Has this ever happend to you (starting questions)

[Don S]

Re: Has this ever happend to you (starting questions)

I could check this out for you and tell you what the problem is, in less time than it takes me to post this reply, but hang in there.

When you turn the key switch to run, does the instruments come to life?

 

[DONPhantasmo]

Re: Has this ever happend to you (starting questions)

Yes, they do...

If the engine is warm, the temp gauge moves up, the Volts move to about 12-13, plus the audible alarm goes on for about a second.

 

[Don S]

Re: Has this ever happend to you (starting questions)

You said you had a heck of a time getting it started, when it did, and you let off the key from the start position that the engine died. How did you get it warm?

 

[DONPhantasmo]

Re: Has this ever happend to you (starting questions)

At first, I didn't get it started at all.

Then you told me to jumper the purple wire directly to the battery, and I did, and it started. I wanted to do a system's check on the boat, really quickly. It ran for about 10-15 minutes (bunny ears installed, water running).

Is that a bad thing?

 

[Don S]

Re: Has this ever happend to you (starting questions)

What do the instruments do WITHOUT that jumper wire. That jumper was just a test, not to be used from now on till we find the problem.

 

[DONPhantasmo]

Re: Has this ever happend to you (starting questions)

Jumper wire is still connected to the starter side, but it is tucked away. I understand it's only a troubleshooting aid... It'll be taken off as soon as the problem is diagnosed...

The gauges act normally (I guess), without the jumper wire. They do nothing erratic. They don't jump, or fluctuate... They just work as advertised...

So, what do you think is going on??? What is the purple wire supposed to read? is it supposed to be hot, or grounded?

 

[Don S]

Re: Has this ever happend to you (starting questions)

What is the purple wire.

That is the wire that puts power to the ignition to the coil and to other things as well, the instruments and on some engine the alternator (but not YOUR Volvo)
The wire basically goes from the ignition switch to the engine. On the engine there are several soldered connections. They are ok because you checked them by using the jumper.
Since you do not have power to the purple wire between the ignition switch and the engine, you have an open circuit between them SOMEWHERE.
Assuming you started the engine with the key switch when you had the jumper wire on, I would bet you never turned the key off while it was running to see what worked or didn't work. Might be a good thing to try right now.
I'm running out of opinions.

 

[DONPhantasmo]

Re: Has this ever happend to you (starting questions)

I'm running out of options, too.

I accidentally tried to turn the engine off using the key, while the jumper was oh. It did nothing... I had to remove the jumper to stop the engine.

Can you think of anything else?

If not, what should I do to keep my engine running? The only think I thought of was the toggle switch. I don't want to do that, but if that's the only choice to keep my motor running, than it's gonna have to work..

 

[Don S]

Re: Has this ever happend to you (starting questions)

I accidentally tried to turn the engine off using the key, while the jumper was oh. It did nothing... I had to remove the jumper to stop the engine.

Of course that happened, I told you it would earlier, but when you shut the switch off, what happened to the gauges? did they stay working?

OK, here is what I want you to try.
1. Remove the purple wires from the ignition switch. Do not allow them to touch anything else.
2. Disconnect the purple wire from the starter solenoid
3. Connect a long jumper wire from the terminal on the ignition switch that you removed the purple wire from.
4. Hook the other end of the jumper to the wire you removed from the starter solenoid. (the wire, not the solenoid)
5. Start the engine on muffs and see if it runs. NOTE: The inst. panel SHOULD NOT work. If it does, there is a problem.
6. You should now be able to start and stop the engine with the key switch (ign. sw.) Does it?????

 

[DONPhantasmo]

Re: Has this ever happend to you (starting questions)

DON.

Once it stops down pouring here, I'll be out and going at it.
I'm trying to get this thing done before this weekend before the Superbowl..

One more thing, the purple wire coming out of the junction box reads as a negative. Is that right? or is it wrong?

 

[Don S]

Re: Has this ever happend to you (starting questions)

One more thing, the purple wire coming out of the junction box reads as a negative.

I have no idea what junction box you are referring to. As far as the reading, tell me exactly where you had the black and red test leads from your meter hooked and I might be able to tell you if the reading is + or -. Without know that, it's an impossible question to answer.

 

[DONPhantasmo]

Re: Has this ever happend to you (starting questions)

the junction box I'm referring to is the bundle of wires coming out from underneath the 2 circuit breakers. There is a 90 degree bend going to the wire bundle. I don't know what you guys in the marine business call it, but in airplanes, we call them junction boxes.

That purple wire was a negative on my boat.. I accidentally put the black wire to the positive terminal on the battery while I was checking voltage, and it read -12.54 VDC. I then changed polarity (red multimeter on the positive battery, and black multimeter inside the socket for the purple wire, and it read 12.54)
Is it supposed to be a negative? or is it supposed to be positive?

 

[DONPhantasmo]

Re: Has this ever happend to you (starting questions)

DON, I did what you told me to do. I put the jumper on just the purple wire. I ran it, and it blew my fuse. I'm going to get another fuse (20), but it's getting annoying. What do you think it is?
and why is the purple wire acting as a negative?

Any thoughts?

 

[Alpheus]

Re: Has this ever happend to you (starting questions)

I'm just subscribing. I'm curious to see what the problem is...

PS. Did you run a continuity check on the purple wire to confirm that it was grounded? I seen something very similar to this (on a 73 Chevy Nova) and it was a wire hooked to the wrong terminal on the starter. When the key was in the start position the engine would run but as soon as let off the key it would die. When I Ohmed out the hot to the coil it was shorted to ground and when the key was in the start position it was 12VDC... When the solenoid was in the normally open position it was grounding out the hot lead. I did exactly what you did before I Ohmed out the hot to ground and made a jumper wire to start the engine. It ran for a couple of minutes and ended up frying the fusible link to the starter...

 

[achris]

Re: Has this ever happend to you (starting questions)

... That purple wire was a negative on my boat.. I accidentally put the black wire to the positive terminal on the battery while I was checking voltage, and it read -12.54 VDC. I then changed polarity (red multimeter on the positive battery, and black multimeter inside the socket for the purple wire, and it read 12.54)
Is it supposed to be a negative? or is it supposed to be positive?

When measuring voltage in a system like this the black lead from the meter should be attached to the ground (on the battery or on the engine block, or the back of the instrument panel if you KNOW it is grounded).

Only when looking for a voltage drop within a circuit should the black lead be not on the ground.

I believe with your problem you should be looking for a bad connection between the ON position on the key (Purple wire) and the end of the purple wire you took off the starter.

Not being familiar with ovloV wiring setups I can't give you direct advise. Don's doing a great job of trying to steer you in the right direction. Stop getting side tracked and do all, and only, as he says....

Chris......

 

[Don S]

Re: Has this ever happend to you (starting questions)

What fuse blew? Do you have a fuse in the purple wire ?????

Have you ever disconnected the round engine harness plug and checked the contacts?
You also need to disconnect it and do an ohms test between the terminal for the purple wire in the plug and the wire you disconneced from the switch. Do the same for the engine harness side.