Will Not Start

[Mike]

I have a 1985 Catalina 30 tall rig with a Universal Diesel. For the past few weeks almost every time I went to start the engine nothing would happen the first time I pulled the starter. However every time it did this it strated right up the second time I pulled the starter. Well yesterday it would not start at all. When I turn the ignition key it buzzes as usual but nothing at all when I pull the starter. The batteries are fine and when I pulled the panel out all of the wiring appeared to be fine,at least nothing obvious. Any ideas?

 

[Rick]

WONT START

Sounds like a bad switch to me....but thats just a guess.... put a meter across the terminals to check...each time..Rick

 

[Dave Ullrich]

fUSE?

There is actually a fuse on the starter itself. It may be blown. I'm not sure where, but there was a thread in the mid-sized boats section a week or two ago on it...

 

[Bob Camarena]

Hot Wire It

You should be able to track it down by a process of elimination. First use a multimeter to see if you're getting power to the starter solenoid from the switch when you "pull the starter". If not, the problem is either the switch or the wiring to the switch. If you're getting power at the starter solenoid, are you getting power to the starter. If not, it's probably the solenoid. If there's power at the starter, then it may be a fuse or some other internal starter problem as others have suggested. It should be a simple matter to check the starter by putting power directly to it using a heavy jumper wire from the hot terminal of the alternator. I traced a similar problem on my '81 30 to a broken and corroded wire at the switch terminal.

 

[Jeff Walker]

I hope this isn't it but....

make sure the aqua-lift system is not full of water and that the cylinders have not filled up through the exhaust valves. The result will be as you described, the engine won't turn over at all. A quick way to tell is to unscrew the drain valve and see how much water comes out. If there is a lot, quickly pull off the injectors and then crank the engine to blow the water out of there.Hope this helps,Jeff