4.3 TKS won't crank over.

T

The NY Dad

Member
Jul 10, 2017
71
Arizona
Boat Info
2010 185 sport
Engines
190hp 4.3l Mercruiser
The engine started fine in Nov when I winterized it. Yesterday I wanted to just bump the starter to get the grease fitting on the coupler where I could get at it to grease it. Turned the key get the horn, no click of the solenoid nothing. All gauges work,lights, stereo, blower, bilge pump,everything but engine won't crank. Battery terminals are clean and tight. Put charger on it in 125Amp start mode. Jumped across the 50amp breaker still nothing. Anyone have any ideas.
 
Actually come to think of it the lanyard is on the kill switch and that was in the run position.
 
You'll actually want the kill switch flipped to "OFF" so the engine doesn't start. The kill switch does not prevent the engine from turning - just from starting.

But double check that it's in neutral - jiggle it around. Couple other things... failing key switch or loose wires... starter solenoid... engine mounted neutral safety switch.
 
Thats good to know I didn't realize the kill switch allowed you to crank the engine without starting. Ill check the other things next weekend thanks.
 
I found a good write up online about troubleshooting mercruiser starting system. Tells what terminals to check and whether voltage should be there with the key on or off. Goes through the entire system so i’m going to use that and check it out this weekend. Thanks again
 
Did you hook up all the ground cables to the battery? Do you have 12 v at the slave solenoid? Jump the slave solenoid see if it clicks, if it does and sends 12 v to starter, and still doesn’t start likely the starter. If it starts when you jump it the switch isn’t getting 12 v to the slave solenoid. Trace it from helm back to engine.
 
I finally got it running after screwing around with it all weekend. When I removed the throttle handle so I could drop the control unit out and check the grease inside, I had moved the handle, when I put it back together things weren't in the right position inside the unit even though the handle was in the neutral position. I happened to try starting the boat with it in gear, I got nothing in forward and then I put it in reverse it started. Thats when I remembered I had moved the handle when taking the center cap off and forgot about it. Sucks getting old I seem to get distracted and forget things more easily.
 
The NY Dad said:
I found a good write up online about troubleshooting mercruiser starting system. Tells what terminals to check and whether voltage should be there with the key on or off. Goes through the entire system so i’m going to use that and check it out this weekend. Thanks again
Click to expand...

Since you plugged that good write up you found on-line, it is only fair now that you post the link for us others!
 
Sorry haven’t been back on here in awhile. I found the writeup on iboats forum. How To: Trouble shooting your engines starting system.
 
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