Boat Starting Problem

[Hillbiehle]

I tried starting the boat (which is typically a non event) last night. I lowered the engine and tried starting, it barely tried to turn over and for about 10 seconds after I shut of the ignition it continued trying to fire (although very very weak). Disconnected battery and charged for remainder of night. This morning I hook battery up (with key off) and terminals began sparking and engine is trying to turn over. Almost like its picking up where I left off last night when I initially tried starting. Almost as if there is a short in the ignition. I'm tyring to not make a mountain out of a mole hill and hoping that it's just a bad battery. Any thoughts?

[Jeremy airjer W]

If this where a car it would most likely be the starter that was replaced. The starter solenoid, whether its part of the starter or mounted remotely, has stuck. This would allow the starter to crank anytime the battery is connected.

[Surface Tension]

I agree the solenoid is stuck or you have a bad ignition switch.

Follow the Pos cable from starter to the solenoid.

There you'll see the large red pos cable coming into it and one coming out and to the starter. There will also be two smaller wires, a red and black. Remove the small red wire.

Check for 12 volts at the little red wire. There shouldn't be any, if there is your ignition switch is bad. Or connect the battery back up. If you don't get a spark and the starter turning over your ignition switch is the problem.

With the small red wire dissociated and you get a spark when hooking up the battery and starter wants to turn over then your solenoid is stuck and you'll need a new one.

[Hillbiehle]

Thank you very much guys. I do appreciate.

[Hillbiehle]

I have one more question that I was hoping you can help. I only saw two black wires coming in to the starter. Again, with the starter hooked up as normal, the battery sparked big time and tried turning over. I simply could not not connect the wires. I removed the starter and hooked up the battery again. This time there was no sparking. I then tested the solenoid (I think I did it correctly) and did not get a reading with igition switch on. I'm now more confused than ever.

[Hookey]

At this point I would suggest taking it somewhere. Since they charge by the hour I would advise showing them which wires you disconnected and when the sparks occurred . Don't dig in deeper there comes a time when you start losing money rather than saving, sparks are a omen.

[boatfixer]

Bottom picture

The top cable in the shape of a "U" is grounding the starter to the block.

The bottom rt cable is the ground cable from the battery.

The bottom left cable is coming from the solenoid.

You can try a couple of things.

First disconnect the lower left cable from the starter. Then try reconnecting the battery. If you have a 12 volt test light, disconnect the small red wire from the solenoid and see if you have power at that small red wire. If you DO, then the problem is either the key switch or wiring between key switch and solenoid. If you DO NOT have power at the red wire then the solenoid is stuck. To verify this, leave small red wire disconnected and see if you have power leaving the solenoid. If you DO have power between solenoid and starter with the small red wire disconnected from the solenoid, replace the solenoid.