Ignition wired wrong?

[Nightfisher-]

I traded for a pontoon boat last week and when looking it over the previous owner showed me how to had to manipulate the key in a funny way to get the motor to start and the starter to disengage. After getting it home and starting to work on it I realized that the ignition switch may in fact be wired wrong. It is a 6 terminal 3 position switch and to start the motor the key turns to the LEFT, then you have to turn it back slightly to get the starter to disengage. Turning the key to the right as one normally would to start the motor does nothing. The key returns to the center position when released from being turned to the right. Based on this, am I correct in my assumption that the ignition is wired wrong? I have no experience with ignitions or the correct terminals the wires should go to. Sure would be nice to hear that I just need to swap a couple of wires than waste money on a new ignition that I don't need. (Even though they are fairly cheap)

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Ignition wired wrong?

It would help to know what engine we are talking about. Key positions are (left to right) OFF-RUN-START and push to choke or prime. Regardless, here are the pin outs for the switch:

A = accessory (12 volts on this terminal in the RUN position).
B = battery (+12 volt feed from the engine via the engine harness). This terminal is hot all the time.
S = Solenoid (this terminal feeds 12 volts to the starter solenoid when the key is in the start position)
C = Choke/Primer. Pushing the key in energizes the choke or primer solenoid during starting.
M = magneto
M = magneto (yes there are two terminals). In the OFF position these two terminals are shorted together to kill the engine.

Based on what you told us, yes, the switch is wired wrong.

 

[Nightfisher-]

Re: Ignition wired wrong?

Sorry bout that brain fart. Focused too much on the ignition. The motor is a 1978 50hp Johnson.

 

[Nightfisher-]

Re: Ignition wired wrong?

Ok got out there and wrote down the wires as they are now hooked up. 1978 50hp Johnson Sea Horse J50TLCRM. The current ignition switch wiring is as follows...

S= White (yellowish white actually might be faded)
A= 2 Purple (One goes to warning buzzer on runs back to motor)
M= Black with a yellow stripe
B= Red
M= 2 Black (One goes to remote control box frame)
C= Empty

Wired wacky or do I need a new switch? I'm about at the point where I'm just going to go buy a switch, but it will do me no good if I go by the way this one is wired when I replace it and wind up having the new one hooked up wrong also.

Sorry about not giving enough details in the first post. I was tired, a little frustrated, and have a ton of other stuff I need to fix on my mind.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Ignition wired wrong?

With the exception of the "C" terminal, it appears to be wired correctly. Without a connection to the choke solenoid you would have a tough time with cold starts,. It would appear the switch has an issue internally. The fact that you had to jiggle the key to get something to happen says the switch is bad. These are not expensive parts (relative to other electrical stuff).

What may be an issue however, is if the engine wire harness running between the control box and the engine, or the harness at the engine was ever tampered with. That would throw off everything on the switch end of the harness.

 

[Nightfisher-]

Re: Ignition wired wrong?

Replaced the entire ignition. Problem solved. Thanks for the help. Love this forum, there is always someone with the answer you need.

 

[mpm2thumbs]

Re: Ignition wired wrong?

Hi Nightfisher- I'm in the middle of replacing my entire ignition switch but husband labeled wires wrong when he took the old one out. now I don't know what colors go to what letters. Its an old SeaRay 100 engine (1989) will the same colors apply to my engine/ignition switch?

 

[Nightfisher-]

Re: Ignition wired wrong?

Probably not. I'm a novice at the marine electronics and mechanics so I am definitely not the one to give out answers. From what I have learned through this experience with mine is that Black always goes to M and only M and the rest depends on the type of motor.