Start button intermittently working

LifeisGood

LifeisGood

Member
Mar 31, 2008
201
South Haven, Michigan
Boat Info
1999 310 Sundancer
Engines
twin 350 inboard
I have noticed the past few times going out that my start button for my starboard engine is intermittently working. The beeping is strong as ever and when the button is depressed the beeping stops but no engine turn over. If I repeat this a few times it will start. The emergency start button does not appear to change the results.

I have a 1999 310 Sundancer.

I am thinking of using contact cleaner and see if that makes a difference.

Any other ideas?
 
Check the voltage at the start relay to see if the switch or wiring is a problem. Then check that the relay is working. Then check that the voltage is getting to the starter solenoid. If there's power, then the starter is failing.
 
Do as Frank says, but be aware that your boat also has a slave solenoid in addition to the starter solenoid. They are usually the culprit behind intermittant starting problems.
 
fwebster said:
Do as Frank says, but be aware that your boat also has a slave solenoid in addition to the starter solenoid. They are usually the culprit behind intermittant starting problems.
Click to expand...


I have seen this problem on my equipment and Frank C and Frank W are correct. I want to say that the wire to the slave solenoid (I think it is call an exciter wire) is yellow. In any event, the wire end pushes on a terminal lug on the slave solenoid. Make sure the wire is tightly and securely connected.
 
Last edited:
Sorry for the late reply to this. Checked the yellow wire, it appears snug. After playing with the wires, the problem appeared to go away for a while.

Than it came back. Now it is with both starting switches? Again, this is only intermittant and after a few attempts, it starts (knock on wood).

It seems to be more on the starboard engine than the port, but it is weird to me that it would happen on both sides. What would be common to both?:huh:
 
I have experienced the same thing - started about the same time and on both engines. Corrosion build up on wire terminals is the culprit on mine. I take the wires off the starter, alternator and slave solenoid and hit them with a wire brush a couple of times a year and it makes all of the difference. For a temporary fix I've sprayed a little bit of PB Blaster on the connection and it will solve it until I can do the job right.
 
Once again, your slave solenoids are bad. Its a $16 part........change them.

Why did both fail at nearly the same time? Your boat is 10+ years old and that is at or beyond the normal lifespan of a little solenoid that is vented to atmosphere in a marine enviornment.
 
So, as an experiment (and due to the fact that my mechanic only had one in stock), I replaced the starboard side slave solenoid and cleaned the port side connections (both at the slave solenoid and starter).

After reconnecting the batteries, the starboard side fired up without hesitation and the port still required a few pushes of the starting button to work.

So, I will be replacing the port side's slave solenoid when the part comes in.

Thanks Frank (and everyone) for the advice!!
 
Good work. My luck with cleaning the terminals ended on Monday... my new slave solenoids are sitting on my desk waiting to be installed....:grin:
 
Easy install. The hardest part for my boat was disconnecting the batteries.

After thinking about it, I am not sure that was a completely necessary step. It was a good precaution though.
 
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