Changed ignition - boat wont start now?

mattias

Member
Jan 27, 2019
105
Powell, Ohio
Boat Info
240 SD

Tow Vehicle = 2014 Diesel Grand Cherokee
Engines
350 Mag
Bravo III drive
Ran fine yestetday. Ignition switch was loose so changed. Now boat fires fine but wont start? Ideas?
 
Generic 4 wire ignition switch. Mercruiser 350 mag. Could i have a couple of wires criss-crossed?

Help - dead in the water
 
I'd say that's a certainty.

This is a generic 5.7 liter switch diagram.

How does it compare to what you have there?

2c4bd7efc97b1ceb0553224c77f16079.jpg
 
Now boat fires fine but wont start?
"fires" runs with the key in start position but stops in the "on" position?

Mis-wired
 
Terminology is key to understand what's going on.
Fire means it runs. Maybe you mean crank no start?
 
I have 2 red with black stripe, 1 purple and 1 yellow with a red stripe
 
WE are all here to assist, but need accurate info / symptoms to help.

I guess if the terminology and description of the problem was a little more accurate / clear and and some pictures were offered, this could be pretty easy to sort out.

Any pictures of the ignition switch?

What year is the boat? I see it's a 240 SD and has a 350 mag and B3.
Does engine start running? (Actually start running, not spin / turn over with assistance of starter)
When does engine shut off? When you let the key go back to the run position from the start position?
What does it do when the key is turned to the "start" position?
What does it do when key is released from start to run position?

You state "I have 2 red with black stripe, 1 purple and 1 yellow with a red stripe" With no description or pictures of what you have, the standard wiring is as follows:
Red is power B+ Battery (B on back of switch)
Yellow w/ red stripe goes to starter relay (S on back of switch)
Purple goes to ignition (I on back of switch)
 
Last edited:
Thanks Bill Curtis and all. It is a 2005. I know terminology is big in troubleshooting a problem so, the boat engine turns over when the key is turned, but doesnt start (run). I will send a picture of the wires..
 
Your pic didn't work.
Both reds have a black stripe?
My bet is one should go to B terminal for batt power. You should be able to check which one with a meter or light.
Second red to Acc terminal for the accessories.
Purple to the Ignition and the yellow to the Start terminals.
 
I would say Thornton69 is correct if the original switch was a 4 terminal switch with Aux.
If a 3 terminal switch, then the two reds would go together.

Please send pic of back of switch (or provide make and mode of switch). Then we could give some definitive answers instead of spit balling.

I would use a test light or meter to find out which red is B+ (hot all the time) and that would go to the B terminal on switch.

PS: Those are some "ugly" terminations. I would re-terminate with new lugs and some shrink tubing, if I were doing the work. That plastic tape has no business to be on there.
 
Thanks! Couldn't agree more with the "ugly" terminations! Started to pull off old ends and put on all new crimped ends and shrink tube them, but decided to wait until I got everything back to where they needed to be. Unfortunately boat is now 5 hours away in its slip so I cant check the mfg. But, I know the new switch is just a generic 4 wire with "B", "S", "I", "A".

Here is a picture of the old switch....
 

Attachments

  • old ignition switch.jpg
    old ignition switch.jpg
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Any chance you bumped the throttle out of neutral?

Do you have a kill switch?

Tim
 
I checked the kill switch a few times - it is in the "run" position. I also made sure that it was in neutral before doing anything?
 
on a 4 wire switch - is the "B" for battery, the "S" for starter, the "I" for ignition and the "A" for accessories?
 

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