Engine cranking with ignition switch off

[Farmhorse62]

Ok guys I have run into a problem. I bought a 2004 pontoon with a 3.0 Mercruiser in it. We have been replacing the flooring so we took everything of the floor from the engine forward. When we removed the console we removed the 2 shift cables from the shifter and we cut and labeled any electrical wires we had to in order to remove the console. After putting new flooring down, we put everything back exactly as we removed it on the console. Butt connected every wire back with heat shrink connectors. Everything is working as it should except one wire. When I try to connect it back together as it was, the engine try’s to crank with the ignition switch in the off position. What am I doing wrong? Should I have disconnected my battery before cutting the wires? Do I need to unhook battery before reconnecting this wire. The shifter is in neutral when it try’s to start. The cam on the shifter is pushing the button on the neutral safety switch in the shifter as it should. Any ideas? I’m stumped. Thanks for any advice.

 

[nola mike]

Maybe give us a hint as to which wire you're trying to connect? In general you're getting a short to power on the yellow/red wire...
Is this a TKS?

 

[Farmhorse62]

What is a TKS? Thanks

 

[alldodge]

Turn Key Start - carb
What color is the wire that causes it to crank?

 

[Farmhorse62]

It is a TKS-carb. The wire that is causing the issue is yellow with red stripe.

 

[alldodge]

That is the start wire
If both ends are Yel/Red then go to the key switch and see if there is constant 12V on the red/purple and 0V on both the Purple run wire and yel/red. Might have a bad key switch

 

[Farmhorse62]

Thanks. i really appreciate it. i am a pretty good mechanic but not to good on electrical stuff. i will check those wires. I assume OV means 0 volts?

 

[alldodge]

yes

 

[Farmhorse62]

Ok. I have voltage on the red wire coming from switch. None on yellow/red coming from switch. Have voltage on yellow/red coming from shifter

 

[Farmhorse62]

Also no voltage on purple wire coming from switch

 

[alldodge]

Ok. I have voltage on the red wire coming from switch. None on yellow/red coming from switch. Have voltage on yellow/red coming from shifter

The wire is chaffed and is making contact somewhere with something hot (12V).

The yel/red comes from the switch then to the kill switch (man overboard) then to the slave relay. The slave relay is on the motor. The relay will have 4 wires on it. Small yel/red (the one with 12V your tracing) and small black which goes to ground. Larger red/purple and larger yel/red which connect Battery power to starter solenoid

 

[nola mike]

Also no voltage on purple wire coming from switch

You should only have voltage when the ignition is on

 

[dubs283]

The yel/red comes from the switch then to the kill switch (man overboard) then to the slave relay.

No.

The yel/red wire comes from the key switch then goes to the neutral safety switch in the remote (on sterndrive applications).

The kill switch/man overboard/lanyard switch is in line with the purple (igniton) wire

 

[dubs283]

Ok. I have voltage on the red wire coming from switch. None on yellow/red coming from switch. Have voltage on yellow/red coming from shifter

You have a short to positive somewhere between the switch and the slave solenoid. You need to isolate every section of the yel/red wire between the two. Start on one end and work your way to the other.

The starting troubleshooting guide in the stickies will help you immensely