Alpha One Purple Wire???

[merlin696]

I just got my transom replaced and they did a great job, I got home started the engine up and it ran great, I noticed on the top of the engine there is a purple wire with a clip on the end like it plugs into something just laying there. I know that if it grounds out it sparks so its hot but have no clue where it plugs into or if it even does.... If the engine is running ok and all the gauges are working think I should worry about hunting it down?

 

[Brentathon]

Re: Alpha One Purple Wire???

Not sure what you have, but you should get the service manual (maybe manual #15?), and check the wiring diagrams.
Or, some one may know offhand, here.
It may be for a temp alarm, or oil alarm option, that's not installed in your model. Or, something like that. I have a coulple un-used wires on mine, for those 2 options.

 

[Bryan76]

Re: Alpha One Purple Wire???

Possibly for the choke on carb.

 

[Eric 3.7LX Alpha 1]

Re: Alpha One Purple Wire???

It would be kind of helpful to know what we're workin on? What year what size engine? Or we can all keep guessing.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Alpha One Purple Wire???

Purple wire is shown going to the electric choke

 

[merlin696]

Re: Alpha One Purple Wire???

the choke wire is purple and its attached, i didnt look to see if it had a stripe or anything special

its a alpha 1 1989 4.3 liter v6

it looks like there is a little blue box that is newish I think it says mericruiser on it but that doesnt seem right, it does have a red button on it like circuit breaker and wonder if those wires where used in the original setup but no longer needed., I will post pictures once the the tornadoes and rain quits,

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Alpha One Purple Wire???

MerCathode????

 

[merlin696]

Re: Alpha One Purple Wire???

MerCathode????

Thats it I think, I did find an old picture but its small and not much detail

Its so weird you give me a 57 chevy with a small block in it and ill make miracles happen, put the same concept in a boat and im starting over... being a noob sucks!



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[Don S]

Re: Alpha One Purple Wire???

It is a Mercathode, but I don't understand the purple wire. That would mean it's hooked up to the ignition switch which it shouldn't be. Check and see if the purple wire is actually a red/purple wire on the + terminal of the mercathode.

 

[merlin696]

Re: Alpha One Purple Wire???

I am going to get out today and give it a good look over, the sun is finaly out. as for the purple wire, its not hooked to anything, im trying to find out where it goes or if it needs to go anywhere. there is another purple wire hooked to the choke on the carb but this one was just laying on top of the engine.

 

[merlin696]

Re: Alpha One Purple Wire???

dug into it today, pulled the whole wire loom out and traced the wire, half way down i found it spliced in to another purple wire which runs to the dash, it also had a ground wire tapped off further down. The wire is key switched hot so my best guess is that the previous owner had tapped into that wire for something to power. either way its definitly not original to the harness.

 

[Fun Times]

Re: Alpha One Purple Wire???

Does the hour gauge work? If the two wires are long would they reach to the back side of the hour gauge?

 

[merlin696]

Re: Alpha One Purple Wire???

Ya know, thats about the right spot and the wires are trimmed just long enough to reach perfect to the hour guage..... I will check when I get home, the guage worked before I dropped it off, thats one thing I didnt think to check.

 

[merlin696]

Re: Alpha One Purple Wire???

that was it, the hour guage was not hooked up, and the wires were perfect fit how you thought if it being the hours guage is beyone me but Gold Star!