www.iFourWinns.com

I just started having an issue with my batteries, which were brand new, I have a 1997 Vista 238. Now, the batteries have lost charge, and not sure yet if our charger is working. But, when trying to start it, it would just slowly crank, and the terminals got scolding hot, and even saw some smoke.
Could the starter be shot, and causing this? Or a ground problem? Any advice, would be great, thanks!
Steve

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First suspect is poor battery connections. Remove the terminals and clean them and the posts; expose clean metal on both mating surfaces of each terminal with a wire brush. Reconnect properly. Try starting again.

A discharged battery wouldn't cause hot terminals, but really bad terminal connections might prevent a good charge. If you still can't start, make sure the battery is charged.

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Tom
Cape Coral

'99 Four Winns 258 Vista
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/bowcam
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/cape-coral-marine-radio VHF
http://67.207.143.181/vlf9.m3u VLF: Lightning, spherics

I agree with GTBecker if it's that hot I am guessing a loose connection and it is arcing at some point to generate that kind of heat.

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2008 F450 TOW VEHICLE
2001 Four Winns 215 Sundowner

Most likely corrosion. Either in-between the terminals (battery AND starter ends) or inside the wires themselves.

How new are the batteries? They typically last 4-5 years. It's possible for a battery to have internal problems that could manifest in ways like yours are showing.

Start by disconnecting each wire, examine it thoroughly for corrosion, clean it and reconnect. If you see any sign of corrosion leading into the insulation of the wire you're going want to REPLACE that whole segment of cable.

Be VERY mindful not to short anything across battery terminals or between a live positive/negative connection. The amount of amperage here is high enough to cause HORRENDOUSLY BAD BURNS. I've seen utterly stomach turning pictures of someone unlucky enough to have been wearing a wedding ring when he shorted out a wrench across a live battery. Damn near burned his ring finger off and left a wickedly bad trench of a burn across his whole palm. Disconnect the lines at the batteries AND COVER THE TERMINALS.

If the batteries are relatively new I'd start by pulling them and taking them to a battery shop and paying them to check it. If they're old then it'd probably be easier to just replace them. I got Optima AGM batteries through Amazon (with free shipping too).

Then start replacing the cables. It may be more cost effective to pick up a hammer crimping tool and learning to put your own ends on cables. That way you can buy cable in bulk and make custom fit cables. I did this for when I added some extra capacity and it was a relatively simple task. Measure (twice), lay out the wire, cut it, slip on some heat shrink, BANG on a crimp terminal, heat up the shrink and attach it to the terminal.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

A failing starter can also do this, my old one smoked the batt cable going to the stater to the point that it melted the rubber post insulator on that cable.
It's a good idea to clean batt terminals each season, and take a look at the starter terminals as well.
Another thing people forget to look at is the terminals under the batt switch, mine had green corrosion on them from the salt air.

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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

thanks for all the great responses, I will be at boat this weekend and clean terminals and hope that is the problem. Hopefully not the starter. My starter battery is new this year, and the other one is 2 years old.
thanks again!

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Be real careful, I'll bet you have a bad starter. You just replaced the starter battery, so I doubt you have enough corrosion to cause scolding hot terminals. The worst part is that everytime you try this and smoke the battery, you are ruining it's life.

I don't know how your other battery is getting drained, do you have a battery combiner? Most Four Winns have battery isolators, but you may have installed a combiner. With a combiner, it might be a bad battery instead of the starter. Lets say you have shorted cell in one battery, then the battery is now 10 volts. The combiner will keep the charger from charging both batteries above 10 volts.

I'd still bet on a starter. Measure the voltage on each battery at rest, should be around 12.6. With the charger on it should be aorund 13.5 or more. Then measure the starting battery while starting, it will drop but I can't remember how much, I'm guessing any less than 11 volts is worrisome.

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2008 V358 Two-tone Blue V/P Dual Prop 320 HP
Lake Winnipesaukee, NH

That's a very good point, when some starters begin to go bad, they start drawing more than the normal amount of current and that can heat the wiring to the point when things start to melt. Back in 2005 when I was winterizing the boat, when I started it the starter cranked over slow, and then I noticed smoke coming from the cable leading to the solenoid. I replaced that starter in the spring and I have a spare in the garage just in case. Checking starter draw is a good idea if you notice hot cables or frequently low batteries.

