I have a Mercruiser 302 just get Click at Starter Solenoid any help?

Question

I just put a brand new 1,000 cranking amp battery and 850 cold amp.

Answer 1

You need to check your battery for 12 volts and for cold cranking amps with a load tester or other battery tester . Also check for a good ground circuit . More than likely it will end up being a starter but you'll need to check the other two things first.

Answer 2

Try this. Take the solenoid off and take it apart and clean all the contacts. I work on small boats in the navy and sometimes  we have to instead this instead of getting a new starter.

Answer 3

Probably a dead spot in the starter.  Try slowly rotating the flywheel about a quarter turn, then try starting it with the ignition switch again.

Answer 4

1.  remove and clean cable connections at starter and ground on the block

2.  take a small hammer or a wood hammer handle and give some forceful taps on starter housing (don't use a sledge or give it a whack, you are just giving it a tap to shake it loose if it is corroded stuck inside).

3.  you may have to repeat #2 several times after attempting to crank engine with key

4.  lastly, remove starter and bench test--this is very easy to do with jumper cables and your battery.  sometimes just taking the starter off frees it up inside.  worse case senerio, you can partly disassemble and clean it and spray with WD40 inside, allow to dry (about 30 min) and then bench test again.  Very worse, probably your solenoid has failed.

Answer 5

bad connection or dead spot in the starter. Give the starter a couple good raps with a mallet or a hammer and block of wood. If it still won't turn over, clean the wire connections.

Answer 6

DONT EVER HIT A STARTER WITH A HAMMER!!!!

First check your connections clean and tite,

check for good ground!

More than likely its your solenoid yes you can try to move the fly wheel to index the starter but this is a pain in the a__!!

Since you replaced your battery and I will take it that it is charged full strength?!

Remove the starter and place it on a table then get a jump pack or battery with jumper cables and a wire with connection clips on both ends (jumper wire) connect the positive from the battery to the top post on solenoid place the black negative on the starter body take the jump wire from the switch term on solenoid (usually the  term on the right at 3 o' clock) and touch the other end of jump wire to the positive wire BE-AWARE THAT IT WILL SPARK AND RUN SO GRAB THE UNIT ON THE BODY OF STARTER WITH YOUR OTHER HAND if the starter works test it 5 times if it hangs up or clicks then remove the jumper wire remove the positive wire and place it on the bottom stud on solenoid this will check the starter motor if it runs smoothly then you know to replace the solenoid......

THIS IS HOW TO TEST A STARTER AND REMEMBER NEVER HIT A STARTER WITH A HAMMER!!!!

Answer 7

Potential Problems:

1) Problem: Solenoid:

    Test: Try jumping the solenoid by using a wire (touch a wire to where the red and orange wires are connected on the solenoid, if the starter spins you need a new solenoid.

2) dead battery

Test:  put a battery tester on, or charge battery

3) bad connection on terminals

Test: sand down battery wire connectors, clean all connections, make sure it is properly grounded

4)Hydro-Lock

Test: Remove spark plugs, then try starting the boat, if  starter spins, and water comes out of cylinders, you are hydor-locked.  Continue cranking starter until water stops coming out (this can get messy...)

5) Starter

Test (using a plastic hammer!) gently tap the starter as someone else turns the key, see if you can get it spinning, if it does spin a little, or at all - the problem is your starter