88 Capri 50 amp Main Fuse blowing during initial start

[88_Capri]

I am having Electrical issue with my 1988 Bayliner 1750 2.3 liter OMC Cobra. The problem is: In the 1st 2-3 seconds of turning the ignition switch to the "Start" position, 1 of the 50 amp Main Fuses blows. I have replace all Ignition Silenoids, Ignition Coil, Ignition Switch, Starter, Main Positive & Negative wire from battery. I was unable to have the Alternator tested but it was working fine prior to the fuse blowing. I have performed regular tune-ups and maintenance. There is no visible burns or damage to the wire harness, the fuses under the dash are all good. The boat was running great just before the problem arose. Any help with this problem would be greatly appreciated?

 

[Don S]

Re: 88 Capri 50 amp Main Fuse blowing during initial start

Stop throwing parts at it and start doing some troubleshooting.
First thing to do is determine if the problem is the engine side or boat side of the harness.
1. Disconnect the main 10pin connector on the engine.
2. Install new fuse
3. Hook a jumper wire from the + terminal of the battery to the + terminal of your coil. (this is your new ignition switch)
NOTE; Might want to hook up the muffs for these tests in case the engine starts. If it does start, all you do is disconnect the jumper wire from the coil.
4. Does the fuse blow?
5. If fuse does not blow, with another jumper hooked to the + terminal on the battery, touch it to the small start terminal on the start solenoid (yellow/red wire) and crank the engine and see if the fuse blows.

Report back with your findings.

 

[88_Capri]

Re: 88 Capri 50 amp Main Fuse blowing during initial start

I completed all the procedures and the 50 amp fuse still blows. However, when I pulled apart the 10 point wire harness connector, the #10 pin "Purple" was pulled out of its socket. Any suggestions?

 

[Don S]

Re: 88 Capri 50 amp Main Fuse blowing during initial start

When did it blow, step 3 or 5?

 

[88_Capri]

Re: 88 Capri 50 amp Main Fuse blowing during initial start

Fuse blew on step 5

 

[Don S]

Re: 88 Capri 50 amp Main Fuse blowing during initial start

One question, when does the fuse blow. Immediately whn start cranking the engine, after a couple of seconds of cranking, or does the engine start and then the fuse blows and the engine dies.
Will the engine crank after the fuse blows?

 

[88_Capri]

Re: 88 Capri 50 amp Main Fuse blowing during initial start

The fuse blows when you immedialty start turning over the engine (motor gets about 1-2 rotations). Starter will not turn over when fuse is blown, But, the starter makes a clicking sound when you run a wire directly from + battery to the selinoid on starter, after fuse is blown.

 

[Don S]

Re: 88 Capri 50 amp Main Fuse blowing during initial start

Hope you have a good supply of fuses for testing.
Try this, disconnect the orange wire from the alternator (don't let it touch anything) and see if the engine will crank using the jumper method and not blow the fuse. (you do not need the jumper on the coil either)
If it doesn't blow the fuse, your alternator is shorted inside.

 

[88_Capri]

Re: 88 Capri 50 amp Main Fuse blowing during initial start

OK Don i got 1 fuse left. I disconnected the orange wire from the alternator (put the rubber boot around the clip so it doesn't touch anything) and the fuse did blow, however, the motor turned over for about 4-5 revolutions before the fuse blew.

 

[Don S]

Re: 88 Capri 50 amp Main Fuse blowing during initial start

Well, you need one more fuse.
Remove the cable from the starter and jumper to the solenoid again. Should be able to hold it for a long time with out blowing a fuse. (don't hook anything else back up yet)

 

[88_Capri]

Re: 88 Capri 50 amp Main Fuse blowing during initial start

Could you explain what i need to do in little more detail please.

 

[88_Capri]

Re: 88 Capri 50 amp Main Fuse blowing during initial start

OK. I removed the positive cable from the starter, I also removed the remote wire from the starter. I left the wires connected to the silenoid, I connected the battery after replacing the fuse, held the positive wire & remote wire together nothing happen. Held the remote wire to the battery + , nothing happen. The fuse did not blow when I touched wire together. Am I doing this correctly or is there a step I missing? Thanks!

 

[Don S]

Re: 88 Capri 50 amp Main Fuse blowing during initial start

Remove the cable from the starter and jumper to the solenoid again

What I meant by that statement, was to remove the cable from the starter.
Then using a jumper wire hooked to the battery + terminal, touch it to the small (S) terminal on the solenoid with the Yellow/red wire to see if the fuse blew again. If the fuse did not blow, then the starter is bad.

 

[88_Capri]

Re: 88 Capri 50 amp Main Fuse blowing during initial start

Thank you for the clerifaction. First, I reconnected the remote wire to the starter. I disconnected the power cable from the starter. I hooked a jumper wire from the battery + terminal, touched to the yellow/red wire on the solenoid for 30 seconds. 50 amp Fuse is good did not blow.

 

[Don S]

Re: 88 Capri 50 amp Main Fuse blowing during initial start

Your starter is shorted, replace it or get it rebuilt locally.

Oh, and put everything back together.

 

[88_Capri]

Re: 88 Capri 50 amp Main Fuse blowing during initial start

I just had the starter replaced 2 weeks ago. Cost me $500.00. I thought the starter was the problem as well, so, I replaced it. 50 amp fuse still blows when I go to start. Is there something else that could be damaged?

 

[Don S]

Re: 88 Capri 50 amp Main Fuse blowing during initial start

Post some pictures of your wiring on the solenoid, and the starter.

 

[88_Capri]

Re: 88 Capri 50 amp Main Fuse blowing during initial start

Photos of the Solenoids and Starter.

 

[Don S]

Re: 88 Capri 50 amp Main Fuse blowing during initial start

No wonder, you don't have the right kind of starter for an 88, it will work, but not with the solenoid wired the way it is.
Let me take a closer look and make a drawing to show you how to rewire your solenoid to act like a slave solenoid, and still keep you distributor hot wire.

 

[Don S]

Re: 88 Capri 50 amp Main Fuse blowing during initial start

have a question, where does the other end of cables A and B in the picture hook to?

I also need a picture of your starter solenoid, not so much of the trim solenoids, just the one on the far left and be able to see what color and size wires to to what terminal.