Ignition Fuse Keeps Blowing - 3.0L

[morebacon]

Hi all, I'm having some weird issues starting a Mercruiser 3.0L recently. Whenever I try to start the engine it blows the 10 AMP ignition fuse after 2-3 seconds. Starter turns 1-2 times then the fuse blows.

I thought I have a bad ignition switch so I've replaced that, but that didn't fix it.

With the key ON everything else seems to work - blower, bilge pump, gauges light up, trim/tilt, etc.

Any other ideas on what I should check next?

 

[alldodge]

blows the 10 AMP ignition fuse

Being a Merc it should be a 20 amp
What is the year or serial number of the motor?

 

[morebacon]

Being a Merc it should be a 20 amp
What is the year or serial number of the motor?

It's 0L087423, on a SeaRay 175. I'll double check tomorrow the fuse, I recall it was a 10A on the fuse panel label. Anyways, blew a couple trying to pinpoint the short and I think it might be the remote control, will try to disassemble it tomorrow.

 

[alldodge]

Thanks for the SN
Manual 26 shows 20 amp ignition fuse on page 4A-4

 

[morebacon]

Thanks for the 20A fuse tip! I replaced my 10A fuse with a 15A one and that's how I found the problem. A wire routed on top of the engine started smoking when I cranked the engine. It was just a bit stripped and grounding to the metal. Patched it up and good to now.

As a side note, I see the manual calls for a 20A ignition fuse. But my fuse box says 10A. Wonder why they did that...

 

[alldodge]

good, go figure the manual is not always right