oil pressure dropped, now wont start

[cpoint]

km, thanks. As I said I am not mechanic. so to sum up my problem;
1) 30 minute into our day out on water oil pressure dropped from 1/2 marker to 1/4 marker.
2) I did not notice it was a quick drop or slowly dropped, but it was maybe between 5 minutes and 15 minutes when I noticed the drop.
3) Returned to dock, did an oil change on both engines. They were both low (one on ADD mark other little over)
4) started port engine for a minute or two, recheck oil level, added final quart, all is well
5) Try to start starboard, nothing. double check the gear for neutral and try 2-3 times, nothing happened.
6) Friend went to engine room, I tried from helm, he said there was wining noise and clicking.
7) after couple times, he located sound coming from the pictured item (fuel pump), also held it and felt the vibration in the box when I tried to start.
8) Posted here to get some ideas and checked over google. Oil pressure switch/sender seemed like the issue fit my story.

By crank, I get the initial beeping when key is turned, but here nothing upstairs. So I am assuming its not cranking. But there is a noise coming from the fuel pump, so it is trying to do something maybe. Never listened before, so not sure what is unusual noise? So that's where I am. I put a call to my mechanic, but have not heard back yet.

[km1125]

Have someone listen to engine when you go from "ign" to "start" on the key. See if there's a big click. That would be the solenoid if you hear it. If you hear a big click and the engine still isn't cranking, you need to manually try to rotate the engine. If there is no big click, then you're not getting power from the key to the starter solenoid. The only thing that's between those two (usually) is the neutral safety switch and its associated wires.

Dismiss the sounds coming from the fuel box at least until you can get the engine to crank. They have nothing to do with it, OTHER than the prove that you're actually getting power from the key back down to the engine, which is a good thing.

Sounds like you had SOME oil pressure the whole way, so I wouldn't be too worried yet. I would want to know why it dropped, but that could just be a gauge, connection or sender issue. I assume the gauge goes to zero when the ignition is off and the engine isn't running (so it's not a stuck gauge)? I would dismiss that too until I could get the engine to crank.

[cpoint]

Thanks km, will do next time I am out there, hopefully before Saturday.

[Viper]

What does your volt gauge say when you turn the ignition switch? The "clicking" warrants further probing; where is the clicking coming from? Loud clicking? Repeated clicking or just one click every time you turn the key? There is a slave solenoid at the front of the engine (starboard end) and one on the starter at the back of the engine starboard side. Listen to see if the click is coming from one of those areas.

BTW, the box is a cool fuel unit. It contains the fuel pump, raw water cooler, and the fuel regulator. As mentioned, the wining noise there is normal, within reason.

I agree with KM, don't worry about the oil pressure yet, it could be something simple. Deal with that after you get the engine running. AND, WHY did you let the oil level drop that low?? Check it more often!

[tomschauer]

As viper mentioned above, does the volt gauge drop to near zero when you try to start? If so could be a starter or battery issue. Try switching the battery switch to all or both. If you still have a major drop in voltage and no cranking, then check for good connections on the starter and batteries, if all good, then you need to make sure the engine will spin manually with a breaker bar on the crank bolt. If it was running when you shut it off, I doubt it locked up.

Keep us posted please.

[cpoint]

Viper, in case of oil check, my stupidity Will not happen again. I will check on volt gauge when I return back to it.

Tom, switch is always on BOTH option. Not sure how to spin manually? But it was running. Batteries are new (all 3 of them). Also port side starts fine, so don't think its batteries. but starter or its connections can be checked.

The more I get into it now, its getting into a longer list I already called the mechanic if they beat me to it, I guess it will cost me but they will take care of it. If I get there before them I will try all suggestions here as best I can and will keep you guys posted. Thanks for all the info.

[RGrew176]

It is a good practice to post the solution to a problem you have. We all can learn from your experience with this issue. If it happened to you it will happen again to someone down the line.

Thanks for keeping us updated.

[cpoint]

Can anyone tell me on 356 aft cabin (year 2000), where the neutral switch is, what it looks like?

[bud37]

Look for a wire attached on the transmission, near where the shifter cable connects.

[cpoint]

It turns out starboard engine not turning over was due to bad solenoid. Neutral switch was fine. It now turns over with the part changed. Oil pressure is not an issue, it was just low on oil and by coincidence I assumed it was related. Now with oil change, oil pressure is back to normal. So we can now close this case on starboard engine