No power at ignition due to shifter control

crazy charlie

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May 22, 2003
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I am having this looked at this week but would like to know where the actual problem is.Dual mercruiser 230 i/os,alpha drives 1988. Dual shifter controls are making a condition that mimic when the shifter is not in neutral and you attempt to turn the ignition and you get absolutely nothing at the key until you move the shifter into neutral.Since I have been able to get the motors started ONLY after jiggling the shift lever until it is in the perfect position.It has gotten worse in the 1 week since I first noticed it.Is there an actual switch inside the shift controls that disengage the ignition switch at the key??? The controls are not Quicksilver style.I assume they are aftermarket.Instead of puching a side button to rev out of gear,my shift lever gets pulled away from the body of the shift mechanism to rev.Still trying to post a pic of it.I am just very curious where the actual cutoff is??? Charlie
 

Bt Doctur

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Aug 29, 2004
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19,389
Re: No power at ignition due to shifter control

Inside the control box, you should see yellow wires or yellow/red stripe wires coming out of the control box. Just short them together for testing
 

crazy charlie

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Re: No power at ignition due to shifter control

Thanks Doc,I saw the wires when I was laying on my back trying to see the internals of the controls.I may need a super long nose pliers to get to them.Charlie
 

Bt Doctur

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Re: No power at ignition due to shifter control

the wire usually goes inline with the yel/red wire in the harness. strip the insualation at a convenient spot and twist together.
 

crazy charlie

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Re: No power at ignition due to shifter control

Thanks again Doc.Thats where the problem was.A relay on each side is where the wires were connected inside the shifter.Just tightened them and all works fine now.I have my mechanic ordering new ones just in case there is a future problem.Charlie
 

crazy charlie

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May 22, 2003
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5,602
Re: No power at ignition due to shifter control

Dont know what it is called.Do you know for sure that it is a switch??? I dont.There is one on each side of a dual control with 2 wires on each as Doc stated.Charlie
 

bruceb58

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Mar 5, 2006
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30,610
Re: No power at ignition due to shifter control

Yep...its a switch.
 
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