Safety switch

[Bob Endeavor]

I have a 1996 Baja Islander, Bravo1 and Mercrusier. Took the boat to have upholstery redone. When I got it back the throttle remote control (Commander 3000) was pushed into Forward. I could not get the neutral button to come out when in the neutral position. I disconnected the cable to the transmission and manually moved it through the Forward, Neutral and Reverse positions which freed the neutral button. However, the safety alarm is not sounding and the engine cranks but will not start. I have checked fuses under the dash and all looks good. Any suggestions on what to check next? Thanks

 

[Bondo]

Re: Saftey switch

Re: Saftey switch

I have a 1996 Baja Islander, Bravo1 and Mercrusier. Took the boat to have upholstery redone. When I got it back the throttle remote control (Commander 3000) was pushed into Forward. I could not get the neutral button to come out when in the neutral position. I disconnected the cable to the transmission and manually moved it through the Forward, Neutral and Reverse positions which freed the neutral button. However, the safety alarm is not sounding and the engine cranks but will not start. I have checked fuses under the dash and all looks good. Any suggestions on what to check next? Thanks

Ayuh,... Welcome Aboard,... What Motor We talkin' 'bout Bob,..?? got a serial number for it,..??

Is there Power at the coil's (+) terminal when the key is in the "On" position,..??

 

[Bob Endeavor]

Re: Safety switch

HI, Thanks for your help! The motor is a Mercruiser 7.4 serial number OF0090. It has a Commander 3000 remote control for the throttle. Remote control is not broken as described in other Forums ( button broken). I did free the button by moving the gear selector cable at its pivot point. (removed the pin, freed it and replaced the pin)
This is not the first time I have had this problem with the safety switch. I am new to boating and on a couple of occasions moved the remote control throttle into gear prior to starting the engine. The alarm would stop sounding and I could not start the engine. On one occasion I took it to the shop for other issue and they did a "minor adjustment" they did not charge me for and it worked. On other occasions I would cuss and beat my hand against the remote control and some how it would again start the alarm and the engine would start. I have lost my desire to injure my hand nor do I think this is the best method to resolve the problem.
There is no voltage at the coil positive with the ignition switch in the "on" position.
The remote control has one red, one purple and one green wire. the red has 12v. It may not be the safe thing, but is there a way to by pass the safety alarm? Thanks

 

[Bondo]

Re: Safety switch

HI, Thanks for your help! The motor is a Mercruiser 7.4 serial number OF0090. It has a Commander 3000 remote control for the throttle. Remote control is not broken as described in other Forums ( button broken). I did free the button by moving the gear selector cable at its pivot point. (removed the pin, freed it and replaced the pin)
This is not the first time I have had this problem with the safety switch. I am new to boating and on a couple of occasions moved the remote control throttle into gear prior to starting the engine. The alarm would stop sounding and I could not start the engine. On one occasion I took it to the shop for other issue and they did a "minor adjustment" they did not charge me for and it worked. On other occasions I would cuss and beat my hand against the remote control and some how it would again start the alarm and the engine would start. I have lost my desire to injure my hand nor do I think this is the best method to resolve the problem.
There is no voltage at the coil positive with the ignition switch in the "on" position.
The remote control has one red, one purple and one green wire. the red has 12v. It may not be the safe thing, but is there a way to by pass the safety alarm? Thanks

Ayuh,.... Does yer controller have a trim/ tilt switch,..??

Does it have a "Man overboard" switch/ lanyard,..??

Movin' the lever only interferes with the Startin' circuit, 'n it's done with yellow/ red wires, in, 'n out,...
Connectin' the 2 wires, by-passes it,...

The Ignition circuit would go through a "Man Overboard" switch, 'n it oughta be purple in, 'n purple out,...
Connectin' the 2 wires, by-passes it,...
'n it's power comes from the keyswitch,...

The Trim system has a blue wire, a green wire, 'n probably the red wire,...

 

[Bob Endeavor]

Re: Safety switch

Thank you Bondo for your help. No 12v positive at the coil. Still working on it. Just have too many project at once.
Thanks

 

[Bob Endeavor]

Re: Safety switch

Got to work on this today. I put a scotch lock on the two Yellow with Red wires and another on on the two purple wires with no success in getting power to the positive side of the coil.
I noticed when I put power on the positive side of the coil, the tone sounds for the safety switch.
This leads me to believe my problem is not in the Commander 3000, but rather something has come loose when the dash was pulled for upholstery work.
Does this sound like I am on the right track? Thanks again for your time and assistance.

 

[NYBo]

Re: Safety switch

Are you getting power to the ignition switch?

