A couple of weeks ago I had an intermittent problem that the starter motor wouldn't turn. Turn the key, ignition lights came on but nothing from the starter motor. After trying to start I then didn't even have iginition lights.
It came good on its own and worked normally for the rest of the day.

Last weekend I had ignition lights but no starter motor. Try as I might using all batteries it didn't come good. I found a 30 amp fuse that had corroded badly and didn't have a spare (lesson there).

On Wednesday I replaced the fuse. It still wouldn't crank. With further investigation I found the screw-on battery terminals were loose. I tightened them all up. I then found I could start on the No2 (house) batteries. Still nothing on No1 battery. No1 would run some accessories but after a short time the voltage dropped from 13.0 to 12.6.

I took a spare starting battery up today. Didn't need it. She cranked and started perfectly on all batteries.

My guess is that No1 battery wasn't fully charged on Wednesday because of the loose terminals, despite reading about 13v. With a week of the solar panel charge, this weekend it was charged up.

Any advice on potential other problems?

Like Dad said to Dave when Dave told Dad that Mabel was smoking.

"I told you to use plenty of Vaseline!!!"

I wouldn't leave shore without at least one jar of it. It is a conducting grease and battery terminals love it.

Thanks gents. I'll check both suggestions and put Vaseline on everything.
I really dislike electrics. The symptoms don't let you know what the real problem is.

Vaseline may not be conductive, but it will protect your terminals and help prevent them from corroding on the mating surfaces.

Don't forget your starter solenoid connections and the high tension cable to the starter, and the starter earth.

Some people also leave their battery terminals finger tight. This is simply asking for trouble. They must be tight and have a good mating surface. Check all your connections to the starter and make sure they are clean, tight and have a star washer to help the connection and to prevent them loosening.

There are some good proprietry sprays that put a lovely blue coating on the terminals, which won't wear off quickly, which is what Vaseline will do in the end.

One thing, don't be afraid of electrics. There are many positives about electrics, but just as many negatives

MichaelR said...


There are some good proprietry sprays that put a lovely blue coating on the terminals, which won't wear off quickly, which is what Vaseline will do in the end.

Not sure this is the same thing, but I'm looking for a spray that will coat an electrical connection (eg. terminal strip or open air screw-on connection) to seal it from the salty air and slow down corrosion.

I have tried Lanolin spray, but it is sticky and a magnet for dirt. So looking for something that will form a "dry" seal around the connection.

Should also be removable (maybe via a solvent) in the event you need to work on the connection.

Anyone here know of a product that will suit? Thx.

Karsten,
Always arrange connections with a loop down away from terminals so that any moisture runs to the bottom of the loop and drops off, something professionals seem to be not aware of, make the cables just a bit longer.
I don't have any corrosion problems or dirty terminals because they are in positions that stay dry but if I was to spray something it would be silicon spray. Mainly because I carry it for other jobs.
Lanolin spray is good for items like engines that are in bilges with water sloshing about, spray when the items are hot. Most yachts have a sump well clear of the engine and moisture is kept away from the engine.

saltiest1 said...
heres a long shot.
get someone to turn the key, and give the starter a tap with a hammer. they can stick.

You might of got it there Salty!,
Symptoms certainly sound like the bushes in the starter motor, used to have to carry around a long pole to give the starter motor a few taps on the old HQ before I started it.

cheers