Replacing Iginition Switch

bruceb58

Supreme Mariner
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Mar 5, 2006
Messages
30,589
Re: Replacing Iginition Switch

I do know that during testing, we shorted out (1) and (2) (see picture)- would this have burned out the motor?
No...that just makes the contact that the solenoid is trying to make. Now I am confused. What did you try on the bench? Jumpering straight to #2 in your picture? If so, you bypassed the solenoid. It sounds more and more like your solenoid is bad.

You should be jumoering between #1 and the terminal with the yellow wire with the red stripe.
 

FW0804

Seaman Apprentice
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May 20, 2009
Messages
38
Re: Replacing Iginition Switch

on the bench I connected the positive end to (1) and the negative to one of the "through bolts" i think they are called on the starter motor. The thing fired up every time...
 

bruceb58

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Mar 5, 2006
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30,589
Re: Replacing Iginition Switch

If you hooked it up to #1(same as the terminal that your battery hooks up to) you have to then also jumper to where the yellow wire hooks to the solenoid.

Look at your picture to make sure we are talking about the same terminal.
 

FW0804

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May 20, 2009
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38
Re: Replacing Iginition Switch

yes you're right, on the bench I hooked the positive up to where the yellow wire connects and the negative to the through bolt and the starter motor started.
 

bruceb58

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30,589
Re: Replacing Iginition Switch

By only hooking up the positive to the yellow without hooking it up to #1, it shouildn't have started.
 

FW0804

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May 20, 2009
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Re: Replacing Iginition Switch

Bruceb58,

Well, I figured out the problem but you're going to laugh. It was the boat battery - it wasn't charged up enough. On a bright note the motor does turn over..

I have another problem that maybe you can help me with that will be a little easier to diagnose. The motor turns over but there's no spark from the ignition coil wire...and there's no voltage going to the wires that feed the ignition coil. ( i tested this with a multimeter while starting the engine.) I am in the process of cleaning the slave solenoid right now because it was pretty corroded and it appears that voltage has to pass through this first before getting to the ignition coil.

Is there anything else that would prevent the ignition coil wire from sparking? (besides the coil itself being bad). It has a good ground. does it get power from anything else or are there any other parts that would prevent it from working?
 

mckinneyboat

Cadet
Joined
May 24, 2009
Messages
29
Re: Replacing Iginition Switch

Hi there were having some issues getting our ignition hooked back up on our 1989 four winns. Our son disconnected some wire from the old depth finder we had on it from the ignition and cant tell us where he removed them from. We have some wires crossed apparently. It sounds like you have the same ignition where does the red wire the yellow and red and purple wires go. My husband has the purple one on the I but not sure about the rest.
 

FW0804

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
May 20, 2009
Messages
38
Re: Replacing Iginition Switch

mckinneyboat,

I am not sure if the wiring scheme would match up so try what silvertip suggested. Check reply #4 (i think) for more info. If that doesn't work I'll go out to my boat and take a look for you.

"So -- check the small terminal on the starter solenoid and note the color of the wire. See if one of the three up front is the same color. If so, that wire goes to the "S" terminal. Check which of the remaining two wires has +12 volts on it. The red wire is probably the one. That is the input to the switch so it goes to the "B" terminal. That leaves one wire remaining so it must be the feed back to the ignition so it goes to the "I" terminal."
 

mckinneyboat

Cadet
Joined
May 24, 2009
Messages
29
Re: Replacing Iginition Switch

ok we have one gauge the old depth finder we disconnected and were trying to hook it back up because we think disconnecting probably broke the circuit. We have a red wire and a red a black wire on the old depth finder that was unplugged and were pretty sure one of those wires came off the ignition. Not sure where the other wire goes. We tried the ground and still the gauges are not working and the boat does not start.
 

mckinneyboat

Cadet
Joined
May 24, 2009
Messages
29
Re: Replacing Iginition Switch

We are wondering if there is another fuse somewhere besides the fuse panel. Do you know
 
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