Occasional starting problem

[Joergner]

Hi guys

Sometimes when I try to start my Ski Nautique 200 2022, it just makes a loud clicking sound (Like a Contactor energizing) and the LINC system dies. The Engine does not even start turning.
When rebooting LINC and trying again, it might start normally.
I have checked the battery and battery connections and it is all okay. I also tried to interchange the battery with a AGM battery but without luck.
Has anyone experienced this or does anyone have any advice on how to proceed with the trouble shooting?

Best Regards
Thomas

[jkallen21]

Sounds like a power problem. The first thing I would do is clean the battery terminals well. If that doesn't work, go for a new battery.

[jpwhit]

I agree that it must be an issue with the power feed, but it sounds like you've already checked the battery and battery connections. Trace the both the red and black heavy gauge wires from the battery all the way to the starter for the red wire, and the engine block ground for the black wire. Check the tightness of every connections along the way.

[jkallen21]

LOL - I read the post on my phone which cut off the bottom part where you mentioned checking the battery and cables. The boat needs about 12.5 volts to start. If it is below 12.3, you may struggle to get the engine to turn over. A bad cell in a battery can cause transient issues in starting. A low battery can be deceiving because the engine can eventually start - which charges the battery once running. A volt meter is a good place to start, but it doesn't tell you how the battery is doing under load (i.e. starting - but you can get a good idea by trying to start it). If you hold the meter to the battery while someone tries to start it, it will give you a good idea of how the battery handles the load. It should not drop significantly during start - going from 12.5 down to 10 would be normal. If it's dropping below 10, you have a battery issue. FYI - if you continue to watch it after the engine starts, you'll see it go to 14v because the alternator is charging it.

[Joergner]

Hi guys

Thanks for your feedback.

I checked the connections from the battery to the engine and starter today and found a few loose connections, which could have caused the starting issue.

Best Regards
Thomas