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08-04-2015, 02:34 PM
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#1
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Veteran Member
City: forked river nj
Vessel Name: Godspeed
Vessel Model: 36" Marine Trader Sundeck
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 44
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Perkins starting problem
My 1990 36' Marine Trader starboard Perkins 6.354 has an intermittent starting problem. Turn the key on, gauges and alarms come on, hit the start button and the gauges and alarms go dead, nothing from the starter.
If I try and turn the key on immediately again, nothing comes on. If I wait a few seconds the gauges do come on but they again go dead when I hit the start button.
Itīs been suggested that it could be a relay. Could this be my problem? If so, where would I find the relay(s)? Ive followed the wire bundle and canīt seem to find anything that looks like a relay (small aluminum box?)
Any suggestions appreciated.
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mike
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08-04-2015, 03:17 PM
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#2
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TF Site Team
City: California Delta
Vessel Name: FlyWright
Vessel Model: 1977 Marshall Californian 34 LRC
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 13,728
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I had an intermittent problem like that on my Perkins 4.236. It took a while for me to chase it down. In the end, it was a bad splice in the hot wire that runs from the switch to the starter solenoid. After I added a new wire, no problem.
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08-04-2015, 03:32 PM
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#3
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Guru
City: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Vessel Name: Old School
Vessel Model: 38' Trawler custom built by Hike Metal Products
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,043
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Make sure its in neutral. Sometimes mine does the same thing so I move the forward/reverse lever a little till it hits neutral and starts.
Mike
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08-04-2015, 04:22 PM
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#4
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Guru
City: Sydney
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,646
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The starter solenoid is on top of the starter . If you hear a click from the solenoid and starter dosnt move its could be sized prop with rope ? I would change the starter (they are some what cheap in boat dollars ) with a new one and have the old one reconditioned as a spare
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08-04-2015, 04:27 PM
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#5
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Guru
City: Everett, WA
Vessel Model: Ocean Alexander 38'
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 799
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Check all connections at starter, clean and snug
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08-04-2015, 04:37 PM
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#6
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Guru
City: Sydney
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,646
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You can bypass the electronics starter switch and wiring and use a + positive jumper lead lead direct from the battery to the solenoid.
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08-04-2015, 05:06 PM
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#7
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Guru
City: PNW
Vessel Model: 1976 Californian Tricabin LRC
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 1,860
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mike_nickens1
My 1990 36' Marine Trader starboard Perkins 6.354 has an intermittent starting problem. Turn the key on, gauges and alarms come on, hit the start button and the gauges and alarms go dead, nothing from the starter.
If I try and turn the key on immediately again, nothing comes on. If I wait a few seconds the gauges do come on but they again go dead when I hit the start button.
Itīs been suggested that it could be a relay. Could this be my problem? If so, where would I find the relay(s)? Ive followed the wire bundle and canīt seem to find anything that looks like a relay (small aluminum box?)
Any suggestions appreciated.
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With the dimming panel lights, I would guess you either have bad batteries or you have a bad battery connection, probably at your batteries, battery switch, or at the starter solenoid. You're seeing dash lights and gauges and then you hit the start button which causes a huge voltage drop and everything goes black.
What does you battery meter show when you hit the start button? Does it drop down to 10 or 11 volts or go dead? If it was bad contacts in the starter solenoid you would hear a clicking or clattering, even if the starter itself was bad. if the solenoid was burned out, you wouldn't see any voltage drop and the panel lights would stay on.
If this is the case clean all your battery terminals and cable terminal connections up to the starter.
__________________
Larry B
Careful . . .I Have a Generator and I'm not afraid to use it !
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08-04-2015, 05:08 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
City: LAFAYETTE,LA
Vessel Name: Relenti
Vessel Model: Atlantic 30, 1983
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 451
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Check your ground. Been there, done that.
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08-04-2015, 05:35 PM
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#9
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Technical Guru
City: Wilmington, NC
Vessel Name: Louisa
Vessel Model: Custom Built 38
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 6,194
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If gauges go dead, not likely starter at all. Sounds like a poor connection between batts and engine, or between engine and helm. If you can catch it in the act, a helper with voltmeter can walk through the system as you have it in the dead condition.
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08-04-2015, 07:28 PM
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#10
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Guru
City: Groton, CT
Vessel Name: Datenight
Vessel Model: North Pacific 45
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,103
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FlyWright
I had an intermittent problem like that on my Perkins 4.236. It took a while for me to chase it down. In the end, it was a bad splice in the hot wire that runs from the switch to the starter solenoid. After I added a new wire, no problem.
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Same thing on the old boat 6-354.
Rob
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North Pacific 45
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08-04-2015, 08:28 PM
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#11
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Guru
City: Cape May, NJ
Vessel Name: Irish Lady
Vessel Model: Monk 36
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,947
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Bad/dirty heavy cable connection somewhere. Go through all of them and make them bright and shiny.
__________________
Archie
Irish Lady
1984 Monk 36 Hull #46
Currently in Cape May, NJ
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08-04-2015, 08:42 PM
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#12
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Guru
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 519
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Port engine start OK? It is definately a bad connection somewhere. If it were me I would start by checking the engine ground. It may show continuity with a meter, but not with a big current. Hook a jumper cable between something clean and shiny on the sarter and the Neg term of the battery. If not that its time to disassemble, clean, and grease all high current connections. Not wasted time. It's something that probably should be done on an infrequent basis anyway.
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08-04-2015, 09:22 PM
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#13
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TF Site Team
City: California Delta
Vessel Name: FlyWright
Vessel Model: 1977 Marshall Californian 34 LRC
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 13,728
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When my wire went bad, I could always start the engine by jumping (hot wiring) the solenoid with a screwdriver. This told me it was the solenoid wire that was the culprit. Later it got so frequent that I bought a remote start switch with alligator clips for a sparkless start.
In each case, the engine would turn right over and start. If you have a bad "big cable" in the circuit, it won't behave differently when it's hot wired.
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10-21-2015, 01:31 PM
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#14
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Veteran Member
City: forked river nj
Vessel Name: Godspeed
Vessel Model: 36" Marine Trader Sundeck
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 44
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So my problem is solved! After cleaning every wire I could get to, the problem persisted. Had a load test done on the start batteries. One was bad. Replaced battery and all is ok now. Guess it was partially a corroded connection compounded by a weak battery. Thanks to everyone for your comments!
__________________
mike
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10-22-2015, 06:14 PM
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#15
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Guru
City: ketchikan, Alaska
Vessel Name: 'SLO'~BELLE
Vessel Model: 1978 Marben-27' Flybridge Trawler(extended to 30 feet) Pilothouse Pocket Cruiser[
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 2,206
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While the OP has found the solution and others have expressed wiring issues. I to experienced what the OP had. In our case the fault was three factory installed spliced wire from the instrument panel oil pressure gauge to the sending unit.
Smoking wire was the quick clue.😳
Al
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