Neutral Safety Switch - Where to buy?

[ckgreenman]

I had a problem starting my engine last weekend after a day on the lake and had to have a friend tow me home. Yesterday I finally got a chance to break out with my test light and this is what I found.

Dash comes alive and everything seems ok. I used a screwdriver (I know, not the right thing to do) to short the Bat+ to the starter and the start cranked but starting with the ignition switch does nothing. No click. I have power at the ignition switch start terminal (when in start position) but none at the slave solenoid. In fact I probed the wire returning from the NS switch and got nothing. So I came to the conclusion that the NS switch is toast. BUT I can't find anyone who sells just the switch.

The boat is:
1996 Mariah Talari 209
2000 Mercruiser 350 vortec engine (upgraded from original)
Quicksilver Control (3000 I think but not sure).

I kinda suspect the switch could have gone bad because the 2000 engine required the addition of an electric fuel pump. Proper wiring dictates the pump be wired to the starting circuit (yellow/red) for initial starting and that means it's drawing power through the NS Switch.

Anyone know how to determine what switch I need and where I can buy one?

Thanks

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Neutral Safety Switch - Where to buy?

"Proper wiring dictates the pump be wired to the starting circuit (yellow/red) for initial starting and "

Where did you find that info. usually comes off the "R" terminal of the starter solenoid,not the yel/red at the slave.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Neutral Safety Switch - Where to buy?

I kinda suspect the switch could have gone bad because

Ayuh,... Did you actually meter it to see if it's workin' or not,..??

Mercruiser sells Quicksilver parts I believe...

 

[ckgreenman]

Re: Neutral Safety Switch - Where to buy?

Ayuh,... Did you actually meter it to see if it's workin' or not,..??

Mercruiser sells Quicksilver parts I believe...

I haven't metered directly at the switch but I probed the wires as close as I could and I have power before and no power after so im pretty sure thats it.


I looked at mercurypartsexpress but couldn't find any catalogs with the controls. Are all quicksilver switches the same?

 

[ckgreenman]

Re: Neutral Safety Switch - Where to buy?

"Proper wiring dictates the pump be wired to the starting circuit (yellow/red) for initial starting and "

Where did you find that info. usually comes off the "R" terminal of the starter solenoid,not the yel/red at the slave.

Sorry I misspoke. I don't actually have a slave cylinder. The diagram I have shows the yellow/red directly to the starter solenoid which is how mine is wired.

 

[ckgreenman]

Re: Neutral Safety Switch - Where to buy?

Ok found the culprit. On Saturday I unmounted the control and was able to probe the wires at the neutral safety switch. Both wires had power out of gear and only one had power in gear so the switch is working. I ended up pulling a panel further forward and found that someone had spliced in a pair of bullet connectors and one of the had come loose. The wires were under tension so It was only a matter of time before one of them came loose anyway. I freed the wires, reattached the connection and the engine cranks.

Thanks for the help and suggestions everybody.