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Posting from the lake.. Could use some help

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utah997

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I took the 98 speedster for a test tun monday, everything was smooth. Out with the family on the lake today, and can't get starboard engine to fire. Starter was strong, and it almost caught a couple of times.. Now just clicking..

I think i overheated the starter.. But the odd thing is, with the port side engine running, if i push the starboard side start button, port dies.

Ideas????

Just sitting here tube tied to the boat, waiting for the starter to cool

Help!
 
STBD is stealing the power when you attempt to start the Port.

Single or dual battery?

I'm guessing single based on your complaint.
 
looks like wires coming off neg post.. The nut was loose. Tightened.. Slight melting of wires..

Am I screwed?
 
utah997 said:
looks like wires coming off neg post.. The nut was loose. Tightened.. Slight melting of wires..

Am I screwed?
Click to expand...

It sounds to me like the starter is not turning. Here is what you should try:

1) Bang on the starter with a hammer or iron bar while holding the start button. (Dont bang on it too hard, or you could dent it)
2) Turn the motor by hand a little, and try to start it again.
3) Remove the starter and test it with jumper cables. Open starter and fix brushes if it wont spin up with 12V.
4) After confirming that the motor is not locked up, replace the starter with a new one.

Hope this helps.
 
ORION '95 Speedster said:
It sounds to me like the starter is not turning. Here is what you should try:

1) Bang on the starter with a hammer or iron bar while holding the start button. (Dont bang on it too hard, or you could dent it)
2) Turn the motor by hand a little, and try to start it again.
3) Remove the starter and test it with jumper cables. Open starter and fix brushes if it wont spin up with 12V.
4) After confirming that the motor is not locked up, replace the starter with a new one.

Hope this helps.
Click to expand...

Thanks.. Good advice.

I think the starter might be ok, but somehow All three black wires coming off the neg post have melted. It actually melted the smaller post (where the 3 wires were attached) off the battery.

What would cause this??
 
Poor connection and you keep asking the motor to start. You MUST have a solid connection. If not, it is like trying to start your engine with a small wire. It simply can not handle the load and melts,,,
 
^ 100%, also I had the same problem with one motor running, starting second motor and 1st dies and the battery tested bad, new battery, new battery problem gone
 
99.99% your starter is failing. Banging on it will work for a while, but you need to replace it. If you are not able to do that yourself, you should sell the boat. Buy one on eBay and throw some wrenches at it.
 
I cant say anything about the specific wiring on a Speedster, but I can say that every other vehicle that I have ever worked on, the answer would be no. I have never seen a ground wire attached to a starter before.
 
Even if not, I would for sure have separate grounds as the starter is a HUGE drain when it comes to the battery electrical load.

What happens when you jump the solenoid?
 
The negative battery cable should attach to the fame/engine block of a vehicle as a central grounding point. Why are you asking me about the solenoid? If you know what it is, then you know what it does...Opps. Re-read/ not a douche question, but an actual diagnostic question. Good point, what DOES happen when you jump the solenoid? I recommend going strait to the starter, but the solenoid is a fine place to start, as Joe recommends.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
So, last night we tried jumping the solenoid. No sparks, and no crank from the starter.

If you can't jump it, I assume that means it's the starter?
 
Never assume anything when it comes to automotive stuff. You need to remove the starter and bench test it. The wires on the starter could be loose, or frayed. The starter could be bad. The starter could be full of water. The starter could be missing. Unless you unbolt it and actually check it out, you will not have the answer. If you send it to a shop, they WILL replace the starter, even if its just a loose power wire on the starter. Its very easy to remove. A couple bolts. Just climb in there and start fiddling around. Do you need a copy of the service manual? I can send you a link for the free PDF on a different website, assuming this site's owners don't mind.
 
The other option, get jumper cables and go from your car as you KNOW it is a good battery. Yes, you know the one in the ski is good, but you do NOT know if all of the connections are good.

So go from your car, ground to the block and hot to the OUTPUT of the solenoid. This way you are only using one wire of the ski. If it does not crank then, then you have a starter or the one wire you use issue.
 
Guys, thank you so much for all of the help, I really do appreciate it.

We have tracked this to the starter. A real bummer, since buying the boat a year ago, I've put time money and effort in, and thought I finally had it dialed in. This was going to be the first "boating weekend" with the family. But, got a starter ordered. Now the next question is how do I get my 6'5 220 lb ass in that engine bay to replace it?

Ugh!!
 
Did you try banging on the side of the starter while applying 12V, and a ground of course? That usually causes the starter to work again, even if its just temporarily. Sometimes its a long term fix, but not often.
 
ORION '95 Speedster said:
Did you try banging on the side of the starter while applying 12V, and a ground of course? That usually causes the starter to work again, even if its just temporarily. Sometimes its a long term fix, but not often.
Click to expand...

Yes.. we tried that a couple of times. It wasn't budging. (but did remind me of high school with my '68 Camaro. I carried a hammer, WD-40 and a roll of duct tape in the trunk)

Would have been nice if it would have worked, so we could have at least had a little fun the two days we were there. BUT... I have a system. Every time one thing goes out on this, I'm replacing both. I figure the other one isn't going to be far behind.
 
Save the working starter, and keep it in the truck. If one of the new ones fail in the future, you will have a known good working spare on hand.
 
utah997 said:
Now the next question is how do I get my 6'5 220 lb ass in that engine bay to replace it?
Click to expand...

Im 210lbs and kinda round in the middle I have wondered the same thing. Best I have found yet is to pull the plugs and temp sensor so you dont get stuck in the butt or break your temp sensor(broke it first time I sat on it) and put one foot on the water box, a folded up towel on the top edge of the head and put your knee on it, suck in your gut and dive in.
 
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