260 sundancer won't start

[Scott Kirkpatrick]

350 merc with b3 outdrive. Went to crank it up last night and got the single beep then nothing. We keep in our lift on the water. Last we had it our was about 2 weeks ago and she was fine. We keep it on shore power as well. We've had some pretty crazy storms the past few days and it's been sealed up and out of the water on the lift. I'm pretty new to boating but not new to mechanical work. We got power, run switch is on and everything in engine compartment appears to be good. Any ideas?

 

[scoflaw]

No crank sounds like a dead battery. What voltage is it showing?

 

[Scott Kirkpatrick]

No crank sounds like a dead battery. What voltage is it showing?

12 to 13v

 

[Pirate Lady]

Bad batts can show a good voltage until it gets with a load. Shore power to a bad batt means nothing.i been burned so many times chasing problems when it was the battery.
Tesla? Oh fk no. I never trust a battery.
How many batts you got? If only one, get it tested before you dig deeper.

 

[Scott Kirkpatrick]

We got 2 batteries.

 

[Lazy Daze]

More info... when you said "then nothing"... does that mean it didn't even crank? Or does it crank but not fire?

Did you try each battery individually?

12 - 13 volts is a huge range. Turn off the charger, put the switch on #1 and run drive up and down a couple times. Give it a minute, then measure V directly at the battery with a volt meter. Do the same for #2.

 

[Scott Kirkpatrick]

No clicking or noises from starter or engine compartment. Volts. If I remember 12.2

 

[Lazy Daze]

12.2 is very low.

Individual measurements?

Do the things I suggested and post back. Or take them out and get them load tested.

 

[Scott Kirkpatrick]

Will do. Thanks

 

[Pirate Lady]

I am still thinking batteries, components dont just go bad from sitting. On the other hand, its nearly impossible for 2 batts to take a dump at same time.
Scott, heres a thought. Last summer i would turn the key get nothing, turn a few times and it would fire up. Maybe ignition key part in dash?
Got a new Sierra ignition, all good now.

 

[Scott Kirkpatrick]

Replaced the ignition about 3 months ago. Old one was spinning and was a pain the butt to fuss with. We have had a lot of rain and when I checked to see if something was disconnected it was a little wet on the outside of the cylinder. I'll check that as well.

 

[Fill Ess]

When you flip the dash switch from off to On, does the fuel pump run?

If it doesn't turn over, I'd go with batteries first, but there are several little things that can stop it from cranking.

You might not be in neutral or the adjustment of the shifter is off and it thinks it's not in neutral.

The main breaker near the starter solenoid could be tripped.

I've had an off-and-on problem where the back of the dash starter switch plugs into the loom is a little loose, so I can turn it to on, get the beep, but when I press to start nothing happens. I can reach up and move that plug a bit and then I can start. It's on my list of things to fix but in the mean time, it's something quick and easy to check.

 

[Fill Ess]

I carry one of those portable jump packs - fully charged. I'd try one of those to eliminate the batteries as the problem.

 

[Pirate Lady]

Scott, I’m out of ideas. Good luck. Just remember this. It’s almost the simplest things you overlook. Before you dig deeper.

 

[Espos4]

Replaced the ignition about 3 months ago. Old one was spinning and was a pain the butt to fuss with. We have had a lot of rain and when I checked to see if something was disconnected it was a little wet on the outside of the cylinder. I'll check that as well.

2 quick things to check….

the kill switch and lanyard

there is a breaker near the batteries, the one with the swing out arm. Did that trip?

 

[Scott Kirkpatrick]

Scott, I’m out of ideas. Good luck. Just remember this. It’s almost the simplest things you overlook. Before you dig deeper.

When I hot wire this solenoid the engine click. Doesn't crank.. just clicks

 

[scoflaw]

You don't have enough 12v power, or your starter crapped out. Check and clean all relative connections including the battery ground cable that bolts to rear of the engine.

 

[Scott Kirkpatrick]

2 quick things to check….

the kill switch and lanyard

there is a breaker near the batteries, the one with the swing out arm. Did that trip?

Where would that breaker be?

 

[Scott Kirkpatrick]

Volts are reading 12.7 and 12.8

 

[Scott Kirkpatrick]

You don't have enough 12v power, or your starter crapped out. Check and clean all relative connections including the battery ground cable that bolts to rear of the engine.

Battery 1 is actually 13v. Battery 2 is 13.0 as well