2004 ss210 won’t start

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   It is a slow day, I appreciate the laughs!   My brother, one who always waited till something was really broken before it was time to fix it, had a 460 Ford Marine engine, his starter froze up one day, I told him the hammer trick.  For quite a while, at least 3 years, infrequent boat use, if it failed to start, a whack would fire it right up.  And one whack might keep it good for months, Then it started getting worse.  The last time, the one that finally convinced him it was time for a new starter he had to keep beating while his wife turned the key, If he kept tapping it kept turning until it started.  Would have driven me nuts to own it with that starter.  I kind of like things to work as expected.
Just for laughs, same brother restored a 1978 Keaton Jet boat with his son.  They did a beautiful job, all new carpet, interior, gas tank, gauges, exterior was all re finished to look new.  As he did this job I advised him to change all the hoses and belt  on the engine.   

Jack Keaton who built all the Keaton Boats had a great following in Sacramento.  When he passed away there was a memorial on a Riverboat on the Sacramento River.  My Brother told me he wanted to take the fully restored Keaton to the Memorial.  It was Winter, river running high, water very cold.   We hit the river and right when we got to the memorial the engine started overheating.  In front of a few hundred people at the memorial, nearly all were Keaton Boat fans, we had to lift the engine cover and start figuring out what was wrong.   Keep in mind he just rebuilt everything.

So I find the leak in a very difficult to get to place under the engine, and the hose I found leaking was obviously years old and rotten.  No way to do a temp patch.  This hose is the Main water supply to the engine from the jet pump.  Me being ever compassionate looked at him and said, You Told Me You changed all the hoses?   He looks right back at me and says, I did, but that one is hard to get to.   Like that explained everything.
This beautiful Keaton had to be towed back by two very nice fishermen in a 15 foot aluminum boat with a 10 HP outboard.  Of course the launch was upstream so it took forever.  Very Happy they were there to assist.  
The river would have had us a mile downstream before we could have paddled to shore.   

Many Keaton enthusiast's at Jack's memorial got a laugh at us and a few actually offered help.  I wanted to crawl under the deck and hide.  Due to the boat issue we missed the memorial completely but the engine was shut down in time and had no damage other than the broken hose and the exhaust hoses collapsed which helped us recognize the water supply issue quickly.

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MrMcD Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Grand Poobah Joined: January-28-2014 Location: Folsom, CA Status: Offline Points: 3750	Post Options Post Reply Quote MrMcD Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: 2004 ss210 won’t start Posted: March-27-2024 at 9:23pm
	It is a slow day, I appreciate the laughs! My brother, one who always waited till something was really broken before it was time to fix it, had a 460 Ford Marine engine, his starter froze up one day, I told him the hammer trick. For quite a while, at least 3 years, infrequent boat use, if it failed to start, a whack would fire it right up. And one whack might keep it good for months, Then it started getting worse. The last time, the one that finally convinced him it was time for a new starter he had to keep beating while his wife turned the key, If he kept tapping it kept turning until it started. Would have driven me nuts to own it with that starter. I kind of like things to work as expected. Just for laughs, same brother restored a 1978 Keaton Jet boat with his son. They did a beautiful job, all new carpet, interior, gas tank, gauges, exterior was all re finished to look new. As he did this job I advised him to change all the hoses and belt on the engine. Jack Keaton who built all the Keaton Boats had a great following in Sacramento. When he passed away there was a memorial on a Riverboat on the Sacramento River. My Brother told me he wanted to take the fully restored Keaton to the Memorial. It was Winter, river running high, water very cold. We hit the river and right when we got to the memorial the engine started overheating. In front of a few hundred people at the memorial, nearly all were Keaton Boat fans, we had to lift the engine cover and start figuring out what was wrong. Keep in mind he just rebuilt everything. So I find the leak in a very difficult to get to place under the engine, and the hose I found leaking was obviously years old and rotten. No way to do a temp patch. This hose is the Main water supply to the engine from the jet pump. Me being ever compassionate looked at him and said, You Told Me You changed all the hoses? He looks right back at me and says, I did, but that one is hard to get to. Like that explained everything. This beautiful Keaton had to be towed back by two very nice fishermen in a 15 foot aluminum boat with a 10 HP outboard. Of course the launch was upstream so it took forever. Very Happy they were there to assist. The river would have had us a mile downstream before we could have paddled to shore. Many Keaton enthusiast's at Jack's memorial got a laugh at us and a few actually offered help. I wanted to crawl under the deck and hide. Due to the boat issue we missed the memorial completely but the engine was shut down in time and had no damage other than the broken hose and the exhaust hoses collapsed which helped us recognize the water supply issue quickly.

