Solenoid Question

[TomD]

Question for the mechanical detectives out there... I have a mature 100 hp Merc on my boat. I've had two occurrences that I think might be starter solenoid, but thought I'd ask around... Last summer at Westport and Saturday in Useless Bay, I have had the motor not start on me. First time it made a clicking sound like battery was dead. Saturday it made a weird buzzing sound up in the controls. Both cases, we disconnected the cables from the battery and moved them to my kicker battery and it started right up. My main battery was new last week, and tested full at 12.5 volts after the incident.

Anybody heard of a solenoid getting to a state where it won't work, then you take away the power and reconnect it and it works?

[Anonymous]

Check all connections for corrosion first. Including where the wire is crimped in the lug.

[TomD]

Forgot to mention that last week I had also taken all the connections off, wire brushed them and then put them back on and new liquid electrical tape. I did all the connections on the starter and on the solenoid...

Thanks!

[G-Man]

I'd remove and clean all the electrical connections from the battery to the starter before going any further, as it could just be a simple connection issue. Solenoids do go bad from time to time, however the cause is normally low voltage from either a weak battery or a bad connection. A few cycles with a strong battery should clean the contacts in the solenoid, if not it will need to be replaced. Also, check to make sure you don't have something continuously drawing current from your mains. It doesn't take much to sap the life out of a fresh battery, I set my battery switch to "off" when it isn't on the water.

[hewesfisher]

I'd remove and clean all the electrical connections from the battery to the starter before going any further, as it could just be a simple connection issue. Solenoids do go bad from time to time, however the cause is normally low voltage from either a weak battery or a bad connection. A few cycles with a strong battery should clean the contacts in the solenoid, if not it will need to be replaced. Also, check to make sure you don't have something continuously drawing current from your mains. It doesn't take much to sap the life out of a fresh battery, I set my battery switch to "off" when it isn't on the water.

Ditto this! Also make sure the ground connection to the motor is clean, should be no paint or corrosion where it connects to the block.

[TomD]

Thanks Guys! I had actually done that the week before the last trip... took all the wires off, wire brushed them and the connectors, then back together and a new coat of liquid electrical tape.

I think I am just going to replace the solenoid... not that expensive...