The Dreaded Click Click

BudGates · May 11, 2016

Get your volt meter out and check for power at each point along the wiring from the battery, to the switch, to the solenoid, to the starter and anywhere else you can find to test it. When you get to a point that should have power but doesn't you've isolated the culprit.

Bill Roosa · May 11, 2016

Hunter decided to put something like 11 connections in the starter solenoid circuit. Each one by itself adds a fractional volt of voltage drop. put them all together and add a little corrosion to one or two and you end up with only 9 volts or less available to energize the solenoid winding. The quick (and not permanent) fix is to go over all the engine harness quick connects and separate them. After putting them back together this try starting the motor. if it works that is the problem. I took them all out by cutting them out completely and crimping the wires together. It has worked for over 5 years with NO problem. There are other solutions but none as simple and they only treat the symptoms and don't cure the patient.

Benny17441 · May 11, 2016

Yes, that "click click" represents a drop in voltage to the solenid. Your boat seems too new to be suffering from a chaffed wiring harness or the aged wires malady maybe. Let's ascertain that the power connection to control panel in the cockpit is OK by testing the buzzer and the warning lamps. With the battery engaged turn the switch on and listen for the buzzer that should be crisp and loud. Then look at the lamps to insure they are bright. If that is OK you have adequate power to the panel so the fault must be in between the panel and the starter solenoid. Bill's suggestion is a quick and usually effective way to go about it. Separate the connectors to the harness, clean the pins and connect again. If it still does not work I would test the voltage at the solenoid connectors under load. If voltage is good the solenoid itself might be bad but if voltage is poor you need to trace, clean and tighten the solenoid connections back to ground and to the control panel. If the fault becomes a random recurring issue then go to the archives and you will find this type of fault is quite common and well documented.

Capt jgw · May 11, 2016

Is it the starter that clicks or just the key? If its the starter it's getting some power but maybe not enough. One trick that sometimes works is hold the key or switch on start while you gently tap the side of the starter motor with a small hammer or something. If it starts it's likely the starter itself that's bad. Replacement will be outrageous but you can probably have it rebuilt locally for a lot cheaper. Automotive starter/ alternator shop. If tapping it doesn't help then it's probably a wiring problem.

I had the same problem on my Universal. One tap on the motor and it would start right up. New starter spins it every time, and since its a Kubota the starter was pretty cheap.

druid · May 11, 2016

Bet a coffee it's corroded connections.

druid

seadaddler · May 12, 2016

Try jumping out the starter first by putting a wire from the large red lug to one
of the smaller wires on the selernoid and if it starts the starter is OK.
Nick

DougM · May 12, 2016

I don't know which engine you have, but Yanmars are notorious for this. And yes, it's a connecter problem. The easiest fix for the starter circuit is to replace the white wire from the ignition switch to the starter on a home run direct for the switch to the starter, and abandon the original white wire.
Also, check the cable from the starting battery to the starter, be sure that the connections are tight. Normal engine vibration and heating and cooling can cause the nut holding the cable to the starter to loosen.

JamesG161 · May 12, 2016

BayMan said:
It sat a week and now the engine won't start but the generator will (they share the same starter battery)

Mine too.
If I start the genset first, its alternator to provides a "jump start effect". I would check the battery voltage with nothing running (12+VDC). Start the genset and then check the battery voltage which should be 14+VDC, as the genset alternator charges.
If still get "Click click", it may be just a lose VP engine starter wiring.

On my Hunter, there is a good reason for all the connections to the (-) terminal connections to the engine starter battery. ABYC standards for how Hunter wired boats of this size with a genset, bond system, galvanic corrosion and lightening protection.
Jim...

JamesG161 · May 12, 2016

Well, I think like mine, the house batteries are not connected to the starter battery.
Wild ass guess....
Check for at loose black wire.
Did you try the voltage test in my post #10?
Jim...

JamesG161 · May 12, 2016

Well that tells me no bad ground, good starter battery and your Xantrex is working.
I would try to start the genset and with it running, see if it's alternator brings the starter battery to 14+VDC.
If yes, try the engine again. Still click click with the genset running. You can Private message me since we both have same set up and we can do a phone call.
Jim...

JamesG161 · May 13, 2016

BayMan said:
battery monitor (Xantrex Link 20) the charge in my batteries went down.

That is normal action as the Xantrex decides the battery state and then it hit the charge until it sees the battery state. Wait about 15 minutes after switching to generator charging. I should be acting normal then.
Jim...

JamesG161 · May 17, 2016

On my Hunter 430, my Xantrex does NOT charge the engine/genset starter battery.
I may not understand your set up.
Mine...
1) Volvo Penta engine/Kohler Genset use a Crank power of 500+ amps battery and charged ONLY by their alternators.
They have a isolation switch ON/OFF. Other High Amp pull devices (Windlass, Power Winch) use it too.

2 ) House Batteries (Deep cycle batteries labeled Battery 1 and Battery 2) charged by my Xantrex.
They have a selector switch ( One, Two, Both) and OFF. They run all other DC devices and Invert to 120VAC.

If we are different, then I am not sure on your Xantrex issue. What is your Xantrex model number?
Jim...

JamesG161 · May 17, 2016

BayMan said:
How could I quickly determine that?

You Xantrex should have a float charge of ≈13.5 VDC and your start battery should not be the same.
So with Xantrex on, check a house battery then immediately check the starter battery.
If they are different then you have the answer.
Jim...

The Dreaded Click Click

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SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John

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SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John

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SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John

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SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John

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SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John

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SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John