2001 Volvo 4.3 shift interrupt switch?

[Dave-R]

I just bought a used boat with a volvo 4.3 . It is a carb engine with the delco distributor. The engine starts and runs fine in neutral. As soon as you you shift into forward or reverse, the engine dies. Not from the outdrive being frozen, but like the old mercruiser interrupt switches that momentarily killed the engine when shifting. The ignition switch was removed and jumpered to start because his father had the key in Idaho. I rotated the prop in neutral, forward , and in reverse by hand and the drive works as it should and there is no binding. I'm wondering if the neutral start switch could be out of adjustment. They had a new engine installed by a Marine dealer last year, but did not put the boat on the water. I pick it up Monday so until then I have time to think about what to check first. Maybe with the ignition switch jerry rigged, it has caused a problem somewhere downstream. Any ideas where to start looking? Thanks Dave-R

 

[alldodge]

Its my understanding that VP doesn't use the interrupter switch. Does the motor stop hard like if the drive is stuck, or just dies like turning the key off?

 

[Dave-R]

It just shuts off like the key is turned off. Somehow I'm thinking that the neutral start switch must be involved but not sure how. When I get the boat home, I will test the purple ignition wire back to the engine and see if power is being interrupted when shifting. Hoping that's all it is. I remember my older mercruisers had a switch that killed the engine when shifting, and this acts just like that. I will report back when I look closer. Funny how you think about things instead of sleeping. Thanks Dave-R

 

[lonewolf41]

The start switch interrupts the signal to the starter solenoid. Once it is running, the switch is out of the loop. As long as you have power on the purple wire, it should run. The key connects the battery to the ignition circuit. Make sure the jumpering doesn't break that connection.

 

[Dave-R]

That makes sense to me. That's the first thing I will do is see if I loose power to the purple ignition wire when shifting in forward or reverse. I am hoping that when I get the key and install the switch to normal mode of operation things will be normal. I just am having a hard time understanding why when the engine is idling fine, it will just die when shifting either forward or reverse. Sounds just like you turn the key off. Dave-R

 

[Dave-R]

Problem Solved. When I finally received the key she started and shifted just as it should. When the previous owner had the ignition switch jumped to show me the engine ran, something shut the engine off when shifting. Happy ending . Thanks Dave-R

 

[dypcdiver]

That would be the safety switch that stops you starting the engine with the boat in gear.