My C30 has a Universal M25XP diesel. The problem is the engine will not crank. The battery is fully charged. When I turn the key the engine panel lights up. I heat up the glow plugs as usual and hit the start button but the engine does not crank. With a screwdriver I jumped the battery and ignition switch terminals on the solenoid. I can hear the starter motor spinning but does not crank the engine. Does this mean I have a bad solenoid?
Engine Not Starting
- Thread starter Santiago Blue
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Engine ground, most likely.
You might be interested in our C34 Critical Upgrades, which discusses a lot of M25 series engine issues: http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,5078.0.html
While you're there, click on C34 Tech wiki, and scroll down to engines.
Good luck.
You might be interested in our C34 Critical Upgrades, which discusses a lot of M25 series engine issues: http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,5078.0.html
While you're there, click on C34 Tech wiki, and scroll down to engines.
Good luck.
Their are two different kinds of starters, ones that have bendix gears, which when the motor turns, then bendix gets thrown against the starter ring, and starts the engine, the other type, is where when the selenoid is engaged, it turns the motor, and uses an electro magnet to push the the gear in the starter motor, against the starter ring, if you have the second type, and the selenoid is not working, then it will do exactly as you describe. Because in shorting across the terminals of the selonoid, you are not activating the selonoid, but by passing it, if it was a bendix gear on the starter, and you did that, the bendix would still engage the starter ring, and start the engine. Its not that common for selonoids to pack up, you should check it getting power, their will be one small wire running to it, check their is voltage at that wire, when you hit the start button, if you dont get voltage, run a wire direct from the battery live, and touch that, and see if it works.
my engine used to be a hard starter until i read the manual - dumb me for not having done so before - and saw universal recommends sixty seconds of glow plug. now i never have a problem.
SB,
Stu, as always gives the best info/links across the board for folks having questions in these forums. If you checked his link, you probably already have a plan for action.
Based on your question, it does sound like a solenoid, bendix spring or worn gear.
Remove it and find a reputable alternator/starter rebuild place in your area. I have used a local company for years and any rebuilds done have worked great. If you have the starter bench tested and find it needs replacement/rebuild, do not contact Westerbeke (they now own Universal) for replacement as their prices are rediculous. Tell the rebuild place it's for a marine engine and you WILL save money..
Ps: make sure you look for any possible water marks on and around the starter as your problem may have been caused by water finding it's way to the starter. This happened to me some years ago, and required fixing the water problem and also having to rebuild the starter.
CR
Stu, as always gives the best info/links across the board for folks having questions in these forums. If you checked his link, you probably already have a plan for action.
Based on your question, it does sound like a solenoid, bendix spring or worn gear.
Remove it and find a reputable alternator/starter rebuild place in your area. I have used a local company for years and any rebuilds done have worked great. If you have the starter bench tested and find it needs replacement/rebuild, do not contact Westerbeke (they now own Universal) for replacement as their prices are rediculous. Tell the rebuild place it's for a marine engine and you WILL save money..
Ps: make sure you look for any possible water marks on and around the starter as your problem may have been caused by water finding it's way to the starter. This happened to me some years ago, and required fixing the water problem and also having to rebuild the starter.
CR
if not giving the sixty seconds that universal calls for, why would someone go through all this until after then?
And if you add a simple automotive solenoid to the glow plug circuit, you can start the engine in 12-15 seconds.
http://www.c34.org/projects/projects-glowplugs.html
thanks, stu. i had all kinds of opiniions - in retrospect none of them familiar with the manual - until i started using much more time for the glo plug, but your time beats my time. i could have spent big bucks.
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