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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

okay, will definitely do all that, and you are right the batteries are on a combiner. It came that way from previous owner.

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What did you find, Tarheels?

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Tom
Cape Coral

'99 Four Winns 258 Vista
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/bowcam
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/cape-coral-marine-radio VHF
http://67.207.143.181/vlf9.m3u VLF: Lightning, spherics

Hi,
We cleaned terminals, replaced starter, and it started. Then we turned it off, and it would not restart again, and terminals got very hot, so mechanic is not looking for a ground problem in the back of the motor, so I believe that is going to be our problem. He thinks he will figure it out quickly, we just ran out of time on Friday. So, should be running by this weekend, unless something else happens
thanks for asking, will let you know if it is something worse!
Steve

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the starter is good, and it still got hot, eh? How about the cables themselves, do they have corrosion wicking up the wires? Are you using wing nuts or automotive type clamps? I replaced the OE batt cables in my boat which were cheap auto style cables that had green corrosion up in the wire strands about 7 years ago. I bolted auto style clamps on the cable terminals at the batt end. Make sure they are tight, and I'd also check the engine ground, they are usually on the bellhousing a nut on a bellhousing stud holds it on...

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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

Hmmm. A ground on the back of the motor might - itself - get hot but I don't see how that would cause the battery terminals to warm up - unless a different ground path makes it from the starter to the battery negative, like a #8 or something from a house battery that shares the start battery negative. In that case, the other ground path cable would be the one that overheats, not the primary ground cable. Keep us posted.

On a different matter, for a 14-year-old boat, your canvas looks great. Is it a factory replacement or locally made?

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Tom
Cape Coral

'99 Four Winns 258 Vista
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/bowcam
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/cape-coral-marine-radio VHF
http://67.207.143.181/vlf9.m3u VLF: Lightning, spherics

I justed starting reading this problem. It sounds like it is almost resolved and Lou brings up good points! I just want to add something on the combiner. Keep in mind I have a 3 battery set up & one single output charger & a dual output charger. I have talked to both the makers of my combiner and charger and both told me the same thing.

When I am it the slip on shore power the charges are on, of course, charging all 3 battery's. NOW the combiner will now see the charge voltage and turn on, putting all 3 battery's in parallel. The told me that this is not a problem! I THINK it is!! How is each battery charger going to know what stage of charge it should be at, if connected to the other batteries. I could go on with what could or might happen! But to keep it short, I add a control switch, for the combiner to the helm. At the slip, I have the combiners turned OFF. I general go out on one battery and come back on the other. If I am doing a overnighter, & drain one or two battery's. I start the engine, wait a minuet for the starting battery to charge up, and the turn the combiners to there "auto" setting to charge them back up.

I like that idea of putting a combiner switch.
We thought we found the problem, when we got a shock from the distributer cap, but we went and bought a new one, and that problem solved, and engine was running, it was later that we encountered the starting problem a second time. So, he is going to trace wires and hopefully discover the issue.
you guys are way smarter than me, so I am learning something new every day. But I am not complaining too much. I bought this boat this year from a super nice guy in Pennsylvania for $4,000- knowing it had an overheating problem. He had bought a new engine, and it still overheated, so he got the the word from "the wife" to remove it from the yard and life. So, I thought it was a steal, and it was, it is a 97, in perfect condition, came with AC, which has been a blessing all season. I found a guy who works on and rebuilds engines for a living. He posted a brand new 5.7 Volvo for $1,800, and put it in for $800. He completely stands by his engine and his work. He has come back for no charge on several issues, so long story, the boat has been great. I am not positive what it is worth now, but am guessing I could turn it around and sell for $15,000. But, aside from the smaller cabin, kind of miss a 27ft cabin cruiser, it has been great.
Oh yea, the canvas is original, and I don't think it was ever used, all in perfect condition, that alone is probably worth $5,000.
thanks again for all your help.. trying to learn all I can!
Steve

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