I had a bad cable running from my main battery bank to a Victron shunt (bad in that the wire/ring connector was not properly crimped, the wire fell out of the connector but you could not see it due to the shrink-wrap cover). The problem surfaced by the whole electrical system shutting down, the engine not starting, leaving me to beg a tow (and suffer much ribbing), from another member of the club. Fortunately, this happened on a day of dying wind (hence the tow) and not when I was getting thrashed by 25+ kt winds.
Having found the problem and replaced the wire with beautiful crimped connectors, everything appears to work - the engine starts, the batteries charge, etc. But, when I push the pre-heat button to heat the glow-plugs, I hear no “click”, which I distinctly recall hearing in the past. It is my suspicion that I am starting the engine (a W27A) without any pre-heat. It is sluggish on starting, but the batteries are old and due for replacement, so sluggish is not new.
Is the lack of the click a sign that the pre-heat solenoid is not engaging? Is there a fuse in the pre-heat circuit? I am looking at the engine wiring diagram on page 61.1 of the 30U manual and do not see a fuse, but will admit to being pretty ignorant concerning wiring diagrams. I have not tried to start the engine without pushing the pre-heat button, but suspect it will not start.
Any ideas?
lloyd herman Rendezvous, 1987 30U, #424
Port Washington, NY
Chances are pretty good that the Glow Plug connection behind the panel is at fault. Rummaging around there like you probably did sourcing your other problem – could have loosened the connation plug at the back or the panel
Trace the colored wire from the Push Button Plug to the other side of the connector plug
Chances are pretty good that the Glow Plug connection behind the panel is at fault. Rummaging around there like you probably did sourcing your other problem – could have loosened the connation plug at the back or the panel
Trace the colored wire from the Push Button Plug to the other side of the connector plug
Be advised that not all W-27 engine control panels are the same. Some have the glow plug included on the key switch and some a separate button on the panel.
Joe Valinoti
S/V iL Gatto NS30U #221
Sea Harbour YC
Oriental, NC USA
From the wiring diagram there is no fuse or breaker in the preheat glowplug or the starter circuit.
However the “hot” live wire for the solenoid is a short wire running inside the wiring harness to either the alternator battery + or the Battery + on the solenoid. With your battery switch on you must have 12V on one of the terminals of the glow plug solenoid.
Be careful working around that preheat solenoid, one terminal is live all the time with the battery switch on. Also one terminal of the alternator and one of the starting motor solenoid. Any contact between these and ground (any other part of the engine) would make a rather spectacular shower of sparks. Typically no fuse in the starter circuit but there could be one in the glow plug circuit.
Tom
26C #28
Penetang
On Wednesday, 29 June 2022 at 11:39:46 UTC-4 Julie & Lloyd on Rendezvous wrote:
All - my wiring/solenoid problem appears to have worked itself out - I am again getting the little click when I press the pre-heat button and the engine continues to start. Intermittent electrical problems, got to love them. I have a 1995 Miata that sometimes does not start. Mechanics always say that when it really does not start, bring it in and they will be able to figure it out. Otherwise, live with it (which I have been doing for about 20 years).
lloyd herman Rendezvous, 30U
Port Washington, New York