Engine doesn't start. (454 MAG Stock)
 

I have a 454 mag that is stock. For the past few weeks when trying to start the boat it has been giving some trouble. I would turn the switch, and nothing. I would mess with it for a while and finally it would turn over and start. Now, it has gotten worse. Got ready to go to the lake on Saturday and haven't been able to get it to turn over since. I know that the switch is good due to when turning it I can hear the fuel/water separator clicking. Monday I took the starter off and had it tested and it fired everytime. Went home and put the starter back on the boat, and nothing. Now I'm totally lost!?!
Any help in this matter would be greatly appreciated.

Re: Engine doesn't start. (454 MAG Stock)
 

Have you checked the "neutral" safety switch in shift control, kill switch if you have one, still could be your key switch- on & start are separate stops on it, starter solenoid? Just things I would try as in the past on different occasions I have had 3/4 of those happen. I would probably try starting motor from the solenoid then work backwards from there. Unless you can figure out what you messed with that helped before. Irritating yes but hopefully just a $25 switch somewhere, just my .02...

Re: Engine doesn't start. (454 MAG Stock)
 

Make sure your connections to the starter are clean and not corroded. Or there could be a break in the wire somewhere?

Re: Engine doesn't start. (454 MAG Stock)
 

In the past I did a lot of wiggling of the shifter in which it started, so maybe it is the neutral safety switch. I doesn't have a kill switch. Do you know where the neutral safety switch is located? Is it inside the shifter or on the motor side?

Re: Engine doesn't start. (454 MAG Stock)
 

I cleaned all of the connections were clean when I put the starter back on the boat. Haven't checked any wiring for breaks yet. At least not any further from the wires in the engine hatch

Re: Engine doesn't start. (454 MAG Stock)
 

safety switch should plug into shifter, once you find it you should be able to figure out how to bypass it just to see if it was the cause.

Re: Engine doesn't start. (454 MAG Stock)
 

just because the solenoid on top of the water separator is clicking does not mean it is working! contact's inside may be corroded. easy to check simply by jumping the top posts of the solenoid. it looks just like a old ford solenoid.

Re: Engine doesn't start. (454 MAG Stock)
 

A few more details would help. What's your set-up, transmission? If so, neutral switch will be located there.

Another thought is if you have a remote starter switch, hook one lead to the yellow wire on the solenoid and the other lead to the main positive feeding the starter, the big red wire on the solenoid right next to the yellow one. If you don't have a remote start button, any thing with a switch on it between these two points would work. If you don't have that and you want to find out real quick, a piece of wire touched to these two points real quick will work. If it turns over, your starters fine and so is the solenoid. In which case look for and check the starter relay. Mine is located on a bracket, rear top of engine where the main wiring harness plugs in. When that relay starts to go bad, when you turn the key sometimes, all you hear is a click but the starter doesn't engage. If you turn the key often enough, the starter may finally engages and thew motor starts. If that's been happening but now it no long works at all, the relay finally went bad and you need to replace it.

Less likely but something else to look for would be a breaker mounted near the starter relay, found my tripped once, never figured out what caused it, must have cross a wire or something like that. It doesn't sound like that's you problem but worth checking if you have one in the circuit.

Just a few thoughts.

Re: Engine doesn't start. (454 MAG Stock)
 

Formula,
That was my reason for testing the solenoid. Power on even with low voltage would that be enough to engage the starter? Also isn't the solenoid the same as relay for a merc application. Same as an old ford setup- I am asking on this one?
Rick

Re: Engine doesn't start. (454 MAG Stock)
 

Thanks for all of your suggestions!
I will try a few of these things when I get home tonight.

Re: Engine doesn't start. (454 MAG Stock)
 

Fixed it yesterday! We'll kinda

Figured out that the starter relay switch had in deed gone bad. Replaced it, and the boat started right up. Went to the lake and rode around for about 2 hours and when I put it back on the trailer and tried to start it back up and nothing. I went home and put the test light back on the starter relay switch and same problem had occured.

