Home › Forum › Ask A Member › Ground Problem? › Re: Ground Problem?
Well, you really want to start with the batteries, and cables. Sometimes batteries are mounted in consoles, or forward, which makes for a long run for the battery cables. Cables are often undersize and subject to corrosion. The way I read your post, seems like someone has already replaced the solenoid, correct? The owner claims the engine will crank normally if the two large solenoid terminals are jumped. Please be careful if you want to try this, make sure there is no gas puddled in the engine pan, and do it with the key off so the engine won’t start and scare you.
If the engine cranks normally when you "jump" the solenoid large terminals, and the solenoid has indeed been replaced, then I am thinking you have either poor positive input to the solenoid from the key switch, or a bad ground to the solenoid.
This is a perfect situation to used the "voltage drop test" that is outlined in most late model OMC service manuals for electric start engines. But, again, load test the batteries first….