I need help with a starter problem on my boat.?

Question

When it is started cold it will start and run firt time. After the engine comes to temperature and try to restart the engine the starter solenoid just clicks. Sometimes it will spin the motor but mostly the solenoid just clicks. After the engine cools it will start. I replaced the wire going from the switch to the coil because I wasn't getting 12 volts to the coil. This helped on the inital starting but it still but not on a hot start. I have tested my battery at Autozone under a load and they say it is good. Will changing out the battery leads help? Does anyone have an idea of what to check?

Answer 1

It sounds like the starter motor needs servicing. Most automotive starter repair shops can check it out. If you need a brush kit, you can order them from the outboard dealer for your make. It's usually a brush issue or carbon build up on the armature.



Of course it could also be the solenoid, or wire end terminals, but I'd go straight to the starter, after eliminating the Battery.

Answer 2

It sounds like you have a "heat soak" problem with the starter which is common on some engines or if the starter heat shields may been removed or none were ever installed. It happens on some engines with headers as well if the header tubes are too close to the starter or airflow is restricted such as in a boat engine bay. What happens is that when the engine heats up, the heat from the engine or exhaust headers soaks into the starter case and armature and causes the armature to expand and bind against the field coil which prevents the starter from turning when the engine is hot but it will work OK when the engine is cold. It's still a good idea to do tests on the battery cables to make sure they are not loose or corroded, etc.. and do a draw test on the starter.



Parts stores and performance shops, online sites, etc.. sell starter heat shields which can reflect that engine heat away from starter to reduce the heat soak problem or you can fabricate your own out of sheet aluminum if one is not available for your model/engine. Another trick is to wrap the starter case in "header tape" which keeps the starter cooler. Years ago, we had heat soak issues with some Chevy engines....we would remove/disassemble the starter and have a machine shop mill down the armature a couple thousandths to reduce binding.



It's also possible that the engine heat may cause a problem with the starter solenoid....high heat can cause internal resistance in the solenoid coil windings and prevent starting ...some guys resort to installing an exterior starter solenoid like Ford's use if heat shielding or a new solenoid does not fix the problem.



Heat soak issues....

https://www.google.com/search?q=chevy+heat+soak+issues+&oq=chevy+heat+soak+issues+&aqs=chrome.0.69i57.6603j0&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8



Starter heat shields/wraps....

https://www.google.com/search?q=chevy+heat+soak+issues+&oq=chevy+heat+soak+issues+&aqs=chrome.0.69i57.6603j0&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#gs_rn=20&gs_ri=psy-ab&gs_mss=chevy%20heat%20soak%20issue&tok=W2qwNM7baa-HQ-CfwBQ7qA&pq=chevy%20heat%20soak%20issues%20&cp=12&gs_id=2r&xhr=t&q=starter+heat+shield&es_nrs=true&pf=p&safe=off&sclient=psy-ab&oq=starter+heat&gs_l=&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_qf.&bvm=bv.49641647,d.aWc&fp=446d1a555c4ed1d6&biw=819&bih=522

Answer 3

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