Engine won't start

[Mike Collier]

My 1990 Catalina 30 has a Universal Deisel (model 25). Occaisionally, when I depress the momentary start button, nothing at all happens. Push it a second, third, sometimes fourth time and she cranks right up. I recently replaced the momentary switch and it still happens. There are no obvious signs of corrosion at either the battery (plenty of power), the momentary switch or the starter. It also only seems to happen when I'm ready to motor back to the slip (that is, after the motor had already been run hard earlier in the day). I wonder if this is common, or if it is an indication that the starter is about to go bust? Or if there is some interaction between the start switch and the glow plug that I need to be aware of? Thanks in advance if anyone has resolved this problem.

 

[Tom]

basic starting troubleshooting

Starters require so much ampherage that they require a direct heavy gauge wire to the battery. The momentary switch is only a switch for a switch. Does that make sense? There is a small amount of current that will pass through the momentary switch on your control panel. That sends a signal to a Solenoid either on the starter or at least in the engine compartment. There could be a loose wire to the solenoid from the starter switch. The solenoid could not be sending current to the starter. If you hear a click, when you press the starter button, that current is going to the solenoid, but it is not getting to the starter. It is probably not your glow plugs. Since it only happens when it is warm, then it might be the starter. The starter doesn't stay engaged with the flywheel and when it gets power, the gear is kicked out into the flywheel. If an internal bushing is bad the heat will cause the starter to bind up.I would find and replace the solenoid after finding out if there are not loose connections on it first.

 

[Mike Elmore]

correct

That's usually correct.It's prohibitive to run that heavy a guage wire all the way to the start switch from the battery and then all the way to the starter. On just about every type of vehicle produced, there is a starter relay of some sort.This relay provides a direct connection between the battery and the starter terminal and is activated by a small amount of current when the "starting circuit" is closed when you press the start button. The small amount of current provided when you press the start button closes the larger circuit between the battery and the starter inside the relay.The starter relay usually has 4 wires: battery in, to starter out, ground, and starter switch in.I've never actually looked for the relay on my C28, but just about everything made works this way.Mike ElmoreWindward HullC28 - Hull #7

 

[Rick]

I had the same problem.

It turned out to be the harness between the panel and the engine. There are two connector plugs, one by the engine and the other behind the panel. Corrosion builds up on the pins in the connectors. Cleaning up and reseating the pins solved my problem. The male pins are actually rolls of metal with a narrow slit. If you carefully take a sharp knife and slide it into the slits you will expand the pins so that they maketighter connections in the female end of the plug.As for the possibility of the trouble being with the starter solinoid, you can try starting the engine by shorting the large stud to the small one. If it starts right up it means the starter and solinoid are good. This technique also is good for getting back to the dock so you can troubleshoot and repair there.

 

[John Mavrovich]

Wiring Upgrade

The connector in the earlier mentioned post was replaced for your year C30. Call Seaward at 562-699-7997. They fabricate the harness and ignition panel for Catalina. I did the upgrade about two years ago - not hard to do. It also provides an improved charging circuit from the alternator. I spoke with Lonnie - very helpful. Good luck.

 

[Bob Camarena]

Corroded Wire?

I traced a similar problem to a wire at the control panel that had corroded inside the insulation. The problem was intermittent for a while and then permanent. The wire literally broke in my hands when I started wiggling it.