New Ignition Switch Trouble (1987 OMC 4.3 V6)

[badchad450]

I lost the dang keys for the boat over the winter, so i got a new ignition switch to replace. I am a supper noob, and made a dumb mistake. I took the old off and didnt mark the wires... stupid, i know...

So long story short, i hooked up what i though was the right wires, and turned the key, it made a click noise, and now i cant get it to work in any configuration.. 3 terman and position switch

Did i ruin the switch by hooking up the wrong wires? or maybe damaged something else? I checked all of the in-line fuses and all are ok. It was dark, so i didnt get to the motor to see if there are additional fuses to check.

any help or advice would be appreaciated. Looking foward to getting on the water this weekend to start the season off!

 

[Don S]

Re: New Ignition Switch Trouble (1987 OMC 4.3 V6)

What are the markings on your new switch? How are they identified?

Typically B = Battery and gets the big red wire. I = Ignition and gets the purple wires, S = start and gets the Yellow/red striped wire. Nothing on A.

 

[badchad450]

Re: New Ignition Switch Trouble (1987 OMC 4.3 V6)

the marking are B, S, I.

my problem, is all of the wires are red, and one set has 3 wires combined on on of the termanals...

I might have missed a stripe on one of the wires... I was thinking the multiple wires might be the battery, something else is running of of it maybe??? i really dont know though.

what are your thought on damage to anything? The clicking noise and nothin after had me concerned...

 

[Don S]

Re: New Ignition Switch Trouble (1987 OMC 4.3 V6)

Short of tracing out each wire and finding out what it goes to, there is no way of telling where they go when all are the same color.

 

[badchad450]

Re: New Ignition Switch Trouble (1987 OMC 4.3 V6)

ok.. I will see what i can do. Do you think i ruined the switch hooking up the wrong wires? if so i will just pick another up on the way home from work today...

 

[Don S]

Re: New Ignition Switch Trouble (1987 OMC 4.3 V6)

Do you think i ruined the switch hooking up the wrong wires?

No way of knowing at this point.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: New Ignition Switch Trouble (1987 OMC 4.3 V6)

The "B" terminal will generally NOT have multiple wires on it. That single wire is the feed from the battery via the engine up to the switch. "S" is the wire that goes to the starter solenoid. "I" powers the ignition back at the engine. That terminal would likely have multiple wires on it because that terminal feeds the instruments as well the ignition.

 

[Don S]

Re: New Ignition Switch Trouble (1987 OMC 4.3 V6)

It's also common for owners that aren't good with electrical stuff to hook everything on the ignition switch because they don't know where else to hook it.
Have seen my share of ignition switches with 5 to 10 wires hooked to them when only 3 were necessary. Since yours are all red and more than three or four, my guess is there has been some somewhat un-professional rewiring going on.

 

[badchad450]

Re: New Ignition Switch Trouble (1987 OMC 4.3 V6)

Thanks guys. I located the wires, and the power did have the multiple wires attached. i didnt have a charged battery, so i cant verify the withc is still good until tonight. worst case is im out 12 bucks!