3GM30F Restart

[George H260]

A 12 hour trip down the coast with the wind on my nose caused me to run under engine power the whole time. I ran the engine at the recommended 2900 RPM's and she just ran great. I pulled into a marina and at the fuel dock turned the engine off. I did not have any time to let the engine Idle other than for possibly 5 minutes pulling up to the fuel dock. Refueling took possibly 10 minutes at which time I went and pushed the engine starter switch. Nothing! I then went below and opened the cover to the engine to look around and did not see anyhing wrong. The coolant level was fine, the engine oil level was ok. A lot of heat did come out of the compartment though. I then went back up and pushed the starter again and heard a click. 20 seconds passed and I tried the starter again and this time the engine started right up.On the 12 hour trip back one week later we had the wind on our nose again and had to motor. The engine started right up from cold and ran fine at 2900 RPM's home. This time however I let the engine idle at dock to let her cool down. After turning off the engine I pushed the starter and she started right up.Any suggestions as to why she did not start the 1st time? Was the engine too hot and expansion caused the starter so seize? Is this the beginning of a starter problem? Any help would be grateful.Thankss/v Windswept _/)

 

[Paul]

Solenoid

You have described a common 3GM30F solenoid problem -- or possibly an intermittantly failing starter switch. This particular engine has a starter solenoid, an electro-mechanical device that engages the gear on the starter motor with a gear connected to the flywheel. Most cars have a similar system. We've all owned or known of cars with a solenoid problem, where the ignition key had to be repeatedly turned before the starter finally engaged.I doubt that the problem has a relationship to the duration of running the engine, though it seems to occur mostly when the engine is warm.My Yanmar (same model) does this from time to time as well, although I have never had to wait for the problem to go away. I just press again a couple of times and it eventually starts. I replaced the starter switch -- just because it's cheap -- but the problem still shows up every once in a while. Solenoids typically get worse and worse before they finally fail. If it makes you crazy, figure out where it's located on the engine and buy a spare to carry, it's pretty easy to repace it yourself when it fails. Or, just replace it now.Paulsv Escape Artist

 

[Paul]

Check this thread!

What a coincidence! Apparently this is a common problem. I'm going to make sure I have a long enough screwdriver to jump the solenoid.(Click "Related Link")

 

[R. Young]

Some items to help in the future

Agree 100% with all comments. If you hear nothing, then its most likely the starter solenoid. If retries dont work then you should become familiar with how to bypass it and hot-start the engine by placing a screwdriver across the solenoid contacts - that bypasses the solenoid relay providing current directly to the starter motor. If that fails, then the problems lies in the starter or the battery is very dead.