Starter/Battery Question

[FLCERIK]

I have a 2001 SAN with the 351 PCM Ford engine. Every once in a while when I try to start the engine I hear one click and the engine does not start. To start the boat I had to hook up the jumper cables. My first thought was a bad battery or connection. I took the Marine deep cycle Die Hard battery with 650 CCA amps to Sears and they said the battery is good. I also checked all of my cables and they look clean and tight. I then put a volt meter on the battery when it is in the boat and it reads 12.8V. When starting the engine it drops to 10.8V and quickly goes up after starting. When the engine is off and my stereo is on the battery stays steady at 12.55V.

Why does the engine not start occasionally? If you need more info to help me out than whats above please ask.

[bkhallpass]

2 guesses, frequently the issue.

1) Boat not in neutral (could be throttle not in neutral, cable loose,
or neutral safety switch going out).

2) Lanyard safety switch off or not fully in place

BKH

[NautiqueJeff]

The answer to your problem is most likely your starter relay. Ford PCM engines are famous for this issue. Click below.

http://www.planetnautique.com/index....hlight=starter

[FLCERIK]

I thought the relay problem was only in the 90's. Does the problem exsist with the 01's also?

The neutral switch and the Lanyard are ok.

[FLCERIK]

Thanks for your help Jeff. Where is this relay on the motor?

[NautiqueJeff]

See item number four in the diagram below. Follow the wires from your starter, and you should find it.

[nms1991]

It is located on the bottom side of the braket that has the efi computer mounted to it and it has the three breakers for the engine on it. Best way of changings the relay is to unbolt the bracket and rotate it up to see the wires and be careful not to pull on the wiring to hard as to breack a wire or connector.

[Mikeski]

The click may indicate that the starter solenoid is engauging it's mechanical component but it may not be connecting the electrical. An old mechanics trick/test is to short the starter solenoid with two screwdrivers but be very careful or arc welding could occur...

[Sbt3]

I just had a similar problem with the boat I bought this winter. The guy who had it before me didnt use it much and it filled up with water up to the starter. This caused the selenoid to go bad on the starter. I tried the block mounted selenoid first because that was the $20 part. It wasn't the problem and I put a new started in last week and it works like a charm. They are around $200 from skidim.

[bcrandall]

So is it the relay or resistor? I have a 95 SS I purchased this last winter. I haven't ever had a problem with starting the boat until yesterday. I had the stereo on for approximately 1.5 hours without the boat running. When I tried to start it, there was a click, then nothing. I couldn't find anyone with jumper cables, so I was towed in. When I got home, I put jumper cables on and it started right up.

[83sn2001]

It is more than likely your starter relay. Also check the battery cables for corrosion especially at the block(ground cable).Good Luck

[SacandagaNautique]

I need some advice - NO JUICE to anything!

I have a 94 closed bow nautique with the 5.8ho proboss w/ a carb. I went to use the boat yesterday and turned the iginition on and nothing, no power to anything. I used a booster pack and jumped the boat and it ran fine. Came back in last night, shut of the boat and left it until this morning. I again had ZERO power to anything. I again tried to hook up the booster pack thinking it just needs another jump. I got absolutely NOTHING, no lights, no gauges, no clicking, etc. I installed a new battery, still nothing when I press the iginition breaker on. I traced the main battery lead to the relay, I have juice to it.

Here is my question:

Does ALL of the power first go thorugh this problematic relay??? If it is bad would I have nothing at the dash? Everything I read seems to say that you would still have the power at the dash but just nothing when you try to turn over the engine??? Which is correct? Would a bad relay make it so there is no power to ANYTHING in the boat??

Please help, your advice is greatly appreciated.

Thank you