Bad starter - replace (URGENT)

I'm at the lake for a camping boating trip and My 2000 SAN wont start. It has struggled to start all season. It takes 1-12 times of pushing the start button for it to actually turn over. Today when I went to launch it wouldn't start. Wouldn't turn over. Now it keeps popping the breaker, and occasionally blows the in line fuse at the battery (ignition wire?)

I'm thinking the starter has gradually been going out, and now the solenoid is causing it to short out/blow fuse. So you agree with my hypothesis? I'm going to pull the starter and send a pic to the dealer and see if they have a match that I can go get in the morning and try to salvage the rest of this trip. How difficult is the job?

Definitely start withmaking sure your connections are clean, ALL grounds, and battery terminals. you want to do that regardless if the starters bad or not. If your blowing the main breaker is a sign of something wrong. I worn out starter will do that if its bad enough but it would take a lot of pushing it to do so.
a napa might have a RR starter if the dealer does not.

Thanks. I was unfortunate enough to be getting to this as the shops were all closing down. All battery connections look good. I even simplified it by disconnecting the second battery and didn't include the amplifiers. Same problem. I pulled the starter and will make the hour trip from our camp to the dealer as the crack of dawn. I like the suggestion to stop at an autoparts store for testing. I will do that On my way.

Starter was fine. Now I don't know what to do. Just trace wires I guess.

What's the VOM

I dropped the boat off at the dealer and they are saying there is a second solenoid not attached to the started that they think is the issue. There is a second solinoid? Anyway, part has been ordered. Hopefully this works.

Well. 8 days into the Nautique dealer and they determined it was a starter relay. $650 and they said it's all fixed. Wife brings the boat home and I get home from work and test start it in the driveway and it only clicks. Doesn't even attempt to start. Starter just clicks like a silenced machine gun. Just to rule out the possibility of the battery not having enough juice, I pull out the charger to top of the batteries, and the hatch doesn't open. It just clicks down in the breaker box area. No breakers have popped, but nothing happens when I try to open the hatch.

Never been more frustrated. I feel like I'm at the same place a week ago, only $650 more in debt on my credit card.

victory.

tryathlete wrote: victory.

Let's see, 650 bucks to replace a solenoid that probably cost about 30 bucks..

That's a victory alright..................for the dealer.

Pete had him on the right track before it went to the dealer

Hope he had more done than that

Agreed. I didn't really understand that relay was a separate solenoid than the one attached to the starter. I'm not much for electrical testing, but I suppose it's time to get learning. Sad about the cost, but super happy we're up and running.

DayTony wrote: I wouldn't feel bad. just a lesson learned.

+1

We've all been there before.

Keep in mind the dealer tech had to start from scratch in the troubleshooting diagnostics. Plus testing time on the lake. This takes longer when it's a nice day!

I agree everyone. I'm stoked to get back out. I do plan to keep this boat for a while, and as it gets older, I'm sure this isn't the last episode I have, so it will be good to learn more about it as I go.

Thanks everyone for the kind words and the advice. I love this community.