Startup problems

bradsimpson301 · **Posted:** Sun Apr 17, 2016 6:21 pm

Hey guys, need some help. I have a 2010 H210 with the 5.0 mpi Mercruiser - 67 hours on it. I tried starting it for the first time since winterizing this evening with no luck. I charged the batteries, all gauges come on with normal readings. My muffs are on, I turn the key and nothing from the motor. No click like the batteries are dead (I charged them - I think they're good). I heard the fuel pump buzz once. Now when I turn the key, nothing even tries to start. Any ideas on where to start troubleshooting? Thank you in advance.

-Brad

alex8q4 · **Posted:** Sun Apr 17, 2016 7:07 pm

Do you have a tether cord and kill switch?... Is it in place?

Is the the shifter in natural position?

bradsimpson301 · **Posted:** Sun Apr 17, 2016 7:24 pm

Yes and yes. We bought the boat last summer. This is the first "cold start" for me......

TX H210SS · **Joined:** Thu May 27, 2010 9:10 am **Posts:** 1488

The starter would still turn engine over if the kill switch cord was pulled. ..if not in nuetral, batteries dead or bad connection. ..or try pushing the big red fuse rest on the engine. ..mine is on starboard side on side odds motor. I'd none of that it may be bad bttry connection.

GottWhat · **Posted:** Mon Apr 18, 2016 9:20 am

TX H210SS wrote:

The starter would still turn engine over if the kill switch cord was pulled. ..if not in nuetral, batteries dead or bad connection. ..or try pushing the big red fuse rest on the engine. ..mine is on starboard side on side odds motor. I'd none of that it may be bad bttry connection.

When one of the wires fell off the back of the kill switch on my 2000 H180 w/5.0 Gi, the engine would not turn over.

OP, I know you said your batteries are charged but they may not have enough power to turn over the engine. It would be easy to rule flat batteries out.

bradsimpson301 · **Posted:** Mon Apr 18, 2016 9:22 am

I pushed the big red fuse button on top of the motor - was a "click." Still nothing. All gauges work, the radio works, normal voltage showing on the battery gauge. When I turn the key to "start" the radio turns off - normal if I recall - like it were starting, but nothing from the engine.

Kill switch is set to run, shifter in nuetral.

tymorrissette · **Joined:** Tue May 31, 2011 10:03 am **Posts:** 225

Starter solenoid? Key ignition switch has corrosion? Corroded engine ground?

Jdpber · **Posted:** Mon Apr 18, 2016 12:38 pm

in the engine their should be a couple reset fuse breakers. make sure that they all are engaged. and make sure the throttle is in the Neutral zone as the neutral cut out switch may not be engaged and thus sending no power.

Decision · **Posted:** Mon Apr 18, 2016 12:54 pm

Not sure if you have 2 batteries (a house battery and a starting battery) but since you mention this is the first time trying to start your boat from being winterized is there a chance if the batteries were disconnected from winterizing that someone did not hook both batteries back up correctly? Maybe the house battery is hooked up correctly but the ground battery connection is not hooked up on the starting battery?

I have had our marina hook my batteries up twice in the spring after winter lay up and they missed a ground connection on my one starting battery. This results in no engine turn over. Its just that that one starting battery of mine has two ground to it and they like to miss the one ground when hooking back up.

230 Mike · **Posted:** Mon Apr 18, 2016 3:57 pm

Batteries can have "normal voltage" and still have low/no amps. How old are they? Do helm lights dim when you turn to the start position? Same result with both batteries?

If your battery charger has any diagnostic indicators I would start by putting it back on and seeing what it says. Does it quickly indicate full charge? Go right into charge mode again and at what charge rate? Etc.

In a 2010 I wouldn't be surprised if the batteries are still original, and they'd now be at the replacement interval.

pet575 · **Posted:** Tue Apr 19, 2016 9:05 am

If you can verify somehow that the batteries are still "good" I'd be looking at all connections to the ground next, starting with the negative terminals on the batteries. I have a negative terminal on mine that gives me problems if it is only finger tight. Once I completely tighten, not a single issue.

Jsyphil · **Posted:** Wed Apr 20, 2016 5:38 am

pet575 wrote:

If you can verify somehow that the batteries are still "good" I'd be looking at all connections to the ground next, starting with the negative terminals on the batteries. I have a negative terminal on mine that gives me problems if it is only finger tight. Once I completely tighten, not a single issue.

This. Check both leads, battery end and also engine end. The ground to the engine block and also the positive to the starter as this will show same symptoms if loose...

bradsimpson301 · **Posted:** Wed Apr 20, 2016 7:40 am

Thanks for the replies so far! The boat does have two batteries. I did not remove them for the winter - lots of wiring to mess up upon re-installation. I've been busy at work since Monday, hopefully tonight I'll dig back into it. I'll advise what I can come up with. If anyone else has any more ideas, let them fly - I really appreciate the help! -Brad

GottWhat · **Posted:** Wed Apr 20, 2016 9:08 am

If you did not remove the batteries over winter, I bet they went flat and won't hold enough of a charge to sufficiently start the boat.

LouC · **Posted:** Wed Apr 20, 2016 5:01 pm

You said you charged the batteries, did your charger indicate 100% charge? One more thing you can try is to parallel the batteries by putting your switch on 'both' or 1+2 and that will give the same 12V but double the amps. If it cranks then you know your batts are not taking a full charge....
It's not just the volts but amps that are needed to spin a starter motor over.

www.iFourWinns.com

Startup problems

Who is online