Fail to start prob. - not the switch or solenoid

[Sea No Evil]

I have a 2002 280 Sundancer with twin 4.3's and Alpha Drives. The port engine will not start. It will start if you jump the engine from the solenoid to the starter. When you press the rocker switch you get the warning signal but nothing happens when you press to start. We have checked the switch and we get proper voltage to the terminals. It appears that the problem is betwee the swith and the engine. At this point I am at a loss on what to do or how to find the problem.

Any help/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

The starboard engine works fine.

Thanks,

Jerry

 

[midway]

You have proper voltage in and out of the starter switch on the dash but that voltage does not reach the starter solenoid on the starter. In the path that voltage has to travel I believe you have a neutral safety switch, that could be open, there is a plug in the wire harness that could have a bad connection and there is a magnetic switch that may not be sending the power through to the starter. This is where a wiring diagram would come in real handy as you could trace the wire with that and know things like the pin location in the main harness plug and general location of the other parts in the path. Some thoughts to start with.

 

[earthmover17]

Good call Midway. I'll bet it's the nuetral safety switch.
Jack

 

[gerryb]

Might be something you leave to a qualified dealer to take a look at.. I would check the Throttle Position Sensor aka neutral safety on earlier boats and any corrosion or wire problems.

Check out the following wiring schematic.
http://www.*******.com/merc/Servmanl/16/16F4R2.PDF

EDIT: CSR won't let me use that particular site. PM me with your email and I'll send it over.

 

[Sea No Evil]

Thanks to those who responded. The problem turned out to be a loose ground wire on the slave solenoid on the top of the port engine.

Thanks Gerryb for the wiring diagram.

Jerry