engine won't start

marlin 201

Cadet
Joined
Aug 11, 2004
Messages
8
Hello,<br />My engine ran fine about three weeks ago before I decided to replace the tac/temp/fuel/pressure/volts indicators on the dash. Now the engine sounds like it wants to start when I turn the ignition but the second I let off the key the engine stops. I posted a similar topic a couple days ago and was told that it was my resistor ignition wire. But, how does my ignition resitor wire have anything to do with my instrument panel/indicators? Does the resistor ignition wire connect to one of these instruments or the ignition switch? I thought I connected the wires exactly the same as the old indicators were connected!
 

tommays

Admiral
Joined
Jul 4, 2004
Messages
6,768
Re: engine won't start

you might want to recheck you guage connections it can be hard to connnect things right under the control pannel <br /><br />if this is when the problem started it is the best place to start from<br /><br />you might want to disconnect the guages and see if the boat starts it does not take to much to lower the voltage to the point were you dont get spark<br /><br />it is possable that one of the new guages is bad<br />tommays
 

MooseHootie

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jul 8, 2003
Messages
166
Re: engine won't start

Check to see what color wire is on the ignition switch I terminal, trace it to your guages.
 

marlin 201

Cadet
Joined
Aug 11, 2004
Messages
8
Re: engine won't start

What would tracing the wire from the ignition switch I terminal tell me?
 

hoot

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Sep 8, 2002
Messages
434
Re: engine won't start

your coil is not getting volts to run. the current flows from the battery, thru the ig switch, to gage post at the dash, thru the resistor (wire or ballast) to the + post of the coil when the switch is in the run position. as an example, the seloc wiring diagram for a dash shows a white wire from the ig switch run terminal to the oil pressure (I) post, continuing on to the water temp gage, then running to the resistor wire. good luck. post the type of boat and engine. someone will have more help.
 

marlin 201

Cadet
Joined
Aug 11, 2004
Messages
8
Re: engine won't start

Thank you!!! I think that will do it!<br />1978 grady white marlin 201, mercruiser 140 hp.
 

marlin 201

Cadet
Joined
Aug 11, 2004
Messages
8
Re: engine won't start

Does anyone have a wiring diagram for the engine tach/temp/pressure/fuel indicators or could you recommend a good marine electrical guide?<br />Thanks
 

hoot

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Sep 8, 2002
Messages
434
Re: engine won't start

are you anywhere near a fax machine? i can fax you the seloc diagram.
 

Boatin Bob

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Sep 24, 2001
Messages
1,858
Re: engine won't start

Here is a link to website, somewhat newer engines but the diagram for the instruments is good, might help you out. Merc Wiring Page
 

hoot

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Sep 8, 2002
Messages
434
Re: engine won't start

to boating bob, i cannot access the technical articles from boatfix.com directly. what do i need to do to find them? is this a $ donation type thing? however if i search from google, i can go to the articles.
 
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