I am pretty sure I’ve been a
batter caretaker, but this isn’t adding up for me.

Any thoughts?
-patrick

P.s. I did get the boat off the dock and go sailing this weekend though…
it was great.

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Bob Fine
s/v Pelican
Hull #8

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1- release the glow plug button before hitting the starter button and
you will have more current available.
2- don’t go crazy on glow plug time. it is easy to burn out your glow
plugs (as me how I know). 5 Mississippi should be plenty.

Patrick Walters wrote:

I’ve been holding off on asking this question hoping to do some more
troubleshooting myself but I figured I’ll throw it out and see what
you all think.
After sitting at the dock for a while (daysmonths) the engine does
not start.
Starting procedure:
Turn on the key (listen to annoying bell)
Hold down Glwo POlug for 15 seconds
Push Start
I get a single click from the area of the starter and nothing.
I can then go down with a screw driver and start the engine by
connecting the starter switch post to the + terminal.
I think that is telling me I have a bad starter switch or wiring
tofromin the switch to the solenoid.
Now to screw all that up, after running the motor for a bit the engine
starts up just fine which makes me think its my batteries not giving
enough umph, but if that’s the case why can I start the engine with
the screwdriver bypass?
Prior to starting, the battery test in the nav station reports >12v.
The engine gauge is in the yellow I think that is right at or under
12v when the key is on.
I checked the SG on a couple of batteries this weekend and they looked
full and measured fine.
I actually think it’s the batteries, because I am pretty sure I’ve
been a batter caretaker, but this isn’t adding up for me.
Any thoughts?
-patrick
P.s. I did get the boat off the dock and go sailing this weekend
though… it was great. Winking smile emoticon

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Bill’s 2 cents worth,

I have had similar starter mishaps. If it clicks your starter switch is fine. The connection from the starter switch to the solenoid gets corroded and should be cleaned. I use good old WD40 for corroded electronic connections. It is a cleans, lubricates, conducts ac or dc current and it smells nice to boot. Never leave the dock without it. The screwdriver method will short your batteries out and could short you out if you are not careful.
-Bill
SV Running Tab P424 #86

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On the W58, you can't start the motor if the glow plug button isn't pushed – it provides power to both the starting button and the glow plugs…

Bob

On Tue, Apr 7, 2009 at 9:24 PM, Pete Dubler < ([email][/email])> wrote:

1- release the glow plug button before hitting the starter button and you will have more current available.
2- don't go crazy on glow plug time. it is easy to burn out your glow plugs (as me how I know). 5 Mississippi should be plenty.

Patrick Walters wrote:

I've been holding off on asking this question hoping to do some more troubleshooting myself but I figured I'll throw it out and see what you all think.
After sitting at the dock for a while (daysmonths) the engine does not start.
Starting procedure:
Turn on the key (listen to annoying bell)
Hold down Glwo POlug for 15 seconds
Push Start
I get a single click from the area of the starter and nothing.
I can then go down with a screw driver and start the engine by connecting the starter switch post to the + terminal.
I think that is telling me I have a bad starter switch or wiring tofromin the switch to the solenoid.
Now to screw all that up, after running the motor for a bit the engine starts up just fine which makes me think its my batteries not giving enough umph, but if that's the case why can I start the engine with the screwdriver bypass?
Prior to starting, the battery test in the nav station reports >12v. The engine gauge is in the yellow I think that is right at or under 12v when the key is on.
I checked the SG on a couple of batteries this weekend and they looked full and measured fine.
I actually think it’s the batteries, because I am pretty sure I've been a batter caretaker, but this isn't adding up for me.
Any thoughts?
-patrick

P.s. I did get the boat off the dock and go sailing this weekend though… it was great. Winking smile emoticon

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s/v Pelican
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My W58 is not wire like that. My buttons operate independently.
alan

— On Wed, 4/8/09, Robert Fine <> wrote:

PATRICK

Hope all is well. I too had this problem 3 years ago. I cleaned up all of the wiring to and from the starter batteries to the engine. Especially check the ground. Still had the problem. Tried a new starter, problem identified, solenoid or starter. Had them rebuilt, all was fine. For two years. Then again. This time was the ground. Replaced that wiring, all’s well.

Hope you solve it.

