Starter failure on 88 Cat 30

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Jun 12, 2004
5
- - Poquoson, VA
Just brought my new 88 Catalina 30 home down the Chesapeake, and after having sailed and motored beautifully for a day and a half, we attempted to restart the engine (M25XP) when the wind died this afternoon -- NOTHING. The buzzer sounds when the switch is turned, you can hear the fuel pump clicking when the glow plug button is depressed, but when the starter button is depressed, the only thing that happens is that another tone is sounded, and an amber light to the right of the key turns on. Starter does not engage or do anything. Since there is plenty of battery power, we figure it must be a bad connection at the starter button (or some other interactive connection to the key or glow plug button), or a bad connection to the starter solenoid, or a bad starter. My PO had a rebuilt starter and new starter electrical leads installed in 2000. He says he never had any problem like this. Can anyone suggest what is wrong, and what is the best way to go about getting it fixed? I understand that Universals are Kubota's, but I'm guessing that the starter system and instrument board are unique to Catalina. Any help will be appreciated greatly --- my wife and daughter actually want to go our sailing with Dad! Thanks!
 
Jun 12, 2004
5
- - Poquoson, VA
Just brought my new 88 Catalina 30 home down the Chesapeake, and after having sailed and motored beautifully for a day and a half, we attempted to restart the engine (M25XP) when the wind died this afternoon -- NOTHING. The buzzer sounds when the switch is turned, you can hear the fuel pump clicking when the glow plug button is depressed, but when the starter button is depressed, the only thing that happens is that another tone is sounded, and an amber light to the right of the key turns on. Starter does not engage or do anything. Since there is plenty of battery power, we figure it must be a bad connection at the starter button (or some other interactive connection to the key or glow plug button), or a bad connection to the starter solenoid, or a bad starter. My PO had a rebuilt starter and new starter electrical leads installed in 2000. He says he never had any problem like this. Can anyone suggest what is wrong, and what is the best way to go about getting it fixed? I understand that Universals are Kubota's, but I'm guessing that the starter system and instrument board are unique to Catalina. Any help will be appreciated greatly --- my wife and daughter actually want to go our sailing with Dad! Thanks!
 
D

Don

In line fuse

Find the small wire on the starter and follow it back until you find an in-line fuse. If that is good, check the archives for wiring harness upgrade. Sounds like a wiring problem, not a starter.
 
Jun 6, 2004
15
- - LGNY
starter plug

same thing happened to me the 88C30 has aplug about 16" from the starter and it is all tape and hard to see .but the hot wire is run in the block and the plugs gos bad just on the starter .so I cut the wire off the block and crinped anew 8awg hot wire from the harness to the starter with no plug. easy fix but it took me half of last summer to find my problem becouse it was intermitent. A good way to find bad wireing in a boat is to run the moter at night and look for arc You can find problem spots befor they become a problem John Olson
 
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