question?

[firemanfitz]

Can a bad solenoid cause the main engine fuse (20 amp) to blow everytime you try to start it.

 

[Daviet]

Re: question?

I guess it's possiable for anything attached to that circut to blow the fuse, although I don't think I have ever seen a solenoid do it. Disconnect the wire coming from the ignition switch to the solenoid and turn the key to start, engine will not turn over, and see if the fuse blows.

 

[64osby]

Re: question?

A little more info would help like model and year.

Fuses blow because of direct short or too many amps.

I would look to the started first. Disconnect the engine wire harness, turn over the key. If the fuse blows the issue is in the starter circuit.

Disconnect the power cable from the starter and turn you key over. If the fuse blows you have an direct short somewhere in the motor.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: question?

I agree with Daviet. More than likely the wiring to the solenoid or the ign accessory wiring has a direct short to the block or some other ground.

 

[firemanfitz]

Re: question?

It's a 1996 johnson 115 fast strike 2 stroke. The wires look good from the ignition back to engine, although I could have missed something. Will check again. One thing that I did was that I accidently left the ignition turned and installed the new fuse and as soon as the fuse touch the connector it popped instantly. not sure if that helps figuring anything out.......probably not. I will try your sugestions. What wiring harness are you talking about? Looks like there are a few connections. Tx

 

[Daviet]

Re: question?

If the fuse blew with the key just in the on position I think your problem is something other than the starter solenoid. Disconnect the harness at the engine and see if it still blows the fuse, if so the problem is somewhere from the control box to the engine. If the fuse does not blow with the harnness disconnected your problem is in the engine wiring harness. Do you have a manual with a electrical schematic in it?

 

[firemanfitz]

Re: question?

Ordering an engine specific manual Friday. Once the fuse sparked and popped with the ignition in the "on" position while i was attempting to put it in. I didn't know that I had left the key in that position. The other times I had turned the key all they way to start, so not sure when it blew during those times. I will check when I get home and try the different positions. along with all of the other suggestions. You guys RRRROOOOCKKKK!!!!!! Tx again

 

[firemanfitz]

Re: question?

O.k., think I might have it figured out. I will try to explain it the best I can. I found this guy that came to my house (mechanic) and he tested everything on the motor and it all checked out. He says he found the problem under the dash with the purple wires ( one leading to ignition, one to tach, and the other to mph ( note: the tach never worked prior to fuse popping). He cut the purple wire somewhere that cut the power off to all gauges. Now the engine turns over without blowing 20 amp fuse. He told me it is some problem in the gauges and just buy new ones and that they are not that much. Does this make sense to you all having a bad gauge that would do this. FYI some other guy came out prior and said I needed to replace things that will cost me $1200(YIKES). The guy was a scammer I believe so I hired a second opinion.

 

[Daviet]

Re: question?

The fuse feeds the ignition switch and the purple wires off of the switch. If you had a defective guage powered by a purple wire, it could blow the fuse when you turn the switch to on. You could use a ohm meter and check the guages for a direct short and tell which cuage is causing the problem.

 

[firemanfitz]

Re: question?

The fuse feeds the ignition switch and the purple wires off of the switch. If you had a defective guage powered by a purple wire, it could blow the fuse when you turn the switch to on. You could use a ohm meter and check the guages for a direct short and tell which cuage is causing the problem.

tx for info. Will try in the a.m. Just darn tuckered out now.

 

[Daviet]

Re: question?

Good luck, let us know what you find.

 

[firemanfitz]

Re: question?

Just want to make sure that it's ok to wire my purple wires (tach,mph,etc) behind console like this. The three wires together, one is from tach and the other from mph, the other is just stashed under and not hooked to anything along with a brown and gray(probably for another guage or something)? The other two together, one leads to an alarm under console and the other leads to back of boat.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: question?

Sure, provided not of them short to ground. I would recommend you trace them out to make sure none are grounded.