Hi guys, I have a friend that has a 1987 Searay 300da with gas mercruiser 5.7's. nice boat. last time out he went to start the engines and every time he turned the ignition key for the port engine the ignition breaker for that engine would trip imidiately. engines started fine earlier in the morning of that day. any ideas?
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1987 Searay 300da ignition breaker trips at start
- Thread starter MarioG
- Start date
Q: to clarify: Did the breaker trip when he turned the ignition "on", or when he engaged the starter? Did the problem resolve itself, or does it still exist?
If it tripped when he turned the ignition on, then a wire has come loose *somewhere* and has grounded itself (or a bad breaker). The solution will likely be found by testing the whole circuit from the back of the ignition switch to the engine.
If it tripped when he turned the key past 'on', to 'start', then the first place I'd look is the starter motor for that engine. Easiest to hardest: Stuck bendix drive; fried solenoid, all the way to other possibilities like an engine seized due to water intrusion, etc. I'd start (sorry) by tapping the starter a few times with the wooden handle of a hammer to unstick the bendix. Then, I'd look at the current draw from the starter. Then verify the engine is not seized by turning the crankshaft with with a breaker bar, and go from there...
Edit: Forgot to mention that the battery condition, batt. voltage, and cabling to the engine should be checked first.
If it tripped when he turned the ignition on, then a wire has come loose *somewhere* and has grounded itself (or a bad breaker). The solution will likely be found by testing the whole circuit from the back of the ignition switch to the engine.
If it tripped when he turned the key past 'on', to 'start', then the first place I'd look is the starter motor for that engine. Easiest to hardest: Stuck bendix drive; fried solenoid, all the way to other possibilities like an engine seized due to water intrusion, etc. I'd start (sorry) by tapping the starter a few times with the wooden handle of a hammer to unstick the bendix. Then, I'd look at the current draw from the starter. Then verify the engine is not seized by turning the crankshaft with with a breaker bar, and go from there...
Edit: Forgot to mention that the battery condition, batt. voltage, and cabling to the engine should be checked first.