90hp Evinrude starting question

[311Hemi]

My buddy (he's on this board) has a 90 HP Evinrude EFI (2 stroke) from maybe the late 90's. Anyways.....is it normal to turn the key to start the engine and have it automatically stop turning over by itself after a second or maybe 2? Seems you should be able to turn the key and have the engine keep turning over as long as you want to....not have it automatically stop after 1 second. He sometime has an issue starting and it seems to me if he could turn it over for another second or two the thing would fire every time.

Just curious on this..

Thanks for any info.

[PierBridge]

Sounds like the starter is bad, I would have the starter Rebuilt at a starter repair shop for $75/$125 versus getting a new/rebuilt one from an marine dealer for $300.

[311Hemi]

Well, the thing turns over stong every time, only it seems like there is a 1 second timer or something that cuts it out. Maybe it could be the start is bad, but almost seems like some sort of relay or or something like that.

[PierBridge]

It's the Starter have it rebuilt.

[Macgyver55]

Does the starter motor completely quit and do nothing, or does it just kick out from the flywheel and quit cranking but you can still hear the starter motor running if you hold the key? If it does the latter, all you would need is the starter drive (bendix) which is way cheaper than a complete starter rebuild.

If it quits completely, and you release the key and it try it again, does it crank again right away or do you have to wait a few seconds?

[311Hemi]

You turn the key, it turns over stong for 1 second, and then stops completely. The starter does not continue to spin. You then just have to turn the key again right after (with no wait that I could tell) and try it again. It always turns over and always the same amount of time. Sometimes it takes many attempts for the engine to finally start in that 1 sec the engine is turning over. Runs good once started.

Pier....that might be what it comes to....just wanted to make sure before that is determined to be the final decision and drop the money!! Do you know what would cause that? I do believe you...I just can't imagine why the starter seems strong and never fails to turn, but will only turn for 1 sec. If the starter was bad wouldn't it see like it's having trouble even turning the engine?

Thanks!

[Macgyver55]

I'm not saying it isn't the starter itself, but before I went out and bought a new starter, I personally would do a little further testing. By hooking jumper cables directly to the starter (and ground) you can effectively bypass all the wiring, the solenoid and key switch. If it does the same thing then you know its the starter. If not, you know the problem is elsewhere and have saved a lot of money. At least this way you will be sure, because there aren't many places that take returns on electrical parts,

[Surface Tension]

First be sure your battery is good and charged. Then I'd go about trouble shooting this problem just as Macgyver.

Connect to the positive on our battery with a jumper cable first then find the positive lead on the starter. If the problem is still there then your starter is bad. If she turns over like it should then a soleniod is bad.

[311Hemi]

Perfect......we will give that a shot! Why didn't I think of that?? thanks guys!