Why engine not start

rufflivin · Post by **rufflivin** » Sun May 20, 2012 10:17 pm

I just bought a 78 F32 and have the strangest things happening. I had to replace 2 batteries and a battery charger. After losing a flywheel and having to replace that, I thought all was finally running well. Got the head fixed and the AC and DC systems seemed good. Went down yesterday, started the engines and checked every thing out and all was ready for my VSC.

So, the examiner gets to me and I turn on blower - check. Turn on bilge - check; turn on nav lights - check. Blow horn - no go. Then I tried to start either of the engines and there was nothing, nada, zip, zilch ... not even a clicking of trying to start the engine. Also the generator would not respond. The head was ok too, coming off battery. My water pump does not work and there is no water in the boat unless I am connected to shore water. And I do have h20 in the tank.

Any suggestions of what I should check? We did do an altmeter on the main electrical panel and it was fine. This is really scary as I want to travel about 30 miles in two weeks from Tidewater VA to Cape Charles up the Chesapeake but wonder what might happen.

Thanks.

gettaway · Post by **gettaway** » Sun May 20, 2012 10:36 pm

did you try starting with the emergency start switches?

also check to make sure both transmissions are in nuetral.

do you have a owners manual with the 12VDC wiring schematic to help you follow the system while troubleshooting?

Big D · Post by **Big D** » Sun May 20, 2012 10:42 pm

Welcome aboard. This may seem a little simplistic but I don't know yet how familiar you are with boats and thier systems; are you sure it is in neutral? If it is, do you hear the start solenoid clicking when you turn the key? If not, check the battery cable connections both ground at the engine and positive at the starter, engine harness plug etc. Take voltage readings along the circuit if you're familiar with doing such. Also try jumping the ignition switch to determine if it is faulty. I'm sure others will be along soon with other suggestions.

rufflivin · Post by **rufflivin** » Sun May 20, 2012 10:46 pm

Thanks for the quick response. Yes, I did try the emergency start switches although I can't be sure they work. The person I bought this from said lots of things that aren't true (but that's too long a story.)

Also did check both sets of transmissions and they were in the exact same position as yesterday when it did start.

I have the book but I am so new to a 'big boat' and there are so many wires curling all over the place that it is very difficult to trace any one. Did check all the fuses and also opened the helm to look at starters, etc to see if properly grounded and they were.

Again, thanks!!

Big D · Post by **Big D** » Sun May 20, 2012 11:00 pm

Do you here the start solenoids clicking?
Are there ignition breakers at the DC panel or helm?

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Sun May 20, 2012 11:11 pm

Welcome to the Forum . The first things I would check is the battery terminals to make sure they are clean and tight . I see your not far from me this a great area for boating . May I ask what the boats name is ( or was ) I know a few F 32s in the area .

Are you going to the city docks in Cape Charles or Bay creak ? We try to go over a few times a year . the new city docks are a nice improvement

k9th · Post by **k9th** » Mon May 21, 2012 5:11 am

Welcome aboard.

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Mon May 21, 2012 7:27 am

You may want to check the breaker on the engine also .

Big D · Post by **Big D** » Mon May 21, 2012 7:44 am

Sounds like there's something common to both engines going on. Do you have a Trojan battery Sentry system on board?

rufflivin · Post by **rufflivin** » Mon May 21, 2012 9:02 am

Thanks to all for your replies. First, this was "Flat Out", hailing from Newport News. She is now "Ruff Livin'" from Smithfield. We'll be at Bay Creek but checking out the City Dock for the next year as we had heard the same about the improvement there. I am a member of the Nansemond River Power Squadron and we'll be heading over.

We did check the breaker on both engines and they were ok.

Even though the batteries are brand new and we brush cleaned all contacts, I will check that this am. But why would the other D/C items work if the battery contacts were bad (I wonder?)

The engines are connected separately to the batteries so even if I left a switch on for the port one, for example, the starboard should start. I don't have the Trojan battery Sentry System as our old battery charger "died" and I bought 2 new batteries and we just installed a Guest battery charger - both lights were green yesterday.

The confusing thing for me, a newbie in this area, is why do some things work and others not when they are getting common electrical support. We had high winds on Friday night and maybe a loose wire is grounding out the engines and the generator starter. But why the horn? Wow!

Again, thanks all for your suggestions. I'll follow up on all!!

rooferdave · Post by **rooferdave** » Mon May 21, 2012 10:10 am

first thing to do with a "no start" with no clicking is to turn the key to the start position and slowly move the shifter from reverse to neutral, if the problem is the neutral switch/ not in neutral, as the others have said when you hit the right spot the engine will turn over

next, with a volt meter check the battery with a volt meter, should be 12- 13 volts, then check thebig terminal on your starter for voltage, grounding on the block, and next grounding back to the neg on the battery. The result of the above will rule out, bad engine ground, battery connections and starter lead. ( anyone wants to modify what I am saying feel free to jump in please)

next on your list is the solenoid, there are 3 teminals on the starter/ solenoid, the big one you checked before (9/16 or 5/8 nut) and the two 9/32 nuts, not being sure of your boat if you jump the big nut to the lower little nut, the starter should engage, leave the ignition off or else engine may run, this can be bad if you have inadvertantly left engine at wot (don't ask) on your boat it may be the other one but no harm will result. If the engine does crank you have a problem with wiring or safety switches

summer storm · Post by **summer storm** » Mon May 21, 2012 10:16 am

silly question but did you try both stations?

rooferdave · Post by **rooferdave** » Mon May 21, 2012 10:22 am

summer storm wrote:silly question but did you try both stations?

now why didn't I think if that?

larryeddington · Post by **larryeddington** » Mon May 21, 2012 10:30 am

If your Chryslers have the engine control modules covered with a black phenolic cover, you will (no may) find a wiring diagram on its underside when you take it off, which may be helpful regarding wiring.

captainmaniac · Post by **captainmaniac** » Mon May 21, 2012 10:36 am

You didn't mention anything about the battery switches (ie main shutoff switches). Area they on or off? If you haven't seen them, they are in the panel under the lower helm, to the left of all the breaker switches.

Normally some of the other DC electrical will work whether the switches are on or off (like bilge pumps and head) because thier wiring bypasses the switches. Maybe a prev owner rewired other stuff wrong (like Nav lights) to make them work as well when the switches are off.

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Why engine not start

Why engine not start

why engine not start

why engine not start