 

[Bob Endeavor]

Re: Safety switch

Again, too much time away from this project.
Yes there is power at the ignition switch. The starter engages when the key is turned. No power to Positive side of coil with ignition switch in the on position.
Checked all the fuses I could find (one block of blades and one single old style in line) all look good.
None of the dash gauges (fuel level, voltage) work with ignition on. There is power to the ACC switches with ignition switch on. Also, 12 volt outlet (cigarette lighter) has power. Blower works, bilge pump works. I lost the ground on the ACC #2 switch but did restore it.
Should I be looking for a bad ground? (Just thought of that).
Thanks again for your help Bondo. Sorry this is a drawn out process. Just don't have enough time at once to put into this project.

 

[alldodge]

Re: Safety switch

See if your key switch is making connection. I'm guessing the switch it self may be the problem.

 

[Bob Endeavor]

Re: Safety switch

Sorry for the delay in responding. I found several loose connections but no success in getting started. I again put a scotch lock on the throttle remote control and this time was successful in getting the engine to start. Thanks for all the help.

 

[alldodge]

Re: Safety switch

Sorry for the delay in responding. I found several loose connections but no success in getting started. I again put a scotch lock on the throttle remote control and this time was successful in getting the engine to start. Thanks for all the help.

What two wires did you connect together?

 

[Bob Endeavor]

Re: Safety switch

What two wires did you connect together?

The two purple wires. I found that if I put 12v positive to one the alarm would sound. I jumped them and the engine started. I did not check the trim, however it did not activate as the drive stayed in the trailer position. Thanks

 

[alldodge]

Re: Safety switch

Sorry for the delay in responding. I found several loose connections but no success in getting started. I again put a scotch lock on the throttle remote control and this time was successful in getting the engine to start. Thanks for all the help.

The two purple wires. I found that if I put 12v positive to one the alarm would sound. I jumped them and the engine started. I did not check the trim, however it did not activate as the drive stayed in the trailer position. Thanks

Now you got me scratching my head real good, The remote control I am taking as your shifter. and there is a kill switch there (or could be) and that connects two Yel/Red stripe wires. If they are not making contact then the engine will not crank. Are you saying you have two purple wires in your shifter?

If your connecting two purple wires together and the engine starts, my first guess is either your ignition switch is bad, you have a bad connection somewhere or a fuse is blown under the dash feeding the ignition switch.

 

[Bob Endeavor]

Re: Safety switch

I pulled each fuse and check the fuse as well at the fuse panel with all working properly. I checked the ignition switch and can find no fault. The starter would engage with the ignition switch but there was no 12 v positive at the coil. I put 12 v positive to the coil and the alert tone from the safety switch at the remote control/shifter could be heard, faintly. I went back behind the dash and followed the purple wires to the shifter, put 12v positive to one then the other. One would sound the alarm, not the other. I jumped them together and the engine starts using the ignition switch. The alarm sounds when in the ignition switch is in the "on" position prior to starting the engine.
Bondo's reply on Oct 24th got me looking for the purple wires. This shifter does have a "Man overboard" toggle as well as trim in the handle and trailer on the base.
Sure appreciate all the help for this problem as well as the other threads that help all us new guys! Just wish I could have spent a little more time on this issue earlier as the weather here (Las Vegas) has been very agreeable for October and November boating.
Thanks again!

 

[alldodge]

Re: Safety switch

Ayuh,.... Does yer controller have a trim/ tilt switch,..??

Does it have a "Man overboard" switch/ lanyard,..??

Movin' the lever only interferes with the Startin' circuit, 'n it's done with yellow/ red wires, in, 'n out,...
Connectin' the 2 wires, by-passes it,...

The Ignition circuit would go through a "Man Overboard" switch, 'n it oughta be purple in, 'n purple out,...
Connectin' the 2 wires, by-passes it,...
'n it's power comes from the keyswitch,...

The Trim system has a blue wire, a green wire, 'n probably the red wire,...

I pulled each fuse and check the fuse as well at the fuse panel with all working properly. I checked the ignition switch and can find no fault. The starter would engage with the ignition switch but there was no 12 v positive at the coil. I put 12 v positive to the coil and the alert tone from the safety switch at the remote control/shifter could be heard, faintly. I went back behind the dash and followed the purple wires to the shifter, put 12v positive to one then the other. One would sound the alarm, not the other. I jumped them together and the engine starts using the ignition switch. The alarm sounds when in the ignition switch is in the "on" position prior to starting the engine.
Bondo's reply on Oct 24th got me looking for the purple wires. This shifter does have a "Man overboard" toggle as well as trim in the handle and trailer on the base.
Sure appreciate all the help for this problem as well as the other threads that help all us new guys! Just wish I could have spent a little more time on this issue earlier as the weather here (Las Vegas) has been very agreeable for October and November boating.
Thanks again!

You just found your problem, you connected the two purple wires together and you can hear the alarm and the engine starts. Looks like you either have a bad man overboard switch or bad connections.