Starter gets hung up

Check the volts behind the dash with the meter and compare it to the gauge. Then read this again:

8122pbrainard wrote: Tag962 wrote: Everything looks fine but I believe I have a short. When I turn the key to the on position I am showing a reading of 10 volts. I guess I have a draw somewhere so that is taking away from the cranking power. Any suggestions on where to start? First, check your voltage at the battery and not at the gauge. If your battery shows higher then this may be a classic case of voltage drop to the dash. Clean all connections from the engine to and including under the dash. A wiring upgrade to the dash may even be needed. For a parasitic load, you put the VOM in series between one of the battery cables and the battery terminal. Don't crank the engine. Start with the meter set to 20 (or 10 on some) amps. Check what amps it shows and you may be able to set the meter to the MA scale. It will be more accurate. If there's something drawing power, it will show up on the meter. Pull fuses or turn off breakers one at a time and when the meter goes to zero, that's the circuit that's drawing power. BTW, with you turning the key to the on position, you are sending power out to the ignition system. Do you feel somethings draining the battery over time? and is it a start or deep cycle?

Greg,
What did the dealer do under the dash? Are they the same people who put the #2 cables and deep cycle battery in the boat?

Disconnect the cable from the start relay (solenoid) to the starter keeping it from cranking and get the volt meter out again. Check to make sure the power from the ignition switch to the start relay is turning on and off when you turn the key from the start to the run position.

EDIT: You said you put in a new starter relay but when? Was the new one installed when you had the undersize battery? I'm just wondering if it burnt up too. While you have the starter cable disconnected, set your meter to Ohms and check across the two big studs for continuity (ignition key turned off).