t8 starting problem

[chukarcommando]

hey gang. been out wacking and stacking salmon at winchester bay. Anyway, after completing a drift, fired up the big motor and ran to the top of the run. Went to start the little *****ing motor (2002 T8), dead, nothing. Pull started first tug and did that the rest of the day. Got home, pulled the cover. Thought maybe neutral switch out. Bypassed that, still nothing. Connected the starter right to the battery, starter spun right up. Got the volt meter and worked my way back. Have 14v going into the starter relay, but nothing coming out the lead that runs over to the battery. Think I should have power on the other side (out to starter) from the relay. Is this right? What is a good way to check that relay? Thanks

[boscoe99]

hey gang. been out wacking and stacking salmon at winchester bay. Anyway, after completing a drift, fired up the big motor and ran to the top of the run. Went to start the little *****ing motor (2002 T8), dead, nothing. Pull started first tug and did that the rest of the day. Got home, pulled the cover. Thought maybe neutral switch out. Bypassed that, still nothing. Bypassing the switch won't really tell anything. The neutral switch has to be closed so that electrical power can flow to the relay control circuit. Connected the starter right to the battery, starter spun right up. Got the volt meter and worked my way back. Have 14v going into the starter relay, but nothing coming out the lead that runs over to the battery. This does not make sense. Nothing comes out of the relay going to the battery. Stuff coming out of the battery goes to the relay. Think I should have power on the other side (out to starter) from the relay. Is this right? What is a good way to check that relay? Thanks

With the starter button pressed do you have 12 volts to the control circuit side of the relay via the neutral safety switch and the brown wire?

Does the relay click when 12 volts is applied to the control circuit side of the relay where the brown wire is connected?

Assuming that you have 12 volts to the input side of the relay from the battery do you also have 12 volts on the output side of the relay when the control circuit side has 12 volts to it?

If yes, do you have 12 volts to the starter motor solenoid when the starter relay is closed?

Can you read a wiring diagram?

[Nautical]

Do a bypass across the starter button. Clean the relay contacts if possible or replace the relay.

[boscoe99]

Do a bypass across the starter button. Clean the relay contacts if possible or replace the relay.

Why suggest that the relay be replaced when it is not known that the relay is defective?

When you use the word bypass do you mean to jumper across the starter button.

[boscoe99]

Here is the diagram if you can use it. I love well smoked salmon.

[chukarcommando]

t8 Starting problems

After reading my post and the replies, i see i did not state some things clearly. In cecking with the volt meter, i have 12V coming out of the neutral switch (brown wire) that connects over to the starter relay assembly when I push the start button. I also have 12V on the relay switch post that comes from the battery. I can take that one brown wire from the bottom of the relay switch and touch it to the post on that switch connected to the battery and the starter spins right up. I just have nothing on that other post on the starter relay assembly that goes over to the starter. I guessing that whatever is suppose to close that switch to complete the circuit is not working.

[chukarcommando]

With the starter button pressed do you have 12 volts to the control circuit side of the relay via the neutral safety switch and the brown wire?
Does the relay click when 12 volts is applied to the control circuit side of the relay where the brown wire is connected?
Assuming that you have 12 volts to the input side of the relay from the battery do you also have 12 volts on the output side of the relay when the control circuit side has 12 volts to it?

If yes, do you have 12 volts to the starter motor solenoid when the starter relay is closed?
Can you read a wiring diagram?

1)Yes, I get a 12V reading when I press the start button on the brown wire leading from the neutral safety switch over to the Starter relay.

2)No, no clicking sound at all from the Starter Relay assembly.

3)No, only on the input side. Nothing at all on the output that goes over to the starter.

4) I can touch that brown wire on the bottom of the Starter relay assmbly to the input post in the starter spin right up.

5) Can kinda follow the diagram flow that you posted. Thanks..

[99yam40]

I can take that one brown wire from the bottom of the relay switch and touch it to the post on that switch connected to the battery and the starter spins right up. I just have nothing on that other post on the starter relay assembly that goes over to the starter. I guessing that whatever is suppose to close that switch to complete the circuit is not working.

There is no switch connected to the battery in that diagram
so it is hard to figure out what wires you are speaking of

[boscoe99]

After reading my post and the replies, i see i did not state some things clearly. In cecking with the volt meter, i have 12V coming out of the neutral switch (brown wire) that connects over to the starter relay assembly when I push the start button. I also have 12V on the relay switch post that comes from the battery. I can take that one brown wire from the bottom of the relay switch and touch it to the post on that switch connected to the battery and the starter spins right up. I just have nothing on that other post on the starter relay assembly that goes over to the starter. I guessing that whatever is suppose to close that switch to complete the circuit is not working.

If you can jumper battery voltage to the control circuit side of the starter relay, and the motor cranks and starts, but when using the starter button switch it neither cranks nor starts, then you have a wiring issue. Find and fix the wiring issue.

You have confirmed that the starter relay works correctly. It is a simple matter of the relay not getting appropriate voltage via the starter circuit.

