Motor keeps trying to start when key is turned off?

[swinter]

I have a 95 chris craft crowne with twin ford cobra omc. When I turn the ignition key it starts, but then keeps trying to start even when I turn the key off. I have to unhook the battery to make it stop. Any Ideas? This only happens with the starboard motor, port is fine.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Motor keeps trying to start when key is turned off?

If your saying the starter stays engaged , the ign switch, slave solenoid, or starter solenoid are 3 principal suspects.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Motor keeps trying to start when key is turned off?

Howdy,

Start by replacing the ignition switch.

And since they're only about $20, I would replace both of them and keep the other one as a spare.

 

[swinter]

Re: Motor keeps trying to start when key is turned off?

When I replaced the starter solenoid, it would try to start when I barely turned the key, and would continue turning the starter until I unhooked the battery. When I put the old solenoid back on, I could turn the key further and the starter would engage. However it would still keep cranking until I unhooked the battery. The only difference, is that the new solenoid engaged must faster.

 

[J. Mark]

Re: Motor keeps trying to start when key is turned off?

Is your ignition switch loose in the dash? If the body of the switch turns and your wires aren't fully insulated and perhaps a little loose, you could get a short that leaves the starter engaged. Had that happen once on a boat without a battery disconnect switch and that cable gets hot when you are trying to pull it off under pressure. When it happened to me the battery was low and I was on the trailer so it cranked for a 1/4 second and then stopped and went to that clicking when the solenoid is not quite able to engage. Thank goodness for a low battery.

If you don't have a battery disconnect you really should have one. The most basic type is only 15 bucks or so and is simple to install.

http://www.iboats.com/BATTERY_DISCO...9576895--**********.500027945--view_id.367260

 

[swinter]

Re: Motor keeps trying to start when key is turned off?

I noticed that when I turn the key on that motor it feels looser than the port motor. So I believe I have a bad ignition switch. Can anyone tell me what kind of switch it is. Am I thinking correctly that it is a 3 position switch.
One for off. two for guages. three to engage the starter?

 

[J. Mark]

Re: Motor keeps trying to start when key is turned off?

A three position would be the most common in that application.