If you start me up..

Jeskor13

Jeskor13

Member
Jul 13, 2023
31
Boat Info
Sea Ray 320 Sundancer 2003
Engines
350 Mercruiser Mag MPI
Bought an 03 320 Sundancer about a month ago. Immediately started having issues with the start up. At first the starboard was slow to
Start and we had to use the emergency start once or twice to fire it up. Replaced all the batteries and now intermittently the port side engine will not click, turn, hiss, crank, you name it. But it will go with the emergency start. Any ideas what I’m dealing with here?
 
There is a slave solenoid on top of each engine. Try swapping that from good engine to bad and see if that solves it.
 
I still have my gauges firing up when I attempt to start the engine as well, but my
Windlass and front vent/window are working intermittently as well. Still check the solenoid?
 
Jeskor13 said:
I still have my gauges firing up when I attempt to start the engine as well, but my
Windlass and front vent/window are working intermittently as well. Still check the solenoid?
Click to expand...
Absolutely. One of the biggest mistakes you can make is assuming all of your problems have a related cause. Instead, concentrate on one problem at a time. If the other problems happen to get solved along the way, then they were related. Otherwise keep picking them off one by one.
 
bobeast said:
Absolutely. One of the biggest mistakes you can make is assuming all of your problems have a related cause. Instead, concentrate on one problem at a time. If the other problems happen to get solved along the way, then they were related. Otherwise keep picking them off one by one.
Click to expand...
 
Any idea which solenoids I should be ordering? I’ve scoured the parts manual and
Can’t find a number/size etc
Engine: Mercruiser 350 Mag MPI
2003 Sundancer 320
(Google gives me way too many options and results)
Thanks very much
 
Hi. Sorry I may be a broken record here but I’m having a hard time
Determining which solenoid to get.
As well, the emergency start switch is no longer firing up the port engine. It’s just dead. Still solenoid? * it just fired up when we tapped the start rapidly over and over..
 
Jeskor13 said:
Hi. Sorry I may be a broken record here but I’m having a hard time
Determining which solenoid to get.
As well, the emergency start switch is no longer firing up the port engine. It’s just dead. Still solenoid? * it just fired up when we tapped the start rapidly over and over..
Click to expand...

Did you swap the slave solenoid from the good engine to the bad per the original suggestion? I wouldn't be ordering any parts until you have identified the defective component. That's the great thing about having two engines.

At the risk of repeating myself, I suggest concentrating on only one problem at a time. You'll bend your brain into a pretzel trying to track down multiple symptoms.
 
bobeast said:
Did you swap the slave solenoid from the good engine to the bad per the original suggestion? I wouldn't be ordering any parts until you have identified the defective component. That's the great thing about having two engines.

At the risk of repeating myself, I suggest concentrating on only one problem at a time. You'll bend your brain into a pretzel trying to track down multiple symptoms.
Click to expand...


Thanks very much! Swapping this weekend provided we can find a good “how to” video or instructions. Any recommendations
 
Didn't you say that if you hold the Emergency Start the engine cranks normally?
If that is the case then the engine start solenoid isn't the problem.
There are only four things before the emergency start solenoid that the switch actuates which can contribute to such a problem -
  • Defective battery
  • Bad/corroded/loose positive battery cable
  • Bad/corroded/loose negative battery cable
  • Defective battery isolation switch/solenoid for that engine.
 
ttmott said:
Didn't you say that if you hold the Emergency Start the engine cranks normally?
If that is the case then the engine start solenoid isn't the problem.
There are only four things before the emergency start solenoid that the switch actuates which can contribute to such a problem -
  • Defective battery
  • Bad/corroded/loose positive battery cable
  • Bad/corroded/loose negative battery cable
  • Defective battery isolation switch/solenoid for that engine.
Click to expand...
Thanks for your reply. Originally when attempting to start the port side engine it would start when holding down the emergency starter. Now that does not work at all. On our last attempt, rapidly clicking
The starter button for the port sode
Finally started it up
 
If those batteries are all new I would seriously consider the battery connection terminals. Make sure each and every connection is free of any crud/grease and make sure each one is tight.
 
Batteries are new and connections seem to be clean and tight. Want to try the slave solenoid replacement but unsure if:
1- I need to turn off and disconnect all batteries first
2- any additional tips/ precautions
I should be taking.
clearly I’m nowhere near mechanically inclined but hoping to slow the monetary bleeding that comes with boat ownership
 
Just wanted to say you very much to @bobeast put a new solenoid on and it fired right up! Thanks for putting up with my many posts and questions. This forum is truly invaluable!!
 
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