Starting issues with both engines

[Kevin]

We are having starting issues with both engines, You can hear the master soleniod engage but the starter motor doesn’t turn.
I have replaced the master soleniod and things were good for 12 months, however the problem has returned.
There are 3 soleniods and I’m not sure what the other two do, other than the fuel shut off.
Can anyone shed some light on my problem.
Thanks, Kevin

Topic

[Kevin]

Hi All,

After getting an electricial down to the boat, to check out the starting system, both engines started first time.  He did however check the starting current , which was fine.

So I decided to remove the starters and have them serviced, by AES, Henderson, Auckland, NZ.  These guys rock, the tech was supprised the slave soleniod was intermittently starting the engines, they were in that bad a condition.  They replaced the soleniods and serviced the starters.

Now she starts like brand new.

Thanks everyone for your input to our problem.

Regards,

Kevin

[Tony Athens]

Kevin,

Your issue has nothing to do with the engine–It’s most likely the neutral safety switch system and it sounds like it is inside the shift control–

Post a real good picture of your shifters–Look inside of them for a “Micro-switch”..  You can always by pass that too

Tony

[Rob Schepis]

You initially started this thread with “You can hear the master soleniod engage but the starter motor doesn’t turn”

Is that still the case or do you get just get dead silence?

What tranny? Post some pics..

[Kevin]

Further to our starting problem,

With both gearboxes in neutral the starters won’t turn, however if I wriggle the gearshift level ahead/astern the starters will engage.

I’ve checked the sender on the gearboxes and they seem to be working fine, I’m not sure where they go to on the engine? Could someone point me in the right direction.

Thanks, Kevin

[Kevin]

Thanks Tony,

To remove the ‘air hearer harness’ is there any thing that I need to do?

I replace the batteries when I changed out the master soleniods 12 months ago as thats what I believed the problem was to start with.

I’ve had the starter motor out and tested it, and was told it and the slave soleniod were fine.  Is there any servicing that can be done to the slave soleniod?

I’ve also cleaned a checked all earthing connections and spray them with a soft sealer.

[Rob Schepis]

6BT / 6BTA 5.9 – Technical Resources

Here’s a technical resources link including the wiring diagrams:

http://www.sbmar.com/engine-info/cummins-6bta-specifications/

You’ve verified with a DVM that this is not a battery voltage issue?

[Tony Athens]

Kevin,

 

Unknown solenoids–These are for the air heater grid circuit. Personally, I’d remove the entire air hearer harness and related ECM plate that have the “unknown solenoids” on it.. 50% of the wiring on your engine is for the system.

99% of the time a problem like you describe is a bad connection somewhere in the start system or on the solenoid itself  (rust, etc).. …….All you can do it take all apart. clean all connections and test the solenoid & the circuity that operates it.. Wiring diagrams are on the web site.

 

Tony

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Kevin

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