T

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That’s what I thought when I burned out my glow plugs. Apparently some,
like mine, are not wired that way. (and it is easy to change)

Pete

Robert Fine wrote:

On the W58, you can’t start the motor if the glow plug button isn’t
pushed – it provides power to both the starting button and the glow
plugs…

Bob

On Tue, Apr 7, 2009 at 9:24 PM, Pete Dubler <
> wrote:

1- release the glow plug button before hitting the starter button
and you will have more current available.
2- don’t go crazy on glow plug time. it is easy to burn out your
glow plugs (as me how I know). 5 Mississippi should be plenty.

Patrick Walters wrote:

I’ve been holding off on asking this question hoping to do
some more troubleshooting myself but I figured I’ll throw it
out and see what you all think.
After sitting at the dock for a while (daysmonths) the engine
does not start.
Starting procedure:
Turn on the key (listen to annoying bell)
Hold down Glwo POlug for 15 seconds
Push Start
I get a single click from the area of the starter and nothing.
I can then go down with a screw driver and start the engine by
connecting the starter switch post to the + terminal.
I think that is telling me I have a bad starter switch or
wiring tofromin the switch to the solenoid.
Now to screw all that up, after running the motor for a bit
the engine starts up just fine which makes me think its my
batteries not giving enough umph, but if that’s the case why
can I start the engine with the screwdriver bypass?
Prior to starting, the battery test in the nav station reports

12v. The engine gauge is in the yellow I think that is right

at or under 12v when the key is on.
I checked the SG on a couple of batteries this weekend and
they looked full and measured fine.
I actually think it’s the batteries, because I am pretty sure
I’ve been a batter caretaker, but this isn’t adding up for me.
Any thoughts?
-patrick
P.s. I did get the boat off the dock and go sailing this
weekend though… it was great. Winking smile emoticon

---

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s/v Pelican
Hull #8

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My engine manual says you need to hold the glow plug for up to 50 seconds before pushing the start button.  I usually go for about 15-20 seconds.

On Wed, Apr 8, 2009 at 10:30 AM, Pete Dubler < ([email][/email])> wrote:

That's what I thought when I burned out my glow plugs.  Apparently some, like mine, are not wired that way.  (and it is easy to change)

Pete

Robert Fine wrote:

On the W58, you can't start the motor if the glow plug button isn't pushed – it provides power to both the starting button and the glow plugs…

Bob

On Tue, Apr 7, 2009 at 9:24 PM, Pete Dubler < ([email][/email]) > wrote:

   1- release the glow plug button before hitting the starter button
   and you will have more current available.
   2- don't go crazy on glow plug time. it is easy to burn out your
   glow plugs (as me how I know). 5 Mississippi should be plenty.

   Patrick Walters wrote:

       I've been holding off on asking this question hoping to do
       some more troubleshooting myself but I figured I'll throw it
       out and see what you all think.
       After sitting at the dock for a while (daysmonths) the engine
       does not start.
       Starting procedure:
       Turn on the key (listen to annoying bell)
       Hold down Glwo POlug for 15 seconds
       Push Start
       I get a single click from the area of the starter and nothing.
       I can then go down with a screw driver and start the engine by
       connecting the starter switch post to the + terminal.
       I think that is telling me I have a bad starter switch or
       wiring tofromin the switch to the solenoid.
       Now to screw all that up, after running the motor for a bit
       the engine starts up just fine which makes me think its my
       batteries not giving enough umph, but if that's the case why
       can I start the engine with the screwdriver bypass?
       Prior to starting, the battery test in the nav station reports
       >12v. The engine gauge is in the yellow I think that is right
       at or under 12v when the key is on.
       I checked the SG on a couple of batteries this weekend and
       they looked full and measured fine.
       I actually think it’s the batteries, because I am pretty sure
       I've been a batter caretaker, but this isn't adding up for me.
       Any thoughts?
       -patrick
       P.s. I did get the boat off the dock and go sailing this
       weekend though… it was great. Winking smile emoticon

       

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       s/v Deep Playa | Pearson 424 #152 | http://www.DeepPlaya.com

   

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s/v Pelican
Hull #8

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Patrick

I had the same problem a few years ago and it was the main wiring harness plug. The energizing wire was about a 8 or 10 gauge. I cut the wire and put a butt connector in and the problem went away.

Linus

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