98 mercury 40hp, solenoid wiring

[roadfire]

OK I id this no one else to blame. replacing solenoid the old one was not marked "I" or "s" and I have messed up the wiring and now nothing when key is turned no gauges, no tilt/trim motor function, no starter turn over. if i take the cable from battery connect directly to starter it turns over.Wires I have are

1 large wire one from battery one large terminal

1 to the starter and a bundle that I assume goes to everything else Both go to the other large terminal

1 red and yellow wire goes to small terminal "not sure I or S"

2 small black wires separate terminals goes to other small terminal "not sure "I or S"

2 red wires going to same terminal Maybe to mounting bolt for solenoid

what can I do?

 

[Silvertip]

You can start by replacing the fuse inside the engine cowl. Then check the fuse or breaker near the positive terminal on the battery. That one feeds the "boat" harness -- not the engine. Large red positive cable from the battery goes to one of the large terminals on the solenoid. Other large terminal feeds the starter. Large black negative cable from the battery bolts to the engine block. Black wires are typically ground wires and would not go to the solenoid. Check the wire color on the "S" terminal on the ignition switch. That wire goes to one of the small terminals on the solenoid. Here is where things can get muddy. Is the new solenoid a factory part or did you use a generic or auto solenoid. Regardless, check the solenoid carefully for an "I" and a "R". "I" would be the ignition switch terminal. "R" would not be used on your outboard. Red wires do not typically connect to the engine block or mounting bolt. Those are typically HOT wires and would result in blown fuses.

 

[roadfire]

98 mercury solenoid problem

OK I did this no one else to blame. replacing solenoid the old one was not marked "I" or "s" and I have messed up the wiring and now nothing when key is turned no gauges, no tilt/trim motor function, no starter turn over. if i take the cable from battery connect directly to starter it turns over.
1998 Mercury 40 hp serial number oe339698

Wires I have are

1 large wire one from battery one large terminal

1 to the starter and a bundle that I assume goes to everything else Both go to the other large terminal

1 red and yellow wire goes to small terminal "not sure I or S"

2 small black wires separate terminals goes to other small terminal "not sure "I or S"

2 red wires going to same terminal Maybe to mounting bolt for solenoid

what can I do?

 

[roadfire]

i will check fuses when I get home, The only reason I believe the two red wires in one connector go to ground Is I took a picture after I started removing wires and it shows the red and yellow striped and the two small black wires going to terminals on the solenoid picture does not show the red ones since I took it after I had started and not before.
Thank you for responding. All help is very much appreciated

 

[roadfire]

alright it is fixed, you were right the two red wires connected together do not go to ground actually they go to the same large solenoid post as the battery cable and the wiring harness yellow and red stripe goes to small "S' post two black wires go to other small post and other large goes to starter, everything works great now.
Thank you again