4.3l 2 barrel won't stay running after new starter

[H20Rat]

So the back story is I had a starter that got a little wet last year. It was locked this spring, I pulled it apart and cleaned it up, and it worked, albeit you could tell it was spinning slower than normal, engine ran fine.

in the meantime, I ordered a new starter and just finished replacing it. The engine spins over great and starts (oil pressure and rpm come up), but as soon as I let go of the key, the engine stops instantly. First thought is wiring order was wrong, but that is verified, purple is on top.

Other thought is I had a small spark while tightening down one of the small terminals, is there a fuse somewhere that I could have popped that would cause it to not stay running?


(also verified the kill switch is in the normal position)

 

[alldodge]

purple is on top.

Purple on top of the starter connections don't add up, and the purple/yellow is on the left

BTW, what year is the 4.3?

 

[H20Rat]

2002. Yeah sorry brain fart. Top terminal as viewed when I'm laying sideways folded inside the bilge. Left side when viewed as a normal person!

 

[alldodge]

OK, and being a 2002,EDIT sorry you did say 2BBL

The purple has to be a purple/yellow which goes to the fuel pump. If its actually purple then maybe the oil switch has been bypassed

There is a fuse (20amp at the helm), but if it blew then it wouldn't even crank

 

[alldodge]

Might just be coincidence but might be the key switch

Measure power on the purple wire with the key tuned ON (not cranking)

Might have also accidentally unplugged something

 

[H20Rat]

Serial m325542

so... just tried with the purple/yellow entirely disconnected. Boat starts and runs perfectly! Going to have to dig in with a meter and see what is going on.


If I understand correctly, that terminal is +12v when cranking and floats any other time?

 

[alldodge]

guessing the new starter is grounding out that terminal instead of disconnecting it

You might be on to something there, but the oil switch passes 12V to the pump (not ground), but starter may be grounding out the circuit

 

[alldodge]

Disregard, I deleted this statement

 

[H20Rat]

Ah crap, I guess I get to pull the new starter out! I have ground continuity on the bare terminal (nothing connected). Verified on my old starter, and it floats that terminal, no continuity...


Thanks for your help and letting me talk it out, always helps!

 

[H20Rat]

And just to confirm it on the bench, old starter has no connection to ground, new starter grounds it out.

 

[alldodge]

You found the issue, sure wonder why it didn't blow the fuse, good that it didn't.

And REAL glad this wasn't my boat, hang upside down, have to remove mans, and all kinds of stuff just to get at it
:facepalm:

 

[H20Rat]

It actually did pop the master breaker on the dash once. Seemed strange at the time, makes way more sense now. I'm under 15 minutes to remove or install, bringing my air ratchet out next time which should make it much easier! Access on my boat (Hurricane FD198) is really easy, the engine cover flips forward and I can kind of slip to the side of the engine instead of hanging upside down.