www.iFourWinns.com

I have a 1992 Horizon 190 with the OMC 5.0 HO engine. I am having a weird problem. I take it out for a spin and it starts up fine and runs great. Then if I shut it off (or kill it) and it will not crank over. It acts like it has a low battery but no clicking from the starter. You can hear it just barely turn over. But I Get it back to the trailer and let it sit for awhile, it starts just fine. Any help or experience with this would greatly be appreciated!

Sounds like your starter to me. When it's cool it works fine, but once it gets some heat from the engine, it goes dead. I had a pickup truck that did this.

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2010 278 Vista
5.7 GXi DP

Past:
1999 225 Sundowner
5.7 GSi SX

I was thinking it may be something like that. I am also going to take the alternator out and have it tested to make sure it is in working order. I am really puzzled by this. The only way I can think of testing the starter is to replace it (not really the way I want to go). Well I will keep toying with it and post what I find.

I had the alternator tested and found it was bad. I just put a new one in and I plan to test it this weekend.

Well the new alternator did not fix the problem. Back to the drawing board.

I had a similar problem with my 1999 200. It turned out to be the rely between the ignition and the starter solenoid that is mounted on the front of the engine. A $35.00 part and easy fix.

Ross

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1999 200 Horizon

Thanks for the suggestion. I will try it next. I have taken the boat to the shop to have them look at it too. I'll update with what I find out.

How is your temperature when you are running? If it is high, maybe things are heating up too much, the engine won't start because of it, and that time period you are referring to when you let it sit lets it cool off enough to bring the temp down to a safe level? Just a thought, maybe the impeller and thermostat should be replaced as well-especially given how cheap and easy it is to do both.

Keep us posted and good luck.

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Paul
2007 Four Winns Horizon 220
Mercruiser 350 Mag MPI w/ Bravo III Drive
2004 Ford Explorer Limited (V8-AWD)
Pomme de Terre Lake (Southwest Missouri)

It is running about 200F. I do not know if that is normal or not. I have another thread going on that one.

Ya, I've seen that thread and, IMHO, that is WAY high. I've never had any motor with a thermostat in it set to run above 150 or 160. I had a somewhat similar experience in my old 1970's I/O, with one small difference.

We would be cruising down the lake, and then everything would just die. Engine wouldn't crank or anything on restart. We'd pull to the side, throw out an anchor or tie up to a dock, and I'd go to work trying to diagnose. By the time I would run out of ideas, throw up my hands, and say "Screw it, I'll just try and start it again" it would start. This process would repeat until we could get it back in to the marina and get it on the trailer. Turned out the lower unit was burning up in my case, and required a rebuild. My dealer told me that the lower unit components were just heating up too much and so they were seizing at a certain point and killing the engine. Then, while I was "diagnosing" they cooled down enough to free up and allow the engine to start.

Wondering if there is something similar happening to you that is the result of that heat build-up. Not saying you have a burned-up lower unit. Just saying that heat could cause symptoms like yours. Maybe someone who is a lot more knowledgeable than I would know- is there a safety mechanism built into these newer engines to shut them down and not allow a restart when the temps get too high? Perhaps a way to protect from complete overheating?

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Paul
2007 Four Winns Horizon 220
Mercruiser 350 Mag MPI w/ Bravo III Drive
2004 Ford Explorer Limited (V8-AWD)
Pomme de Terre Lake (Southwest Missouri)

Classic bad starter motor bushes. They wear and when they heat up they dont work let it cool work fine. Replace the starter and your fixed 100%. Ever see someone climb under a car and tap the starter with a wrench? Same thing.

Sounds like a starter to me too. Mine had worked OK for the 5 seasons we had it so far, then when I winterized it I saw smoke coming out of the soleniod! So I replaced it over the winter with a new marine starter. Basically a simple job, IF you can get at the bolts and they come out. The terminals were so corroded I had to cut the wires off and put on new terminals. New one only cost $150 or so.

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

I just had to bang on a 2004 caravans starter to get it to go! That will be nice if that is all that is wrong. I will still be checking into the cooling system. I'll replaced the thermostat and impeller as they are the easiest/cheapest to mess with.

Do, 200 is too hot.

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Jvalich
http://www.badcock.com

'04 FW 288 Vista "Mental Floss"

I had a starter go out and do the same thing!

Have dealer or good mechanic check it out

Make sure the starter wasn't damaged from a water leak.

That is what happened to our fist two starters.

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Jeff

2006 Four Winns Yellow Horizon 30th Anniversary 200 SS
2005 Nissan Titan Crew Cab
2004 Ford F-150 Lariat

http://www.seabrook-services.com