454 mag mpi starter just clicks
 

Im looking for some advise. When i pulled my boat out this spring my port motors starter would just click when I turned the key. After a lot of clicks, it did eventually engage, and fired right up. I shut it off and started it a few times and it was good. I turned the key again in the barn after putting it away, nothing but clicks again. After some research, I've replaced the slave solenoid, then battery, then just finished changing the starter(what a pain), nothing changed the clicking. Im out of ideas. Any help is greatly appreciated! Thanks guys!

How old is the boat/cables? Check all grounds and the cables do corrode under the sheathing where it is not visible.

Its a 1998 boat. All original cables. I will have to check the ground. I could feel it on the back of the motor, it was snug. Maybe its corroded. Thanks for the idea.

put your hand on the slave solenoid and have somebody hit the key. is that the click? jump the 2 big terminals on top of slave with a wrench or something. fire every time? just cuz something is new doesn't mean it is perfect.

I had my wife hit the key, the ckick is in the slave solenoid. I jumped the two top terminals, and it still didnt crank. The ground on the back of the motor is clean and tight. I guess next ill have to make up a new ground wire and try it.

Pull ground and all big hot terminals off and sand clean and reinstall. Still clicks? Need starter. this is pretty much what they are running these days. much smaller and lighter than the old 10MT starters. even has SAE J1171 on sticker on side. New Starter Chevy 305 350 454 Mini Racing PMGR High Torque 3HP | eBay
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I have tried that cheap crap. you get what you pay for

^^^Yup, but I have installed dozens and dozens and dozens of those in cars/trucks/ and boats and have had no issues after many years of each in use..I even have several with say 13- 15yrs of use that are still going strong....whereas I'd have more NAPA than not fail very soon...from install to about a year or so.

Everyone has different experiences with things. As they say, your mileage will vary.

They are all the same sthff. Shiny black paint on it and it is a 250 buck mercruiser oem unit...