Starter relay 500 EFIs
#1
VIP Member
![](https://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/images/icons/prop.gif)
Thread Starter
![Default](/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
2005 500 EFIs.
One motor turns over immediately when I hit key. Other motor when i hit key it seems to wait 10 seconds or more before it cranks.
Isn't there some starter relay or something possibly?
Issue seems familiar but all my searching has found nothing.
Ideas?
Thanks in advance- Q
One motor turns over immediately when I hit key. Other motor when i hit key it seems to wait 10 seconds or more before it cranks.
Isn't there some starter relay or something possibly?
Issue seems familiar but all my searching has found nothing.
Ideas?
Thanks in advance- Q
#2
Registered
![Default](/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
2005 500 EFIs.
One motor turns over immediately when I hit key. Other motor when i hit key it seems to wait 10 seconds or more before it cranks.
Isn't there some starter relay or something possibly?
Issue seems familiar but all my searching has found nothing.
Ideas?
Thanks in advance- Q
One motor turns over immediately when I hit key. Other motor when i hit key it seems to wait 10 seconds or more before it cranks.
Isn't there some starter relay or something possibly?
Issue seems familiar but all my searching has found nothing.
Ideas?
Thanks in advance- Q
#3
"Unregistered Gun"
![](https://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/images/icons/platinum_member_star.gif)
![Default](/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
2005 500 EFIs.
One motor turns over immediately when I hit key. Other motor when i hit key it seems to wait 10 seconds or more before it cranks.
Isn't there some starter relay or something possibly?
Issue seems familiar but all my searching has found nothing.
Ideas?
Thanks in advance- Q
One motor turns over immediately when I hit key. Other motor when i hit key it seems to wait 10 seconds or more before it cranks.
Isn't there some starter relay or something possibly?
Issue seems familiar but all my searching has found nothing.
Ideas?
Thanks in advance- Q
![](https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.offshoreonly.com-vbulletin/1500x2000/starting_and_charging_harness_ccdeae4e6c40827b8630ef6b6fc0e2b9a387a9f2.jpg)
#4
Registered
![Default](/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
While we're on the subject, I always wondered why Merc has a relay to power a relay. Most cars only used the relay/solenoid on the starter.
Anyone?
Anyone?
#5
Registered
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Murrayville Georgia
Posts: 1,845
Likes: 0
Received 922 Likes
on
333 Posts
![Default](/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
it is because they dont know what you are putting the engine in. they dont want 50 ft or more of wire to power the starter relay. doing this ensures that plenty of power activates the solenoid.
The following users liked this post:
JaayTeee (07-03-2024)
#6
Registered
#7
Registered
![Default](/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
I can tell you that even on a 20ft boot, using the yellow/red from key switch directly to solenoid on starter doesn’t work well.
What happens is the current draw from key switch to starter solenoid is enough that the power thru pirple ignition wire is reduced and won’t let engine fire while cranking. As soon as you let off key from cranking , ignition get’s enough voltage. If you turn key quick enough, it will start. If you don’t you scratch your head what’s going on.
Was another boat I fixed that came back from a local marina. They replaced the starter and remote solenoid in an attempt to fix it. Lol.
A relay for ignition on that boat would have fixed it to, but …….![Smilie](/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif)
What happens is the current draw from key switch to starter solenoid is enough that the power thru pirple ignition wire is reduced and won’t let engine fire while cranking. As soon as you let off key from cranking , ignition get’s enough voltage. If you turn key quick enough, it will start. If you don’t you scratch your head what’s going on.
Was another boat I fixed that came back from a local marina. They replaced the starter and remote solenoid in an attempt to fix it. Lol.
A relay for ignition on that boat would have fixed it to, but …….
![Smilie](/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif)
#8
Registered
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Murrayville Georgia
Posts: 1,845
Likes: 0
Received 922 Likes
on
333 Posts
![Default](/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
exactly, most dont like to do the math but even on the 20 ft boat you could easily have a 15 ft harness so that is 30 feet up and back just for the starter. add to that some of these cheap aftermarket harnesses that I have seen with 12 awg and 16 awg instead of like the mercury harness with 10 and 14 awg plus a cheap ign switch and suddenly you have 5 amps at the rear trying to feed things