www.iFourWinns.com

So I finally did what all boaters will do, I forgot to put the drain plug in the boat. Last year out at Powell I fogot the plug and the motor bay filled up with water. Got all the water out and everything seemed fine that day. Stoped the boat for the night and couldn't get it started the next morning. No power to the starter. I had the service guys there take a look at it and they said dead battery (so I replaced) and they hooked a jumper wire from a constant power to the ignition so we could get the boat started. Works for the time being but a sure fix and will drain the battery over time. So has anyone had this issue or what is somethings I should do to check?

Also the Boat is a 97 4.3GL Volvo Four Winns

Thanks

First, it sounds like you got taken by the "service guys". If their diagnosis was a dead battery, when you replaced the battery, why didn't it work? Why the need to "hotwire it"? Because your starter was/is more than likely fried. How high did the water go? If over the oilpan, you might want to check the oil for milkyness. Basically, everything that water touched should be inspected with a fine tooth magnifying comb.

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1996 205 Sundowner DLX
5.0FL Volvo SX Cobra
Tow Veh: 2012 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X

Marine starters are ignition protected but not water proof. It may work after it dries out but probably will have an intermittent no crank issue. I'd replace it they don't cost that much (150) or so. Mine got full of salt water after a cooling hose popped off on the rear of the engine (check that hose between the transom and PS cooler). It did work after I dried it out but I would not trust it. I have a spare stater anyway because they are cheap and salt water kills anything electrical.

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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 think that is what I am going to do. Start with replacing the starter cause that is going to fail sometime soon then I might have a shop start tracking down where the short is. Anythings else that I should check? No water got into the motor so that is good.

Thanks

While you're poking around back there take a good look at the battery cables, if they are the original OE cables they may be internally corroded. If so replace them with marine cables 2 gauge if you can find it (thicker than the typical 4 gauge). Also, if your boat uses wing nuts to secure the battery cables to the battery, get rid of them. They can and will get loose and cause a no crank condition. Get a set of marine quality battery clamps and bolt them on to the cable terminals and then put the clamps on the battery. This is a much more secure and trouble free set up. Lastly make sure the ground stud (on the bellhousing) is clean and rust free. It may be hiding behind the starboard side exhaust riser/exhaust hose.

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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

Also check the ground connections that are aft and above the starter on the back of the engine.
(at least they are on a V8 -- -not 100% certain on a V6 but they have to be nearby)
I think the battery ground and several other wires are on that ground. On a V8 there is another similar ground terminal on the other side that some of the engine electronics are connected to.

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DaleG -- West Palm Beach FL
2003 240Horizon -- 5.7Gi -Duoprop