63 Skier Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Grand Poobah Joined: October-06-2006 Location: Concord, NH Status: Offline Points: 4269	Post Options Post Reply Quote 63 Skier Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: March-27-2024 at 7:45pm
	That truck is long gone, but really enjoyed it.
	'63 American Skier - '98 Sport Nautique

KENO Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Grand Poobah Joined: June-06-2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 11127	Post Options Post Reply Quote KENO Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: March-27-2024 at 5:58pm
	But one day you'll be in that Dunkin Donuts lot on a cold NH winter day complete with some snow, sleet, freezing rain and slush and have to slide under there to beat on your starter and it won't do the trick Some people might even figure there's a problem and get a new one or get it fluffed and buffed/rebuilt after the second or third time you have to smack it instead of waiting for that cold, wet, winter day A small part of my brain remembers being that guy, but it was a WalMart parking lot The older starters with electromagnetic field windings can handle a beating more than the newer permanent magnet style that have the magnets glued to the housing. The older ones have field windings bolted to the housing Not sure what you have for a starter, but I'll guess it's the older style. I imagine that we're probably keeping James entertained

63 Skier Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Grand Poobah Joined: October-06-2006 Location: Concord, NH Status: Offline Points: 4269	Post Options Post Reply Quote 63 Skier Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: March-27-2024 at 9:13am
	Since it had the same problem 6 years ago and is stored out of the weather, I bet Ken's suggestion on connections finds the problem. Other than that, you say battery is charged, that doesn't mean the battery is good, so after checking connections you could jump from a good battery and see if it turns over. Also if there is a battery switch check connections there as well. Ken, what's this about gentle taps to the starter? When in a Dunkin Donuts parking lot under my '98 GMC diesel pickup there was nothing gentle about my hits to the starter with a 15" adjustable wrench. And yes, it got it started, more than once.
	'63 American Skier - '98 Sport Nautique

James Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: July-27-2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 14	Post Options Post Reply Quote James Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: March-25-2024 at 9:04pm
	Yes! They do have diagrams. I’ll look them up and double check the wiring. It’s garage kept-and only sees weather when we take it out-so not much in the form of moisture unless we are in the water. It’s in immaculate condition really.
	James B

KENO Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Grand Poobah Joined: June-06-2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 11127	Post Options Post Reply Quote KENO Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: March-25-2024 at 5:18pm
	One thing about the whack....... With the newer permanent magnet starters like you have, the whack can turn a good starter into a junk one if you hit it hard enough to break a magnet. A tender loving whack if you must Clean the connections, make sure they're tight like mentioned earlier as a starting point. On an 04 the starter relay is just like the fuel pump relay and the ECM relay Do the books that Dad mentioned previously have a wiring diagram you could follow your way through?

James Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: July-27-2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 14	Post Options Post Reply Quote James Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: March-25-2024 at 4:27pm
	I am using my dad’s account but I did see the previous 2 threads he posted regarding this issue, and I have to agree I think it’s something simple as it ran great last year. Thank you for the suggestions.
	James B

MrMcD Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Grand Poobah Joined: January-28-2014 Location: Folsom, CA Status: Offline Points: 3750	Post Options Post Reply Quote MrMcD Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: March-25-2024 at 3:44pm
	Sometimes boats do not like sitting, they are exposed to moisture, sit for long periods and things rust up. A whack on the starter with a hammer can wake them up if that is the problem. Hit the starter body not the solenoid. Been around a few boats with the rusted starter syndrome. The hammer trick does not fix anything but it can get it working again if it is just stuck from rust.

KENO Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Grand Poobah Joined: June-06-2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 11127	Post Options Post Reply Quote KENO Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: March-25-2024 at 1:41pm
	Here's a blast from the past in the link link It must be a Chevy engine of one variety or another in 04 What did you do back then? It sounds like you were just happy that it started and it's been good for 5 years or so I guess. I'd be checking all of your cable connections at the battery, starter and starter relay and the negative cable at the battery and the engine grounding point at least as a place to start. You could use jumpers to put power direct to the starter, you could pull the starter out and use jumpers on the workbench or take it to an auto parts store to get tested. There are a variety of ways to use the jumpers, but I'd check the connections first, then ask about jumper hookup. The click is probably either the starter relay or the solenoid on the starter

James Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: July-27-2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 14	Post Options Post Reply Quote James Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: March-25-2024 at 12:44pm
	How can you tell if the starter is gone?
	James B

James Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: July-27-2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 14	Post Options Post Reply Quote James Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: March-24-2024 at 1:12pm
	I have inherited a 2004 ss210 It won’t start we can hear the fuel pump engage. Battery is charged. When we press the start button it clicks but doesn’t make any other noise.
	James B

2004 ss210 won’t start

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