Starter Issue - Someone Please Verify Thought/Troubleshooting Process...

[cnpalmer]

...just so I'm not going insane and the dealership/repair shop is telling me the right stuff!

I have a 2003 Sportster LE, 947 Rotax. When I bought the boat (used), it had no problem firing up 3 or 4 times. I had it trailered to my house and I did a ton of clean-up work on it, nothing in the engine though.

I recently brought the boat in to be serviced, compression test, plugs, oil etc. etc. I figured the $145 service was pretty reasonable seeing as I'm not familair with this type of engine and not sure of everything to check myself yet and I wasn't sure of the previous owner's maint. records as well.

Well, once it was there the engine wouldn't turn over. The DESS was attached, got the 2 beeps and then just a click in the starter relay. I went there myself to see what the tech was doing to troubleshoot... here's the details...

• Checked battery charge level which was ok
• Checked other electrical functions, blower, lights, bilge all ok and no drain on the battery
• Jumped the solenoid on the starter relay, starter still didn't turn over.
• Hooked a hard switch up form the battery, grounded and then the hot to the starter and it still didn't turn over.
• Also attached a battery booster pack to the battery and did the same thing, still no turns.
• Also pulled the plugs and was able to push on each cylinder and the engine turns over so its no seized at all either.

So given that series of steps, they're thinking it is the starter and needs replacing. How well does that jive with the troubleshooting they/I did and does that seem reasonable?

Also, are these starters just known "to go" like that? Any ideas what could cause it to fail? I've olny had it trailered to my house and then to the service shop.

Also, on this make/model they said the engine needs to be lifted to get at the starter, is that true to replace it?

They did check a ton of other things for me and the good news is my wear ring is in real good shape, of everything I thought that would be what needs to be replaced! :hurray:

I guess after all is said and done, for what I'm putting into the boat for repairs it'll be worth it since I only spent $3 large on it with the trailer.

 

[Gunsrunner]

Don't know your model of boat, but what has been done seems right to me.
A couple of points,
1) Be very careful using a jumper pack on one of these boat the electrics don't deal with it very well.
2) If you can try it with a known working battery, if the one in the boat has a dead cell even using a jumper sometimes will not work either.
3) if the starter does need replacing go OEM or a rebuild, don't try the cheaper rubbish, been there done that failed 3 times.
4) Check the simple thing like your earths before going to the trouble of pulling starter out, sometimes a sharp hit on the starter will get it spinning again.
5) When you say checked charge level ok, i guess you mean voltage. To gauge a battery properly it needs to be load tested, most battery outlets have the means to load test.
Goodluck!:cheers:

 

[cnpalmer]

Thanks for the reply!

Yeah the battery booster was only used once to make sure voltage was maintaned when testing.

I am definitely going with OEM, which is going to run me about $280 or so.

Grounds were all checked too and we did try hitting the unit with a hammer to get it to turn but that didn't work either.

Hopefully parts will be in shortly and it'll be runnign again.

BTW, completely off topic, but being from Austrailia and I'm not sure of your music inclinations, you ever hear of a group called Hilltop Hoods?

 

[Dans97challenger]

The starters on these boats are junk. I have replaced the stock with a cheap o China model and the China one blew in 5 minutes. I rebuilt the stock starter and now that blew after I tried to crank it over a few times. It happens like nothing I can tell you that. It happened to my 97 Challenger and I can't sell it now because it won't start.

 

[Dans97challenger]

$280 is way too expensive. I know a guy in Lowell, Mass that sells OEM ones for $175. He would probably ship it to you. www.performancemayhem.com is the website. He is a certified Bombardier repair shop.

 

[duff]

no way

that shop is not brp certified. Tall tales

 

[cnpalmer]

Thanks again for the head's up. I had All-Power in Granby MA do the work. For a new starter, choke cable, whole tune-up (plugs, wires, oil change, comp. test etc.), new boat cover, extra gallon of BRP oil and a few other odd's & ends, with parts & service came to $1100. For the work that was done I was pretty happy. No issues since, starts right up runs great.