2001 mercury xr6 will not start!!!

[thebreamreaper]

2001 merc xr6 will not do anything when i turn the key! i can jump the solenoid and it cranks. a fuse that goes to my voltage regulators keeps blowing,could this stop the starter from getting power from the key switch?

[thebreamreaper]

somebody pplleaassee help me???

[Thewrench]

If it's the fuse that goes directly to the regulator, then probably isn't the problem. More than likely, it's the solenoid. The solenoid is easy to test. You will need a second person and a test light or multi-meter. Connect the ground of your light or meter to a clean engine ground. The solenoid should have a total of 4 wires. Two small and two larger wires. With your second person holding the key in the crank position, check for voltage on the small yellow wire. If you have voltage there, move on to the two larger wires. Both should have voltage when cranking, but if the engine is not cranking you will not have it on both wires, only one. Make sure you have 12 volts on the one wire, if you do the solenoid is bad. If the voltage is much lower on the one wire, then you have a battery connection problem or bad battery. Trace the voltage back to the battery to find your loss of voltage. Hope this helps

[thebreamreaper]

i failed to say i already replaced the solenoid. thought it might be the problem so it was my least expensive remedy. the funny thing is it was working fine when i last used the outboard. turned my key the next time out and nothing. i use a three bank charger and keep my batteries well maintained. had a buddy check the starter switch on the throttle with a light tester and everything on it seemed to be ok. im a mechanic by no means,but can usually figure out what the problem is. this has me pullin my hair out!!!

[Thewrench]

Sounds like you may have a connection issue. Try cleaning the connections, even if they look clean. The other thing you may check is the main harness plug. It should be a pull apart 8 or 10 pin plug. Pull it apart and look for corrosion or smashed pins. The pins are slotted on the ends so you can spread them apart just a little for better contact. You can still use the test above to find the problem, it could be a harness issue. Don't rule out a bad solenoid just because its new! I've gotten a lot of bad parts right out of the box.

[Thewrench]

The one other thing that I failed to mention is the safety neutral switch. It keeps the motor from starting in gear. It may be out of adjustment or failed.

[EuropeanAM]

Any recent "battery events" such as disconnecting, reconnecting, charging, jump starting, or possibly a "reverse polarity" situation?

Any reverse polarity situation will blow fuses, and potentially destroy voltage regulators and other sensitive electrical components.

[thebreamreaper]

now its blowin the 20 amp fuse on the right side of the fuse harness! could it be the key switch?

[EuropeanAM]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by EuropeanAM &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Any recent "battery events" such as disconnecting, reconnecting, charging, jump starting, or possibly a "reverse polarity" situation?

Any reverse polarity situation will blow fuses, and potentially destroy voltage regulators and other sensitive electrical components.


</td></tr></table>

You didn't answer the above question.....

Have you CHECKED the battery cables to confirm they are PROPERLY CONNECTED?

I would not recommend proceeding until, and unless the answers to above have been determined.