Engine not starting

[Utopia]

Beta marine Diesel engine. Turned the ignition and nothing. No clicking or noise at all. Just nothing. Batteries are relatively new and working fine lights, fridge, pumps etc. Ignition worked fine yesterday. What’s the most likely thing wrong? Thank you.

[Tony Brooks]

Drity/loose start battery terminals. Big multi-plug in the engine loom, probably near the starter. try pulling apart and pushing it back together.  Inline fuse, again hidden away near the starter blown/dirty. Remember that on the majority of boats the engine start and domestic batteries are separate systems. Good domestics does not mean the start battery is good.

 

 

[springy]

Starter Battery Isolator failed (or off), Starter Battery connections, If there is a multi pin plug in the engine wiring harness they can also cause a variety of problems.

 

beaten to it by Tony

 

springy

[Tony Brooks]

Just now, springy said:

Starter Battery Isolator failed (or off), Starter Battery connections, If there is a multi pin plug in the engine wiring harness they can also cause a variety of problems.

 

beaten to it by Tony

 

springy

 

Yes, but I forgot the master switch - especially if it has a red plastic removable key.

[MtB]

4 hours ago, Utopia said:

Beta marine Diesel engine. Turned the ignition and nothing. No clicking or noise at all. Just nothing. Batteries are relatively new and working fine lights, fridge, pumps etc. Ignition worked fine yesterday. What’s the most likely thing wrong? Thank you.

 

Are you asking for advice on how to fix this yourself?

 

If so, the first thing you'll need is a digital multi-meter. Do you have such a thing? (And a vague idea of how to use it?)

[TheBiscuits]

5 hours ago, Tony Brooks said:

Big multi-plug in the engine loom, probably near the starter. try pulling apart and pushing it back together.

 

It's a Beta, this is most likely.

 

Great engines, crap wiring looms.  If this fixes your issue, break it again, clean the plugs and sockets, stick it back together and then put a big tie wrap round both plugs and pull tight.

 

It might not help but you'll feel better!

[Bee]

Have a quick look at the back of the instrument panel too. My Beta wouldn't stop when I pushed the stop button. Some fool had dislodged a wire whilst fitting a radio. Might have been me...

[Machpoint005]

All good advice. I'm a Beta owner and I've had, if not all of the above, certainly most of the above.

 

[Iain_S]

Just to add another possible cause : bad contact at the main engine fuse (40A or 50A blade fuse), which is usually tucked behind the starter motor. 

[cheesegas]

12 hours ago, MtB said:

If so, the first thing you'll need is a digital multi-meter. Do you have such a thing? (And a vague idea of how to use it?)

OP, Aldi have a surprisingly decent one at the moment for only £9.99, go have a look if they have any left. Really handy for fault finding anything electrical on a boat, there's plenty of tutorials on youtube on how to use one to measure voltage and continuity.

[Jen-in-Wellies]

12 hours ago, TheBiscuits said:

 

It's a Beta, this is most likely.

 

Great engines, crap wiring looms.  If this fixes your issue, break it again, clean the plugs and sockets, stick it back together and then put a big tie wrap round both plugs and pull tight.

 

It might not help but you'll feel better!

In addition, put a squirt of contralube 770 in each connection inside to protect them from corrosion before tie wrapping the whole thing together. Great stuff for exposed electrical connectors. No more problems with mine so far since doing the above years ago, plus the tie wraps.

Jen

[Utopia]

OP here. Thanks guys and girls. Followed suggestions and yup, it was a loose connection. Easy fix. Will try some of the other recommendations to help stop it happening again. 

[ditchcrawler]

1 hour ago, Utopia said:

OP here. Thanks guys and girls. Followed suggestions and yup, it was a loose connection. Easy fix. Will try some of the other recommendations to help stop it happening again. 

Glad your going thanks for the feedback