[boscoe99]

There is no switch connected to the battery in that diagram
so it is hard to figure out what wires you are speaking of

The switch is connected to the battery.

wiring goes from the battery to the relay power post, then wiring from the relay power post to the fuse, then wiring from the fuse to the starter switch, then wiring from the starter switch to the neutral switch, then wiring from the neutral switch to the relay control circuit.

[99yam40]

1)Yes, I get a 12V reading when I press the start button on the brown wire leading from the neutral safety switch over to the Starter relay.

2)No, no clicking sound at all from the Starter Relay assembly.

3)No, only on the input side. Nothing at all on the output that goes over to the starter.

4) I can touch that brown wire on the bottom of the Starter relay assmbly to the input post in the starter spin right up.

5) Can kinda follow the diagram flow that you posted. Thanks..

If the relay does not pick up when you have 12 volts + on the control lead on it then maybe you have a problem with the ground/negative side of relay.

or maybe just a bad connection between the brown wire and the terminal on the relay

[chukarcommando]

If the relay does not pick up when you have 12 volts + on the control lead on it then maybe you have a problem with the ground/negative side of relay.

or maybe just a bad connection between the brown wire and the terminal on the relay

1) Voltage check. The battery reads 18.9 with nothing connected.
2) voltage reads 14.5 on the lead from the starter button prior to attaching to the neutral switch when the start button is pushed.
3) Voltage reads 14.2 on the lead coming out of the neutral start switch when the start button is pushed.
4) Voltage reads 18.2 on the post that connects directly to the starter relay.

As I said, I can take that brown lead from the bottom of the starter relay, touch the battery side of the relay post and it fires right up. I touch the other post leading to the starter, nothing. Im i understanding correctly that by it turning over when I touch that one lead with the brown wire that the starter relay is working correctly. How come I get no power?reading then on the line running to the starter if its functioning. CLeaned the black ground wire running from the relay. Still nothing. PS. Staring at it, cussing, praying have not worked. Anyone know the number for a local witch doctor, cathalic priest, one of us is possessed...... Thanks for helping try and line me out.

[99yam40]

1) Voltage check. The battery reads 18.9 with nothing connected.
2) voltage reads 14.5 on the lead from the starter button prior to attaching to the neutral switch when the start button is pushed.
3) Voltage reads 14.2 on the lead coming out of the neutral start switch when the start button is pushed.
4) Voltage reads 18.2 on the post that connects directly to the starter relay.

As I said, I can take that brown lead from the bottom of the starter relay, touch the battery side of the relay post and it fires right up. I touch the other post leading to the starter, nothing. Im i understanding correctly that by it turning over when I touch that one lead with the brown wire that the starter relay is working correctly. How come I get no power?reading then on the line running to the starter if its functioning. CLeaned the black ground wire running from the relay. Still nothing. PS. Staring at it, cussing, praying have not worked. Anyone know the number for a local witch doctor, cathalic priest, one of us is possessed...... Thanks for helping try and line me out.

You should not be reading 18 volts on this thing anywhere unless you have something besides a 12 volt battery hooked to it.

Take a voltage reading at the brown wire on start relay.
If you have 12 volts there while pushing the start button then take a volt reading on the black wire side of the relay. If there is 12 volts there also you have a bad ground connection.

Make sure you are taking the readings on the posts also so you are checking the connections from the wire to the lug and then to the posts too


Bosco what I was getting at was the switch is hooked to the fuse not directly to the battery

[boscoe99]

You should not be reading 18 volts on this thing anywhere unless you have something besides a 12 volt battery hooked to it.

Take a voltage reading at the brown wire on start relay.
If you have 12 volts there while pushing the start button then take a volt reading on the black wire side of the relay. If there is 12 volts there also you have a bad ground connection.

Make sure you are taking the readings on the posts also so you are checking the connections from the wire to the lug and then to the posts too


Bosco what I was getting at was the switch is hooked to the fuse not directly to the battery

Got it now.

[chukarcommando]

You should not be reading 18 volts on this thing anywhere unless you have something besides a 12 volt battery hooked to it.

Take a voltage reading at the brown wire on start relay.
If you have 12 volts there while pushing the start button then take a volt reading on the black wire side of the relay. If there is 12 volts there also you have a bad ground connection.

Make sure you are taking the readings on the posts also so you are checking the connections from the wire to the lug and then to the posts too


Bosco what I was getting at was the switch is hooked to the fuse not directly to the battery

Well, after sending my last update and not being able to figure out the voltage readings, I borrowed another volt meter from a friend. and found the following:

1) posts at battery read 13.1v,
2) post at starter relay from battery 13.1v,
3) Red wire leading back to starter button at connection, 13v,
4) Pushing starter button and reading at end of conntection (brown wire) leading to neutral switch 3.2v. Hmmmmm. Me thinks me's found something unless that switch is SUPPOSE to reduce the voltage before it goes over to the neutral switch and beyond. (IS IT?)

Took the little rubber button off the switch. Cleaned those two little contact ends and the little chinamans hat that connects them when you push down. Reassembled. Still 3.1v - 3.2v. Old voltage meter to garbage. Dont understand. It came if one of those kits you buy for about $10 buck at walmat with wire different wire connectors, wiring pliers, zipties, ect. Cant believe it doesnt work right. $10 bucks doesnt buy wheat it use to.