Rinker 280 with Volvo Penta GXi-H won't crank

hookup1hookup1 Member Posts: 18 ✭
in Engine Discussions
This is a new boat to me. Been sitting in storage for 10+ years. I have turned engine over by hand. Belt off, water pump off.

Rinker 280 with Volvo Penta GXi-H won't crank. Turn key to ON - voltage gauge indicates 13 volts. Turn key to START - voltage drops to 0 - no starter solenoid or starter noise.

New battery, starter removed and bench tested, Jumping starter wire will engage starter. Inspected neutral start and kill switches - everything looks good. For some reason key won't engage starter.

I have looked all over for a wiring diagram and color codes for Rinker key switch wiring and for the engine.




· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • FormulabenFormulaben Confirm Email, Member Posts: 97 ✭✭
    You say you "Inspected neutral start and kill switches - everything looks good."  What exactly does that mean?  Did you put a multi-meter on them and check for continuity/operation, or just put eyes on them and see no obvious damage?

    Here are your wiring diagrams:
    280 service diagrams.pdf

    Here is a generic key switch.  Definitely check that you don't have a bad switch with thee multi-meter; you can alternatively "jump" the terminals with 2 alligator clips to see if the switch is bad. 
    2006 Fiesta Vee 270
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Rich_Rich_ Member Posts: 171 ✭✭✭
    If battery load tests ok, I’m going with dirty battery connections somewhere (be it battery, starter, or engine ground) or corroded battery leads inside the jackets. 
    Rinker sold but still have other boats        Eastern LI, NY
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • hookup1hookup1 Member Posts: 18 ✭
    edited November 9
    I picked this boat up last November. Was sitting for a few years. Installed new batteries. No crank/starter engagement then. Left it sit while I was working on getting the title. So I have never seen this engine start/run. Boat was put to bed properly. Winterized, everything assembled, nothing missing.

    I installed a new battery last November. I returned it this month under the 12-month warranty for another new one. Terminals are fine. I removed the starter, bench tested it, cleaned the terminals up and re-installed it. I jumped the solenoid and the started engaged. Water pump is off, serpentine belt is off and turned the engine with a wrench (plugs are out).

    I have inspected and jumpered the switch with no change. I'll go over it again with your notes and a voltmeter and try the jumpers again.

    Thank you for the boat wiring diagrams. They only show the key switch harness plugging into the engine harness. I have no engine documentation (ordered).

    The kill switch and neutral start are on the engine wiring harness. I can jumper the neutral start microswitch but have no access to the kill switch (molded wires and can't see where they go.

    I'll go over the switches again this weekend. I'm an experienced electronics tech. This isn't that difficult to troubleshoot. I really need the engine schematic to go forward. 
    Post edited by hookup1 on
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • FormulabenFormulaben Confirm Email, Member Posts: 97 ✭✭
    edited November 10
    hookup1 said:
    I jumped the solenoid and the started engaged. 
    By "engaged" do you mean the engine turned over, but didn't start?  And you're talking about the "master" solenoid on the starter itself, correct?

    EDIT:  Oopsie, I forgot you have a Volvo...below is the deal with a Mercruiser. 
    But a quick search shows that it too has a start relay somewhere, but can't say for sure.  If it is anything like Indmar, there is an ignition relay next to it, and you can swap them to see if that's the failure point.  

    If so, now go "upstream" to the slave solenoid (start relay, as I prefer to more accurately call it) which is next to the other 2 relays near your ECM, relays, and engine circuit breaker.  Jump those 2 terminals and if it turns over then I think you found your problem. 

    It's #23 in this diagram: 

    2006 Fiesta Vee 270
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • hookup1hookup1 Member Posts: 18 ✭
    Schematics arrived. Worked on key switch today.
    Off position only has power on "B" wire.
    Turn left to ACC has power on "B" terminal and "A" terminal.
    Turn right past OFF to IGNITION "I" terminal,  "B" terminal,"A" terminal and "I" terminal all have power. So far this seems correct.
    Turn key right again to START position (yellow w/red trace) only "B" terminal has power. This is wrong. 

    Got a new key switch. Now in START position I have power on "B" terminal,"I" terminal and "S" terminal. Also check power at neutral switch(yellow w/red trace) and the switch itself - 12 volts - which I did not have before.

    Next I move to the engine and start troubleshooting at the starter relay (yellow w/red trace).

    Yellow w/red trace goes from key switch to neutral start switch to R3 starter relay to starter solenoid. Passes thru a few connectors along the way. Hopefully it's a bad relay - easy fix.

    I have not found any wiring information for the kill switch in the documentation. 
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • hookup1hookup1 Member Posts: 18 ✭
    I may be missing an adapter harness between the 14-pin round connector and the dual 7-pin connector on the engine. Not sure why/where it is. I'll call dealer who put the boat away.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • hookup1hookup1 Member Posts: 18 ✭
    Probably not the problem. I have a tech coming out from the marina that delivered and serviced the boat.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • hookup1hookup1 Member Posts: 18 ✭
    Tech thinks it is a missing cable. Anyone have a Rinker 280 with Volvo Penta power? Can you check to see if you have a cable between the circles? Is there a part number n it? Thanks!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • YYZRCYYZRC Member Posts: 5,111 ✭✭✭✭✭
    @echandler1971 might be able to help
    2008 350 EC on Georgian Bay
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • FormulabenFormulaben Confirm Email, Member Posts: 97 ✭✭
    edited November 12
    Could it be cable #6 or #8 in this diagram?  

