I've got a car with 2x Vetus M4.45 engines. The port one starts up, first go, no problems.
The starboard....not so much. The other day, the
engine started on the second try when we were leaving the
mooring. On the way back to the
mooring, we couldn't get the
engine started. I had my friend engage the ignition while I listened to the engine. I could hear what I assume is the
fuel pump begin ticking when the switch was turned to on, then I heard a click that I assume is the glow plugs when he turned the ignition to that position, and finally the clicky click of the starter kind of trying, but not really.
The voltage meter at the panel showed a strong 12+ volts (it's analog). Thinking it might be the starter
battery, I engaged the house bypass (which should hook the house up to the engine), but that also did not
work. The only thing that worked was waiting 30 minutes, then magically the engine started.
The start
battery is connected to the house via a
solar charge controller (think poor man's DC-DC charger).
Today, the engine started first try, no dramas. I took the starter battery to a battery shop and, although rated for 720 CCA, the testing device only registered mid 580's, with a recommendation to replace. The voltage was a ok though. I forked over the $270 AUD to just cross off "bad battery" off the list of possible reasons for a cranky engine.
Looking back through the sales
contract for the
boat, the battery is listed as being replaced in 2020. Is it common for starter
batteries to die after 2 years? Did I just get unlucky? Is there something I can do to get a longer life out of the starter battery?
I'll install the new battery and see how we go. The intermittent working and lack of success with the bypass still makes me very suspicious of the starter, but let's try one thing at a time.
Start battery lifetime
Linear Mode
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