1990 Doral Ignition Power Wire Help

[JoshHJ15]

hello,

I've been searching online and I can't find any proper answer to what my issue is.

I just Purchased this 90 Doral Vista with the 4.3L alpha one. It looks like someone wired in a inline fuse to the ignition switch power wire. It keep blowing the fuse evertime i turn the key and try and start the motor. I tried jumping it and the wires got really warm really fast.

So I know i got a short somewhere right? Would it be near the battery or this old glass fuse panel being corroded and rusted?

Any help would be great!!

 

[mike_i]

You just purchased it? Did you take it on a sea trail? Did you run the boat? Did you even look at the boat? Return it, why buy a problem unless you knew you were buying a project boat and you got it dirt cheap? What size fuse is blowing and what gauge wire is getting warm. Fuses should blow before the wires get hot. Hot wires could mean fire. use a car jumper cable between the starter and the battery and if the cable gets warm and the starter doesn't move your starter is shorted. You also said the fuse panel is corroded and rusted? That's another issue. Return the boat if you can you bought a headache. I don't want to burst your bubble or rag on you but by what you described you have a big problem. It's obvious the boat was not maintained and you have no idea what if any other problems you'll have when you're able to start the motor, that's if it does start and doesn't catch fire. Did you buy it as is? That's really sad if you did. Good luck keep us posted.

hello,

I've been searching online and I can't find any proper answer to what my issue is.

I just Purchased this 90 Doral Vista with the 4.3L alpha one. It looks like someone wired in a inline fuse to the ignition switch power wire. It keep blowing the fuse evertime i turn the key and try and start the motor. I tried jumping it and the wires got really warm really fast.

So I know i got a short somewhere right? Would it be near the battery or this old glass fuse panel being corroded and rusted?

Any help would be great!!

 

[JoshHJ15]

Yea just purchased from a Marina here, was told it needed a starter and bilge pump... I just put a rebuilt starter in (all good) and the pump works just fine... I knew it needed minor things and paid 4200 out the door so not to bad?

The inline fuse was a 15A right by the ignition. Sorta looks like it wasn't factory. Its a 10GA wire. It gets hot if i jump it without the fuse. And yes I did by it as is and no unfortunately I dont think I can return it. The fuse panel not rusted by some of the fuses got some rust on the ends. Some of the connections have some green corrosion on them on the panel.

 

[alldodge]

The gauges are daisy chained together from the purple wire. Disconnect them and make sure power goes back to the motor at the coil. If it doesn't blow the fuse now then you know its at the helm, if it does blow then its at the motor

 

[JoshHJ15]

The gauges are daisy chained together from the purple wire. Disconnect them and make sure power goes back to the motor at the coil. If it doesn't blow the fuse now then you know its at the helm, if it does blow then its at the motor

I unplugged the harness under the dash and it still blew it. Where abouts should I look at the motor?

 

[alldodge]

Power comes from the motor to the helm which comes in on the Red/Purple wire which would have the fuse and connecting to the key switch

From the key switch power goes out on the Purple wire which feeds the gauges and back to the motor.

If the helm and key switch is disconnected I'm wondering how the fuse is blowing. Now if its just the gauges which are disconnected, then trace the Purple wire back to the motor.

Do look for where it might be chaffed and shorting out as it goes back to the motor

Purple comes back on pin 6 of the motor connector.

Could disconnect purple wires at the Alternator, coil, ignition module and choke

 

[JoshHJ15]

So even tho the red power wire from the back of the ignition is getting hot when jumped, when just in the ON position you think it might be the purple wire getting shorted?

 

[alldodge]

Most likely

 

[mike_i]

Get rid of all of the rust and corrosion on the fuses and connections. It makes for a bad current flow adding resistance to the circuit which may create heat.

 

[JoshHJ15]

Most likely

Ok I called the marina back and the sales guy said he was gonna speak to the service manager Monday and see what they can do about it.

If nothing can be done on their end ill be very upset, but not surprised and ill just have to look into this myself. I'll keep you guys updated! Thanks for your help so far both of you guys!

 

[JoshHJ15]

Power comes from the motor to the helm which comes in on the Red/Purple wire which would have the fuse and connecting to the key switch

From the key switch power goes out on the Purple wire which feeds the gauges and back to the motor.

If the helm and key switch is disconnected I'm wondering how the fuse is blowing. Now if its just the gauges which are disconnected, then trace the Purple wire back to the motor.

Do look for where it might be chaffed and shorting out as it goes back to the motor

Purple comes back on pin 6 of the motor connector.

Could disconnect purple wires at the Alternator, coil, ignition module and choke

So I'm pretty sure I've narrowed it down to the purple wire going back to the motor. That i believe is the one shorting out. Just gotta find out where

Is B2 the fuel pump?

 

[alldodge]

No, B2 is the electric choke on the carb

 

[JoshHJ15]

Hey guys, so over the last few days I've been diving into this crap show. I found out that the motor is not actually original, its actually a 1992 4.3 Alpha one. And the whole wiring harness on both ends has been messed with.

I was hoping someone could send me a wiring diagram for this motor and possibly the dash side of things too. The serial is 0D809834. It has a Thunderbolt IV ignition system and a 6 port thermostat from what I see.

I'm hoping to try and rewire the whole harness on both ends myself since everyone wants to charge me a ton of money and everyone is also booked up.

Thanks Again guys!

 

[alldodge]

Not the best pic on the motor side, can go to boatinfo and look at Manual 7

 

[JoshHJ15]

Awesome! Thank you so much! I'll let you know how it goes :facepalm::nightmare::lol:

 

[JoshHJ15]

Ok, so I think its working properly now. It still won't start but I'm thinking now its the fuel pump not getting power. Gonna look for that diagram and see whats going on there. The old owner kinda "rewired" the old harness into trying to make it work with this 92 engine and well didnt do a great job.

 

[alldodge]

If you have fuel then need spark

 

[JoshHJ15]

Ok so I dumped some fuel into the carb (just a little) and the engine started for a second. I gotta get water flowing to make sure it stays running. Turns out I'm blind this engine has a mechanical fuel pump... just gotta check whats going on with the gauges now, the water temp and oil pressure don't seem to be working properly along with the volt gauge. So gonna look into that tonight.

 

[alldodge]

That's why its always good to post serial numbers

 

[JoshHJ15]

Ya the serial for this motor is 0D809834

I didn't get a chance yet to look at the dash wiring. Hoping to tonight. Mother nature didn't want me to last night apparently