1990 4.3 ltr i/o jet electrical problems

[mjcombs]

thanks for looking my problem is on my 1990 smoker craft 17 foot 4.3 liter merc(?)kodiak jet drive. when i turn the ignition off the motor stills runs perfect doesnt diesel but purrs right along and i keep buying key switches and wire it up correctly(?) but my starter engages when i turn my key to on and yes it is on the starter post not the accesory or ignition post or battery post. engine does have ballast resistor but need to find out what could be wrong....please HELP.........thank you

 

[McKenzie]

Re: 1990 4.3 ltr i/o jet electrical problems

My clymers manual has a diagram of your engine wiring, and I don't see any ballast resistor, only a coil pack/ignition module. There is a wire that goes from the assist solenoid to the ign. module, so would lead me to believe your ign module is at fault if the key and all the wiring is correct.

 

[McKenzie]

Re: 1990 4.3 ltr i/o jet electrical problems

Engine Wiring Diagram

 

[Patrick123]

Re: 1990 4.3 ltr i/o jet electrical problems

This may not apply to boats but on cars (older cars with ballast resistors) there is a wire that runs from a post on the starter solonoid to the coil so that when you are cranking you bypass the ballast resistor and give the full 12v to the coil. My small block boat is that way too. I wonder if the starter solonoid could fail just right and short that extra wire to where when you turned the key to "on" but not to "start" the solonoid would get the signal to crank from the coil through the ballast resistor. Maybe try to unhook all the wires from the starter except the big wire to the battery then run a temporary jumper from the battery to the ballast resistor then start the engine with another temporary jumper across the starter solonoid. Remove the jumper to the ballast resistor and see if the engine shuts off. Like I said it may not apply but it was just a thought, that is if your boat is set up that way. Since you said you have a ballast resistor I'm guessing it may be.

 

[akriverrat]

Re: 1990 4.3 ltr i/o jet electrical problems

KEM equipment,inc 10800 SW herman road po box 546 tualatin, oregon 97062 (503)692-5012. they made your pump and probably marinized your engine. not related in any way to merc. call them. they are very helpful. so far they have sent me owners manual for pump and motor and later photocopy of my wiring diagram and instalation book for delco voyager marine distributor. all for free. if same as mine you have yellow/red stripe and purple reversed on switch or 1 of 2 cube relays bad. 1990 4.3L kodiak with 2 stage pump.

 

[akriverrat]

Re: 1990 4.3 ltr i/o jet electrical problems

do you have MSD distributor? if so see their web site.

 

[McKenzie]

Re: 1990 4.3 ltr i/o jet electrical problems

oops, sorry, i thought you said the engine was made by OMC, thats what happens when I read these at 11:00pm. Ignore me!