Engine would not shut off!!

[birdpiper]

Strange thing happened this past weekend. My battery was dead since the boat had not been used in awhile and I had been running the bilge allot more than usual due to recent heavy rain. I charged the battery, pumped out the bilge and ran the boat around for about 10 minutes. When I got back to the dock I turned the ignition key to off and the engine continued to run!
I tried:
- turning the key back and forth several times
- pulling the safety lanyard
- disconnecting the battery
- disconnecting the relay
Nothing worked it just continued to run.
Finally I pulled off the spark plug cables and the engine died ( got a little charge while doing that)

I have had several issues with the ignition/electrical system this season. I recently replaced the starter, relay, distributor cap, and spark plug cables.

The water in the bilge might have come up to the level of the engine in the past week. The starter is pretty low on the engine. Could water in the bilge have damaged the starter?

Any ideas what might have caused this issue? Repair?

1999 Four Winns 190 Horizon
Engine: Volvo Penta 4.3GL
Drive: Volvo Penta SX

 

[Don S]

Re: Engine would not shut off!!

I tried:
- turning the key back and forth several times
- pulling the safety lanyard
- disconnecting the battery
- disconnecting the relay
Nothing worked it just continued to run.

Ok, you keep saying it keeps running, but if you took the battery cables off and it kept running .............. well, that's a amazing as well as impossible.

When you say it keeps running, does this mean it sets there and idles as well as it normally does, or does it jump, rattle, and carry on?

 

[birdpiper]

Re: Engine would not shut off!!

Don, Thanks for the response

Yea, I was amazed that it kept running after I disconnected the battery. (Magic boat for sale - $1,000,000 )

It just kept idling normally. Before finally disconnecting the plugs I also revved the engine in neutral hoping that might kill it.

I started it yesterday at the dock, ran the engine for a few minutes, then turned the ignition switch to off. This time the engine kept running for a few seconds then turned off.

The boat has been excessively damp the past week. The culprit may have been some moisture or corrosion somewhere in the electrical system.

Some posters on the Four Winns forum also had some ideas
http://www.smwebhead.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=8388

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Engine would not shut off!!

Have you ever changed the Alternator? If so, it may be wired incorrectly.