Results 1 to 4 of 4

Hybrid View

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    Southeast Missouri
    Posts
    5

    Default Starter/Solenoid

    Over the Holiday weekend, while cruising the lake, all of a sudden my 2002 outback ls lost all electrical and then died a few seconds later. We noticed that smell of electrical burn and smoke. After inspecting the engine compartment, we noticed that the big copper wire going from the solenoid to the starter had completely melted away. The whole starter seemed burned up. Also we noticed that the ignition wire going to the starter solenoid had touched the exhaust manifold and melted possibly causing it to ground out. Being a Holiday weekend I wanted to get back on the water ASAP, so I found a replacement starter/solenoid combo at a local auto part chain store that had a matching bolt pattern. It fit on perfect and look identical to the one I had before, except for the solenoid, it only had 3 leads on it as opposed to 4 that i had before. So we replaced the melted wires and and hooked up the 12v+ to one lead, the ignition to the other and the third had a wire going to the starter from the factory. So that just leaves the 4th mystery wire. We tested the new started with the 4th mystery wire disconnected and taped up. The boat started and ran fine for the rest of the weekend. Out of curiosity, we put a multi meter on the 4th mystery wire and it showed nothing when the boat was off or cranking, but showed 12v+ when it was running. Does anyone have any info on what it does and can i just get a new 4 lead solenoid and put it on this new starter. Thanks.
    2002 Outback LS

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    Southeast Missouri
    Posts
    5

    Default Re: Starter/Solenoid

    I talked to a mechanic today and he said that marine starters have that 4th lead as a coil bypass so that the coil doesn't spark while cranking. He said that I would probably be OK with the automotive starter, but technically state law prohibits a non marine staters for safety reasons. I will probably just try and get an actual marine starter with the correct solenoid just to be safe.

    Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
    2002 Outback LS

  3. #3
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    North End Lake Lanier GA
    Posts
    8,155

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by EasyE View Post
    I talked to a mechanic today and he said that marine starters have that 4th lead as a coil bypass so that the coil doesn't spark while cranking. He said that I would probably be OK with the automotive starter, but technically state law prohibits a non marine staters for safety reasons. I will probably just try and get an actual marine starter with the correct solenoid just to be safe.

    Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
    I would make sure its a marine starter, there is more then just a coil bypass for no spark, its also better suited for wet environments.
    Malo <--- Means--Evil or Mean One. This explains a lot.
    2013 Mojo 2.5 Skylon Tower. Bestia < Beast >
    [COLOR="#696969"]

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Tallahassee, FL
    Posts
    14,071

    Default

    If you have a fire and somebody gets burned real badly or killed you don't want to be the guy that put the non-marine starter on the boat.
    My Mom said I'm not allowed to get wet!
    2008 LSV (sold)
    2000 Outback LS (sold)
    LLTR!!!!!!!!



Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •