Have you removed, cleaned and tighten all cables from battery to starter including the negative side?
Universal m-18 won’t start sometimes
- Thread starter sailing11
- Start date
I am not sure at what point your fuel pump turns on. On my Universal, it comes on with key on. The point is that you should be able to hear it at some point before you hit the starter I would think. It may take two people, one at the console and one near the pump to verify it is ticking, and while that person is near the pump, he/she should check for lose/corroded connections. On the O'Day 28 they mounted the pump to the wooden frame for the fuel tank and the ground connection to one of the mounting screws, a very shoddy setup to say the least. After two separate loose ground connection issues, I did a rebuild of the mounting.
Just
When I turn the key the fuel pump clicks so it appears like it’s working so I guess that’s not my issue
If all you get is a click when trying to start it suggests insufficient voltage to crank the starter. The clicking is the solenoid activating which connects the high amperage starter circuit. The contacts might be corroded on your starter connections or the contacts inside the solenoid might be shot. Start with cleaning the electrical connection at the battery and starter.
That clicking is probably your electric fuel pump it clicks quickly until the system develops pressure then settles down to a lower frequency clicking. The fuel pump comes on when you energize the circuit but before you hit the glow plug and starter switches. The pump keeps running and clicking after the motor starts. The starter not turning the engine over is a different issue, if your car battery ever ran down and didn't have the juice to turn over your car you get a click of the solenoid energizing but not enough voltage and current to turn over the motor by the starter motor. That sounds more like what the OP was noting. Sometimes the battery is bad but sometimes bad contacts at the connections will cause the same problem.
I'm late to this thread, but found it after an identical experience with my Westerbeke/Universal M-18. My engine has never failed to fire up when cold (most impressive for this 39 year old engine!), but after the engine has been running, I have experienced an intermittent failure to start. This problem is new as of this season.
When my M-18 fails to start, there is no turning over, no sound like the engine is struggling for power... just a click when the glowplug button is pressed, and nothing when the starter button is pressed. I'll try the starting sequence few different times, with breaks between, and then suddenly it will decide to start as though nothing was wrong. The whole thing resolves after a minute or so.
Pete - did you ever figure out the cause? Was it low voltage to the starter solenoid? How did you end up resolve this issue?
-Morgan
When my M-18 fails to start, there is no turning over, no sound like the engine is struggling for power... just a click when the glowplug button is pressed, and nothing when the starter button is pressed. I'll try the starting sequence few different times, with breaks between, and then suddenly it will decide to start as though nothing was wrong. The whole thing resolves after a minute or so.
Pete - did you ever figure out the cause? Was it low voltage to the starter solenoid? How did you end up resolve this issue?
-Morgan
Cleaning all the connections is a good start
There are some starting issues addressed in the attached service bulletin.
If your harness hasn't been rewired I would particularly replace the yellow/red wire #3 (and fuse holder) between the start switch and the starter as shown in the wiring diagram. I would bypass the stock harness connector and try to make the shortest run from the switch to the solenoid.
If you haven't already you should check out this marine how to:
Universal Diesel Engine - Wiring Harness Upgrade - Marine How To
If you are not familiar with that site it is very valuable. If you agree you might consider donating a few bucks for its support
There are some starting issues addressed in the attached service bulletin.
If your harness hasn't been rewired I would particularly replace the yellow/red wire #3 (and fuse holder) between the start switch and the starter as shown in the wiring diagram. I would bypass the stock harness connector and try to make the shortest run from the switch to the solenoid.
If you haven't already you should check out this marine how to:
Universal Diesel Engine - Wiring Harness Upgrade - Marine How To
If you are not familiar with that site it is very valuable. If you agree you might consider donating a few bucks for its support