PLEASE HELP!! 03 gtx 4 tec Starter relay just clicking

[Jtb615]

Ok so i bought a 03 gtx 4 tec first time on tje lake and it started bogging down. In the no wake noticed the back was sitting low so thought i might have forgot to put the plugs in so i get to shore and pop the seat and its full of water about half the engine covered. Drained it and put it back in to see if i could find the leak immediately found water rushing in from the bellow and the carbon seal so i thought that was my problem. Order new kit started takin the c clip off and noticed alot of play in the drive shaft. Took pump off and bearings fell out everywhere so ordered a new pump put carbon ring and fixed the leak. Took it to the lake hit the start button and it barely wanted to turn over. Tried maybe 3 or 4 times then relay started clicking. Anothe try it clicked again then nothing at all not even a beep when i put the key on the post so bought new battery put it in and relay still just clicks.

I pulled the plugs still just clicks. Found the wire to the starter was loose so tightened it up still only click from relay. Its the updated black box relay and im not sure how to jump it to see if it will start. I tried jumper cable from battery + to the post on the starter still only one click and cable got really hot after only 2 pushes of the start button.
Anyone have any idea what it could be?

 

[Digdog]

If the engine and driveline are good then its the starter, you can remove it and have it tested.
Could be also the starter relay , the fact the booster cable got really hot points towards the starter or the engine as being the problem.

 

[Jtb615]

If the engine and driveline are good then its the starter, you can remove it and have it tested.
Could be also the starter relay , the fact the booster cable got really hot points towards the starter or the engine as being the problem.

Im hoping its not hydrolocked. It ran all the way back to shore and i shut it off and didnt try to start til sunday so it was about a week in between. When i got it it was already hard to start. Push the start button and it would barely turn over. Previous owner said the battery was weak but im thinkinh it may have been the starter dragging or going bad. Gonna try a new relay today unless there is something else i should try first. Thanks for your reply

 

[Digdog]

If you change the relay and the starter or the engine are bad you will just heat up the new relay, I would have the starter looked at first , I'm lucky as I have the best starter repair guy in my city , if there is one of those shops or possibly the dealer to look at it. Possibly also the wires maybe badly corroded on the inside of the terminals and you are getting huge resistance, or the connections to the ground could be bad. You have to eliminate the obvious first even though its not the easiest to do.

 

[Jtb615]

If you change the relay and the starter or the engine are bad you will just heat up the new relay, I would have the starter looked at first , I'm lucky as I have the best starter repair guy in my city , if there is one of those shops or possibly the dealer to look at it. Possibly also the wires maybe badly corroded on the inside of the terminals and you are getting huge resistance, or the connections to the ground could be bad. You have to eliminate the obvious first even though its not the easiest to do.

I decided not to get the relay because the jumper test so i ordered a new starter instaed should be here saturday so i guess i find out if thats the problem. Thanks again man