Intermitant Starting.

[Mark Juetten]

I know much has been written on the intermitant starting problem. Ours is increasing balky and always eventually starts. There is a solenoid under the nav station that both house and start batteries go through. The problem seems worse the more and longer the house battery draw. Should'nt there be an isolator somewhere or does this solenoid only come into play when starting. I 've gleened about all I can from archives. Anyone have a succesful fix for this irritating and possibly dangerous prob.. Thanks

 

[Don Berger]

solenoid v. isolator

I think you are mixing terms. The solenoid wouldn't be far from the starter/engine. Maybe incorrectly, I'm inferring that you are confusing the solenoid with an isolator but can't tell. Regardless, the solenoid is typically cylindrical with 3 posts; an isolator is typically a box with a number of posts. The latter may be near your nav panel but it should be close to the batteries and/or engine.Either way, the problem sounds like voltage drop because of the long run. Abvout the clearest explanation and fix I've seen is on the Catalina 470 web site.DonIllusion

 

[Don Alexander]

Battery Combiner

Mark,I think you are referring to the battery combiner located under the nav table. Its purpose is to connect the house battery as soon as the engine starts, thus enabling this to be charged.On my 376 I have a sneaking suspicion that the combiner operates as soon as the key is turned. Normally this means that both batteries are used for starting. My engine starts immediately at the turn of the key so I see the combiner as a benefit. Also there is no volt drop as with a splitter. The combiner only adds the house battery to the circuit so the starter motor current from the starter battery does not pass through it.If your engine is sluggish to turn over there is probably corrosion somewhere and I suggest you start cleaning at the battery posts and work through to the starter motor. Don't forget the negative return line as well.Best of luck.

 

[Carl Krave]

Bad wire connections on my H380

I had a similar problem last year. A mechanic at Zanheiser's in Solomons showed me that the wire connectors that hang in at the back of my 3JH2E can become corroded from moisture. He sprayed each connection with WD-40 and the problem disappeared!