Clicking sound on cranking

[Mike k]

Hi all

can you help with some advice please- i go to start the engine( mercruiser 250hp) and most times there is some loud clicking noises. I stop and retry and then it starts.Sometimes it takes a few goes listening to this clicking but always starts at some stage.Sometimes it starts straight away.Sio its a mystery I have checked the earths and they seem fine and the battery is brand new and big spec. The engine is only 5 years old ( 250 hours)- does this sound like a new starter or something more serious with the flywheel ( i sincerely hope its not the latter)!!

Any advice gratefully recieved.

Many thanks

Mike

 

[nimbusgb]

Poor electrics somewhere.

It's the sound of the solenoid clicking in and out or chattering.

Low battery voltage
Poor earthing to engine/s
corroded terminals
poor ignition switch
wiring from ignition to solenoid duff.

Start at the battery/ies and check through the system slowly and methodically with a good digital meter.

 

[Mike k]

thanks Nimbusgb- is this ''sometimes starts sometimes clicks'' situation a sympton of one of the solutions you mention?
Could it be the solenoid is duff?

 

[stuhaynes]

thanks Nimbusgb- is this ''sometimes starts sometimes clicks'' situation a sympton of one of the solutions you mention?
Could it be the solenoid is duff?

Solenoid is likely culprit

 

[nimbusgb]

Yes it could well be the solenoid itself.

 

[carlton]

Definitely sounds like the solenoid. Probably the slave solenoid - easy to change and should cost you about £15 or so. Should be mounted quite high towards the front of your engine - well, that's the case with my V8s at least.

 

[Poignard]

Where can you buy just the solenoid and not the whole starter motor? I think I might also need one.

 

[carlton]

If you're talking Mercruiser, there will be a slave solenoid mounted at the front of the engine. I understand there's also one on the starter motor, but it's tricky to get to.

IME, it's most likely to be the slave - I've gone through three in 6 years, so I ensure I have at least one spare on board. You can test it by shorting out the contacts (but be careful - a big spark can appear if not) and if she turns over nicely it means the slave's duff.

Available from Trickett Marine.

 

[Seahope]

Hi all

can you help with some advice please- i go to start the engine( mercruiser 250hp) and most times there is some loud clicking noises. I stop and retry and then it starts.Sometimes it takes a few goes listening to this clicking but always starts at some stage.Sometimes it starts straight away.Sio its a mystery I have checked the earths and they seem fine and the battery is brand new and big spec. The engine is only 5 years old ( 250 hours)- does this sound like a new starter or something more serious with the flywheel ( i sincerely hope its not the latter)!!

Any advice gratefully recieved.

Many thanks

Mike

On my boat there was a relay solenoid which apparently can fail and aren't cheap, however, when this happened to me the issue was a poor electrical connection between the engine block and the starter. Easily repaired by an experienced engineer although getting a starter motor off my engines is not a quick job and I certainly couldn't have done it. I know

 

[PCUK]

Take the starter off and clean lubricate everything. This is the starter not throwing in properly and is generally caused by dirt and corrosion stopping it engaging smoothly.