NOW I've gotten so aggravated that I put in the shop this morning. Let them figure it out! All I can figure is that it has some sort of short in one of the wires that keeps killing the relay.

Re: Engine doesn't start. (454 MAG Stock)
 

Got it out of the shop yesterday.
The shop owner told me that there was a known issue about these going bad. He said he had about 10-15 customers that were having the same problem. He said it's just a faulty part.

Has anyone heard of any known issues about these parts?

He replaced the part and sent me on my way, with a $103.00 bill to pay for about 2 minutes work, and what do ya know!?! I go to the lake and it's fine for the first 3 or 4 starts, then the relay dies again!!

Seems like once the motor gets hot is when it kills the relay.
Someone please HELP!!!!

Re: Engine doesn't start. (454 MAG Stock)
 

powerb, are you sure the relay is bad? Move the wires around on it while someone is trying to turn it over. After I replaced the relay on mine, the next thing that started causing a similar problem was that the leads going to the relay had corroded/oxidized under the wire making for bad connection. Check that, if it trys to turn over when moving the leads to it, cut off the connectors, peel the wire back. If it appears green or black (corrosion/oxidation) clean the wire off good and put a new connector on. Let us know how you make out.

Re: Engine doesn't start. (454 MAG Stock)
 

Good suggestion alcor!
I'll try that when I get home tonight.
Although, if I use a wire and bypass the relay, it starts right up. I know it has to be something simple. Just having trouble finding out what it is.

Re: Engine doesn't start. (454 MAG Stock)
 

Bang on the starter with a hammer. It will start everytime and get you out of trouble. Replace the starter soon though because this trick won't work forever. The reason it started for you was because you jarred it around before you installed it again. If you hit it with a hammer (don't put a hole in it) then it will start. I promise NO NEED TO MESS WITH WIRES.

Roby

Re: Engine doesn't start. (454 MAG Stock)
 

Not suggesting he re-wire, simply check for a few corroded or oxidized connections in the circuit, takes about 10 minutes and costs nothing. As for the jumper across the relay, if it still doesn't turn over then he knows it's not just the relay. Just $.02 from a guy who hates to spend money unless he knows it's broke.

Re: Engine doesn't start. (454 MAG Stock)
 

Sorry alcor I wasn't pouncing on your post. I have just seen too many people install a hotshot relay because of a faulty starter. of course you should be sure there are no corroded connections. The problem lies inside his starter. There are soot from the brushes that build up in the stator and it will act as insulation preventing the starter from getting power. fortunately this soot is very brittle and it will break down and fall off with vibration. (hence the hammer trick) eventually this does get bad enough that no contact can be made on the stator and the starter will be shot.

Roby

Re: Engine doesn't start. (454 MAG Stock)
 

No offense taken robyw1. That's the only bad thing about threads, you can't hear the voice behind it. I didn't know that about starters; I'll remember it, could come in handy one day out on the water.

Re: Engine doesn't start. (454 MAG Stock)
 

I had a problem with relay before, went through about 3 in a year then last one has been fine for couple of years. But now that I said that it will probably take a dump.. If it is build up inside the starter do they make any type of electrical cleaner?

Re: Engine doesn't start. (454 MAG Stock)
 

Also think relay was under $25.00?

Re: Engine doesn't start. (454 MAG Stock)
 

powerb, you said earlier, "if I use a wire and bypass the relay, it starts right up." and "I went home and put the test light back on the starter relay switch and same problem had occured".

So the problem is in the relay or something that drives the relay which could take you all the way back to the starter switch on the helm, safety sw, neutral sw, etc.

If you can get a voltmeter or test light on the input to the starter relay, that will tell you if its the relay or further back in the wiring. 12 volts at the input to the relay, relay bad - low or no volts, its the circuit driving it. Good luck...

Re: Engine doesn't start. (454 MAG Stock)
 

Hey...
It sounds real simple, but have you checked the negative ground to the block? Not just the bolt, but the wire into the fastener. I've seen many wiggle loose with the same symptoms. A short will knock out electrical parts.