need help with ignition switch

[imported_rusty]

ok1989 85hp force. choke works she cranks over its just that she wont choke and crank over at the same time..I just replaced the switch also..I have a black yellow green red two white and one purple wire. thanks if i push the choke in and turn the key i get nothing if i do not push the choke in and turn the key she cranks over.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: need help with ignition switch

Sounds like wires on the wrong terminals. If you have a six terminal switch, Green is choke and attaches to the "C" terminal. Yellow is start and attaches to the "S" terminal. Red is battery power to switch and attaches to "B" terminal.

Purple is tachometer signal, does not go to switch. Black is ground, does not go to switch.

Blue and White are stop circuit Each one attaches to an "M" terminal

"I" or "A" terminal is switched power to gauges and overheat indicator, only on when the switch is in start or run position

 

[imported_rusty]

Re: need help with ignition switch

what wire will i attach to the I or A terminal? and the black I should take off and tape up? also i have no blue wire just 2 white ones.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: need help with ignition switch

You take a separate length of red wire (that you make-up with crimp terminals) from the "I" or "A" terminal and attach it to a fuse block or terminal strip. use this to power all accessories that must be on while the engine is running and off when it is shut down. (Tach, Overheat, other gauges)

Again, attach the black to a terminal strip and use it as a common ground for accessories.

Asa for your two white wires--I'm trying to think. Sometimes if the switch is in the control box, a white wire attaches to the man overboard switch. This is in parallel with the ignition shut down. But at the engine terminal strip you almost certainly have a white and blue. This is the stop circuit. White comes from the Cd boxes and goes to the switch,blue comes from the switch to ground. When the switch is turned to stop, the Cd boxes are grounded and spark stops. So: you need to trace your wiring to see exactly what goes where.

If the engine is stopping correctly, the only wires you should need to check are the green, yellow, and red because your only problem is starting.

 

[imported_rusty]

Re: need help with ignition switch

frank thanks for the help. I will try to get to it tomorrow and do some tracing,I also ordered a new switch from i boats today, also i still dont see a blue wire. i know the purple wire is hook on the I terminal and that powers the gash lights and gauges. thanks. p.s are you close to trenton? n.j

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: need help with ignition switch

Close to Philly--probably an hour and half from Trenton.

On the engine, the purple wire should be attached to the purple terminal (2nd down). This is a source of AC voltage for tachometer signal. White should be third down and blue should be second from bottom, just above the black ground. This is the main cable that goes forward to the switch and unless it was replaced with a non stock one, that's what the colors should be.

But then again, If your ignition switch is in the control box and you also have power trim, the wires coming out to go to the dash are different colors.

I do it all the time, but the colors are not important enough to stay in my head. If I need to trace anything, I just use logic if it appears different.

A couple of clear digital photos would be helpful.

 

[imported_rusty]

Re: need help with ignition switch

 

[imported_rusty]

Re: need help with ignition switch

ok frank I hope those pictures help me out.. also no power tilt or trim.

 

[imported_rusty]

Re: need help with ignition switch

ttt

 

[imported_rusty]

Re: need help with ignition switch

ttt

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: need help with ignition switch

Well, the photo of the decal on the exhaust cover does not help any--I already know the correct wiring.

The two white wires connected to the ignition switch are most likely one to stop circuit and the other in parallel to the man overboard kill switch.

I do not see a blue wire, perhaps it was cut and the previous owner substituted the purple wire which may have been unused if the boat has no tach. However, If the switch is standard, the purple appears to be attached to the ignition terminal. This would be a source of power for the instruments.

Need to see the terminal strip next to the starter.

Both start circuit and choke circuit take power internally (within the switch) from the battery terminal. If both are working independently, then that wiring at the switch is connected correctly and the switch is good. Since the choke works independently, and the starter works independently but the starter will not turn with the choke engaged, I suspect that you need to trace all the wires and look for a short circuit.

 

[imported_rusty]

Re: need help with ignition switch

there you go frank hope this helps also i havent been able to get in the boat to trace any wires yet or try the new switch i bought, all thr rain this weekend but this week looks better. thanks russ... also the purple wire does light up the gauges on the dash..

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: need help with ignition switch

Yeah, it helps a lot. The purple wire is attached to the correct terminal on the engine terminal board for tach signal. However, it should NOT be attached to any terminal on the ignition switch. As it stands now, the purple appears to be given AC power from the rectifier and depending upon switch terminal it is either receiving 12 volts from the battery or attached to the other "M" terminal---Wrong in either case.

I do not see a blue wire and that tells me that even if the engine would start, it would not shut down. SO: since there is no blue wire showing, if you do not have a tach or do not mind rewiring for it, remove the purple from the engine terminal board and re-connect it to the BLUE terminal (just above the ground. NOW Be certain that at the ignition switch the purple is connected to the other "M" terminal. (opposite white)

I also do not see a red in the cable attached to the red terminal on the engine, yet the red in the cable is attached to the "B" on the ignition switch. SO: From where is the power coming? I see another smaller red wire but can not see from where it comes or to where it goes. Be certain that the red wire in the cable is attached to the red terminal on the engine terminal board. That is the correct source of power for the switch. Right now you may be getting power from a circuit that simply can't supply enough for both choke and start circuits.

Let's see if that helps your problem!

BUT: As a caution-- I can not see if the wires connected to the switch are in the cable that runs from the engine. I do not see a blue, and I do not see an orange which are usully in the cable bundle. I do see a black, but I can not tell to what it is connected if at all.

SO; Before you go changing wires, trace the taped bundle and see if it is the engine cable or if the wires originate elsewhere. (Like inside the control box.) Something is just not quite right here.

Second looking seems to show ( now mind you I can not see the terminal itself) that the purple wire is connected to the ground terminal on the rectifier. As a stop circuit this will work, but it is not correct.

See my private message to you