Engine dies when I let off the key????

[russm313]

I have a 1979 skitique w/ a ford 302 engine. I know for a fact the boat runs, and runs great. My problem is, today when I took it out, I couldn't get it started. I checked the coil and plugs and all that, everything is getting fire, and sparks. I noticed that the engine was actually cranking but as soon as I would let off the key, it would die. I put the throttle open to give it gas, and cranked it up and held the key for a second, it cranked and reved up high, and as soon as I let off the key, it died. I'm thinking ground problem, any ideas? Thanks in advance for any help you can offer,<br />Russ

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Engine dies when I let off the key????

Faulty ballast resistor ( 302 has ballast wire built into loom ) or ignition switch. Faulty ballast more common. Aldo

 

[russm313]

Re: Engine dies when I let off the key????

Ok,sounds easy enough. Can you tell me what a ballast resistor is and where to find it, and anything else you can offer would be helpful. Thanks,<br />Russ

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Engine dies when I let off the key????

Russ, the ballast resistor drops the voltage to the coil to around 9v to give the points longer life, they dont 'burn' out as quick. When cranking, the ballast is bypassed so as to give extra voltage (hopefully 11 or 12v) for better spark (helps in starting a cold motor). When you are cranking you said it started but when key is released to the 'on' position it cut out. Check to see if you have voltage at the coil + with ignition 'on'. If no voltage, backprobe wiring until you find resistor, on my 302w it was 'hidden' within the wiring loom but I recently bypassed it with new wiring and installed a visible resistor for ease of future replacement. You can do the same. Dont forget to check the ignition switch as these sometimes fail. Aldo

 

[russm313]

Re: Engine dies when I let off the key????

I actually bought a new ignition switch tonight because mine looks kinda bad. ok, really bad. But this ballast resistor sounds like the culprit because let me tell you what else it was doing: After running the boat at high rmps for about 20-30 minutes, it would cut out and die, and I'd have to wait 30-45 minutes before it would crank back. I was reading some of the other posts and the people having this same problem said it was the resistor. I'll change the ignition switch tomorrow because I already bought it and see if the solves the cranking problem. Even if it does, I'll still change the resistor and see if fixes the cutting out problem also. Thanks for all the help!!!!<br />Russ

 

[airman]

Re: Engine dies when I let off the key????

I agree with Dunanruna, I think it's the resistor. If you don't have a voltmeter, you can also check it by connecting a jumper lead from a 12V source (battery post or alternator output) to the + side of the coil. Turn the key and if the engine starts you've found the problem. TWO CAUTIONS: #1 Don't run the engine like this for long or leave the coil hooked up like this for long as you will damage it. #2 You can't shut off the engine with the key when it is "hotwired" like this so it's best to do this with two people. The only way to shut off the engine is by turning the key to "off" and disconnecting the jumper wire. I think your coil may be nearly done, too, so you might consider replacing that as well.

 

[hoot]

Re: Engine dies when I let off the key????

check kill switchg and ignition coil. saw another post where kill switch was cutting off boat after starting. my boat did same thing with the shutting down after running awhile. heat build up affects ignition components. was not my resistance wire. shotgun approach-replaced dist cap, rotor, coil, points and cond. runs fine now.

 

[go-fishing]

Re: Engine dies when I let off the key????

I had a similar problem.<br /><br />My wiring harness has an inline fuse at the Run (as opposed to Start) side of the ignition switch. Replacing that fuse fixed the problem. Visually the fuse looked good, but the meter said "open." <br /><br />If you don't have a Volt-Ohm-Meter (VOM) YOU NEED ONE! Simple inexpensive Volt/Ohm/Continuity meters (You don't need milli-volt sensitivity, transistor testers or any of that other stuff.) are available from Radio Shack or Wal Mart for less than $20. <br /><br />On my engine (Redline Marine 302 in an '79 Almar,) the Ballast Resistor (tan ceramic rectangular part, about 1/2" on a side and 2-1/2" long with one terminal on each end) is on clips screwed in to the intake manifold, just forward of the Carb on the Starboard side.<br /><br />By the way, I am the 5th owner of this boat, and I have no reason to believe that this is the original wiring.<br /><br />Good luck.

 

[pecothern]

Re: Engine dies when I let off the key????

Just a thought. Ditch that points ignition and go electronic. With a new coil full twelve volts and abandon the ballast resistor setup.

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Engine dies when I let off the key????

I agree with 'one of three'. The only reason I have resisted (excuse the pun) converting to electronic is that the system is not very user friendly if it fails out on the water - and they do fail. Points etc are much easier to diagnose and replace. Aldo

 

[russm313]

Re: Engine dies when I let off the key????

Ok, I've just got about got it figured out. If I run a jumper wire from the hot post on the battery straight to the + terminal on the coil, it cranks and stays running after I let off the key. What does this mean, and I how do I fix it? Thanks in advance!<br />Russ

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Engine dies when I let off the key????

Russ, what you have done is 'hot wire' the ignition by simply bypassing the "on" position of the ignition switch. You have a new ignition switch so it must be the ballast that is faulty. Take your time and follow the wire from the coil + until you find a resistor, it could be a small spring encased in ceramic or a piece of resistor wire 'built in' to the wire from the coil. You may need to remove any outer loom coverings but it will be there somewhere. As a temp messure you can run without a resistor but the coil will run hotter and fail prematurely and the point will burn out quicker (not reccommended)o/k as a 'back to base'. Modern coils do handle constant 12v better. Aldo. P.S. If in doubt about tackling the job, consider an auto elctrician as they are a bit cheaper than marine mechs.

 

[airman]

Re: Engine dies when I let off the key????

What this means is that you are well on the way to finding (and fixing) the problem. Congratulations! If you can get power to the coil from the ignition switch it will run properly for you. To fix it: Start tracing the wire. There are only 3 possible problems now; a bad resistor, a bad connection, or a bad wire (in that order of probability). If you know where the resistor is, check that first. If you don't have a meter, you can do this by connecting your jumper to both sides of the resistor. If the engine runs now, you've got it. If it doesn't, keep looking, somewhere you will find a loose connection or a chafed wire. If you have a meter, it's easier. Just turn the switch to "run" and start probing for power along the ignition wire (the one to the coil). Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[airman]

Re: Engine dies when I let off the key????

Sorry, I shouldn't have said "only 3". In boat wiring, as in life, anything is possible. For all I know, somebody wired the blower to the ignition switch and it's shorted out inside, taking power away from the engine. Those ideas seem the most likely to me though.

 

[russm313]

Re: Engine dies when I let off the key????

Ok, got it running thanks! i had a bad connection from the ignition switch to the + side of the coil. Traced it down runs great!<br /><br />Here's the bad news. I took it out today, ran it for a couple of hours, no problems at all, ran like a dream! until, I hit a log in the water! Like I said, this is an inboard boat so the only thing sticking out the bottom is the prop and the rudder. The log broke my rudder clean off! It broke it off even with the bottom of the boat. <br /><br />Can someone please tell me where I can go to order a replacment? I've been looking online, but haven't had much luck. Any idea on price?<br /><br />Thanks,<br />Russ