    I found it at https://www.marinepartsexpress.com/schematics/volvo-penta
    2006 Fiesta Vee 270
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • hookup1hookup1 Member Posts: 18 ✭
    Formulaben said:
    You say you "Inspected neutral start and kill switches - everything looks good."  What exactly does that mean?  Did you put a multi-meter on them and check for continuity/operation, or just put eyes on them and see no obvious damage?

    Here are your wiring diagrams:
    280 service diagrams.pdf

    Here is a generic key switch.  Definitely check that you don't have a bad switch with thee multi-meter; you can alternatively "jump" the terminals with 2 alligator clips to see if the switch is bad. 



    The diagrams and photo of the switch were helpful. I replaced the switch just in case but it didn't change anything. My conclusion is that I'm missing a short cable from the boat harness to the engine harness as circled in my photo. Nobody seems to know who/how/why it was removed!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • hookup1hookup1 Member Posts: 18 ✭
    I think this is the cable...
    https://www.greatlakesskipper.com/mercury-boat-adapter-harness-8m000246-deutsch-to-fci-10-inch-black
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • raybo3raybo3 Administrator Posts: 5,502 admin
    @hookup1why would you need a mercury harness when you have a volvo-penta?
    2002 342 Fiesta Vee PC Point Of Pines YC Revere MA. popyc.org     raybo3@live.com
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • hookup1hookup1 Member Posts: 18 ✭
    edited November 14
    raybo3 said:
    @hookup1why would you need a mercury harness when you have a volvo-penta?
    The Rinker boat wiring harness connects to a Mercruser engine with adapter cable. Deutch connector on boat to FCI connector on the engine. The Merceuser and Volvo Penta 5.7 are GM blocks that have the same electrical connection and computer controls.

    UPDATE: New harness was exactly what was needed. 
    Post edited by hookup1 on
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Aqua_AuraAqua_Aura Member Posts: 2,621 ✭✭✭✭✭
    They are the same block but the computers are different... at least on my last engine. The computers are Volvo not Mercury 
    1997 Bayliner 3988
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • aero3113aero3113 Member Posts: 9,044 ✭✭✭✭✭
    @hookup1 , wonder where the original cable went??
    2008 330EC
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • TonyG13TonyG13 Member Posts: 1,329 ✭✭✭✭
    aero3113 said:
    @hookup1 , wonder where the original cable went??
    I'm guessing since it was sitting for so long someone might have been using it as a parts supply depot? Hopefully @hookup1 won't find anything else missing.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • hookup1hookup1 Member Posts: 18 ✭
    TonyG13 said:
    aero3113 said:
    @hookup1 , wonder where the original cable went??
    I'm guessing since it was sitting for so long someone might have been using it as a parts supply depot? Hopefully @hookup1 won't find anything else missing.
    The boat is completely intact. I had no manuals or schematics or experience with Rinker or gas inboard stern drives. I saw the connectors open and didn't believe someone took the part out. Ordered manuals. I kept looking for the other wire path to the engine but could not find one. The dealer sent a tech out. He thought the cable was missing but wasn't sure. Dealer said they had no reason to pull that adapter. Looked at "for sale" boat pics engines but could not see if they had an adapter.

    Great Laker Skipper bought a lot of Rinker inventory when they closed. I searched Volvo-Penta harnesses and came up with nothing. The Boat harness has a "Deuetch" connector on the harness. I was going to build an adapter. When I searched for that connector I found the Mercruiser adapter. It was the right length, color codes looked correct, pin counts and connectors were right. $75 item.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • FormulabenFormulaben Confirm Email, Member Posts: 97 ✭✭
    hookup1 said:

    UPDATE: New harness was exactly what was needed. 
    Sooo, just to confirm, is it running all good now?
    2006 Fiesta Vee 270
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • hookup1hookup1 Member Posts: 18 ✭
    Sooo, just to confirm, is it running all good now?

    Not yet. Today I’ll clean out old fuel and try to start it.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • FormulabenFormulaben Confirm Email, Member Posts: 97 ✭✭
    The reason I ask is because on that link it says that cable only controls the trim motor, so I don't see how it's going to cure a no-start condition.

    Did you ever jump the slave solenoid to see it cranked? 
    2006 Fiesta Vee 270
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • hookup1hookup1 Member Posts: 18 ✭
    I did and it cranked. Also pulled the start relay and jumped the pins - it cranked. Plugs out - sounded good. 

    When harness adapter was installed it cranked off the key as expected. I'm not going to put gas in the boat and try to start until April. Have to get old fuel out in the Spring and start it. I'm sure I'm in a good place.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • hookup1hookup1 Member Posts: 18 ✭
    Formulaben said:
    Could it be cable #6 or #8 in this diagram?  

    I found it at https://www.marinepartsexpress.com/schematics/volvo-penta
    The cable I installed was not on above diagrams. I never found it on any diagram. Rinker boat harness is custom. Gauges and shifter are not Volvo-Penta. Most Rinker's shipped with Mercruiser engines that connected via the Deutsch 14-pin round connector to the engines FCI connector. 

    It was a matter of stumbling on a Mercruiser cable on Great Lakes Skipper and learning that the Volvo-Penta had the same engine interface (both engines made by GM).
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Sign In or Register to comment.