Fault finding back from solenoid BUKH DV10

[Nicholas123]

The other day I went to start my engine & there was zilch nowt no signs of life.
I did a bit of research on here & found that if you bridge the big & little connection on the solenoid you can see if the starter motor & solenoid are OK.
I did that & was surprised by it springing to life.Now it seems that I have a fault somewhere back from the solenoid on the positive side.
The ignition switch is a complicated affair with several wires of different colours & my electrical knowledge is just about zero.
I would be very grateful if somebody could walk me through this.

Regards Nicholas.

 

[VicS]

Refer to the wiring diagram in your owners manual

Check the plugs and sockets on the wiring harness.

Some versions ( newer?) have a ( 40amp) fuse, in a small fuse box, in the circuit .. check that if applicable

Identify the wire by its colour (black??) at the ignition switch ( on terminal 50?)

Using a bulb on a couple of leads (or a meter with a bulb in parallel but NOT just a digital voltmeter on its own**) check that you get a supply on terminal 50 when the key is turned to start

( it would be sensible to prevent the engine staring while testing by means of of the decompression lever)

Then check at the fuse box if applicable.

Then at one end of the wiring harness then the other

Finally confirm that there is no power getting to the small terminal on the solenoid.

Hopefully somewhere along the way you will have discovered a couple of points between which the supply vanishes. Then you know where to look more closely.


** because digital meters draw so littel current that they can give a normal reading evn through a bad connection and make a total fool of you..... got the tee shirt and all that!

 

[NigelBirch]

Refer to the wiring diagram in your owners manual

The manual is here if you need it

http://www.westerly-owners.co.uk/we...title=File:Bukh_DV10_DV20_Workshop_Manual.pdf

 

[stevd]

Potentially a corroded connection, probably in the loom connecting block. I had the same problem and found it to be that.

 

[Nicholas123]

Refer to the wiring diagram in your owners manual

Check the plugs and sockets on the wiring harness.

Some versions ( newer?) have a ( 40amp) fuse, in a small fuse box, in the circuit .. check that if applicable

Identify the wire by its colour (black??) at the ignition switch ( on terminal 50?)

Using a bulb on a couple of leads (or a meter with a bulb in parallel but NOT just a digital voltmeter on its own**) check that you get a supply on terminal 50 when the key is turned to start

( it would be sensible to prevent the engine staring while testing by means of of the decompression lever)

Then check at the fuse box if applicable.

Then at one end of the wiring harness then the other

Finally confirm that there is no power getting to the small terminal on the solenoid.

Hopefully somewhere along the way you will have discovered a couple of points between which the supply vanishes. Then you know where to look more closely.


** because digital meters draw so littel current that they can give a normal reading evn through a bad connection and make a total fool of you..... got the tee shirt and all that!

There seems to be many variations & my wiring has been changed & God knows what added over the years Vic but I did manage to trace the fault back to a thing called a mini-relay.It had a clearly corroded terminal & when I cleaned that up Bob was your uncle so to speak.The starter motor burst into life.

 

[Nicholas123]

The manual is here if you need it

http://www.westerly-owners.co.uk/we...title=File:Bukh_DV10_DV20_Workshop_Manual.pdf

Thanks for that I have added it to my collection

 

[Nicholas123]

Potentially a corroded connection, probably in the loom connecting block. I had the same problem and found it to be that.

I have two major connecting blocks which I cleaned up with petrol & a paint brush because they were so filthy but thankfully it was'nt any of those connections that was the fault.
I had just about lost all confidence in my fault finding skills when I stumbled upon the dodgy connection.
The first thing it seems to me to do with a new (old boat) is clean up the mess so that you can see the wood for the trees or as somebody said to me many years ago.When up to the arse in alligators fist drain the swamp.

 

[stevd]

I have two major connecting blocks which I cleaned up with petrol & a paint brush because they were so filthy but thankfully it was'nt any of those connections that was the fault.
I had just about lost all confidence in my fault finding skills when I stumbled upon the dodgy connection.
The first thing it seems to me to do with a new (old boat) is clean up the mess so that you can see the wood for the trees or as somebody said to me many years ago.When up to the arse in alligators fist drain the swamp.

Haha, I know exactly what you mean, I have been in the exact same situation, and I am still trying to sort the mess out, but getting there slowly....persistence will pay off I hope ;-)