engine cranks with key off

[gregs]

this 2.3 liter ford engine will every once in a while turn over the starter and keep on cranking. after i notice its acting up i'll turn off switch. only way to get it to stop is to disconnect battery cables. three times i have replaced the starter solenoid. im no mechanic but i think thats the name for it. my old ford car had one on the fender well if this helps at all. a mechanic told me that these solenoids stick if there is low voltage. but im useing the battery out of my truck. never had a problem starting it.was wondering what amp the buss fuses should be.i was given this boat and have had good luck so far this seems to be the only problem i've really had with it. there was also a spare solenoid laying in the engine compartment when i got the boat. so he has had same thing happening to him.

 

[Don S]

Re: engine cranks with key off

You could have a bad ignition switch, bad starter, shorted wiring.<br />Have you checked the cables? They can't be all corroded with the ends falling off and still be expected to work in the marine environment. <br />This also includes the ground (Negative) cable, a bad ground is just as bad as a bad positive cable.

 

[waterone1@aol.com]

Re: engine cranks with key off

Intermittant (or sometimes) problems are the worst to deal with. Something is keeping the starter motor energized. You stated that you had replaced the starter solenoid, if you are talking about the externally mounted solenoid (seperate location from the starter), you can probably rule that one out. My guess would be the solenoid mounted onto the starter itself, or as Don said it could be the keyswitch, shorted/corroded wiring,etc. Here is my suggestion: 1) clean up all wiring and connectors. 2)wire a 12V test light across the "small" connections of the solenoid that you replaced. The next time it "sticks" in the starting mode, look at the test light, if it is lit, the problem is in the key switch or wiring going back to the solenoid. If it is not lit, the problem is in the starter, or wiring betweeen the solenoid and starter.<br />Keep us posted.

 

[gregs]

Re: engine cranks with key off

need more help with this subject,today i had a chance to mess with this a little bit. i only had a 12 volt light that i used so i dont know if the test is valid. i connected the wires to the small connections on the solenoid. if i turn the key just half a click, not all the way to the start position it has a faint glow. then when starting the engine the light stays on. and this is not even the condition that i have the problem with the starter trying to stay cranking.

 

[Don S]

Re: engine cranks with key off

Could also be a bad starter bendix. If it's all rusty, it won't disingage correctly.<br />Half turning any switch will get half the results you want.<br />Check the system "By The Book" if you want to find the problems.<br />Every service manual (aftermarket and oem) shows how to check the starting system and has wiring diagrams. <br />If you don't know how to test 12V electrical systems and don't have a manual of any kind, finding the problem will be accidental.

 

[waterone1@aol.com]

Re: engine cranks with key off

Gregs, The solenoid coil wires (the small ones) should not have any voltage across them unless the key is in the start position. If you have inspected your wiring, I would bet on the ignition switch. The ignition switch should have 3 screw terminals, one is +12V from the battery, the next only has +12V when the key is in the" on" position (this sends 12 volts to your ignition system, etc.) and the third is the start terminal, this should only have voltage on it when you have the key in the start position. IF you locate the "start" terminal of the ignition switch, disconect the wire from it, put your test light or meter on that terminal of the key switch, if you see voltage there with the key in any position other than start.....the switch is bad.