Can we finally track down this electrical gremlin?

[njlarry]

I have a 1995 5.0 FL volvo/sx "HU" engine. For the past six years that I have had it, it often will not react to the "start" position with the ingition key. No starter turning or relay clicking, just the insturments working with about 9 volts showing. Trusted mechanics have looked at this and found nothing wrong.

However for the first time this weekend, after several hours at anchor, turning the key to start caused the engine to very rapidly turn over (it almost sounded like it was running) but releasing the key to "run" position the engine would not run. We found that the purple run wires were off the ignition switch. When I put the wires back on the engine would again not turn over. I got the engine to start by removing the purple wires, turning to the start position and then quickly attaching the purple wires.

Bottom line; with the purple "run" wires attached, the starter will not turn but the engine will run once started....with the pruple wires removed the starter will easliy turn the engine but it will not stay running.

After six years of frustration I would greatly appreciate your help in finally removing this gremlin.

 

[Don S]

Re: Can we finally track down this electrical gremlin?

I think the first place I would be looking is the starter slave solenoid. I would bet you have the wrong kind of solenoid. Look at your starter slave solenoid, does it have the small terminals marked I and S ?????

 

[njlarry]

Re: Can we finally track down this electrical gremlin?

Don't know but will check later this week and let you know. I assume that it must be the right one as three trusted mechanics have all looked at this. Will post as soon as I can find out.
Thanks.

 

[Don S]

Re: Can we finally track down this electrical gremlin?

I assume that it must be the right one as three trusted mechanics have all looked at this.

They didn't fix your problem, so why would you assume that?

 

[Nhpatriot]

Re: Can we finally track down this electrical gremlin?

I agree sounds like the solenoid pictured above or solenoid on starter.
Not unusual to start as intermittent issue.

 

[njlarry]

Re: Can we finally track down this electrical gremlin?

Was on boat today. Yes my solenoid looks almost the same. On the "I" terminal a single purple wire is attached.
Also should mention that it will usually restart right after running but mostly not start after sitting hours or days.

 

[Jlawsen]

Re: Can we finally track down this electrical gremlin?

Your ignition switch should have two purples. One will go to the gauges as key-on power and the other to the I post of the solenoid. The I post on the solenoid should have two purples, one from the key switch and the other goes to the + side of the coil. On your ignition switch you should have a yellow wire with a stripe (usually red). This wire color gets changed a lot but it should always be striped. It goes to the S terminal on the solenoid. The Battery + goes on one of the larger terminals and the other larger terminal goes to the starter. When you turn the key to on, the purple wire at the solenoid gets powered and it powers the coil. You may have a smaller red wire on the battery side large terminal it will go to your ignition switch and is the battery + at the switch. Many boats get that power directly from the battery so you may not have one. Once you turn the key to start the yellow/striped wire energizes the solenoid and that connects the two larger terminals together inside. When that happens the starter should turn. When you relase the key the solenoid disengages and power no longer flows across the larger poles, power is off to the S pole but the I pole is just acting like a jumper and power continues to flow to the coil until you turn the key to off.

If I lost you anywhere along the way just let me know.

 

[njlarry]

Re: Can we finally track down this electrical gremlin?

Thank you. I think I follow it although my solenoid only has one purple wire.
I will replace the solenoid and see what happens.