dash lights stay on, buzzer on and engine keeps running(sometimes) when key off

Hello All,

Having some weird symptoms hopefully someone can help out with:

- engine buzzer came on with a low buzz and now runs full time when engine is started. Oil and water gauges all show good and engine runs fine.
- dash lights are on (low, not at full brightness when key is off)
- yesterday i turned the key off after cruising for about 20 mins at low speed and the engine kept running....not idled on for a few minutes knocking, but kept running full tilt with dash lights still on when key was completely out.

Already tried replacing the ignition switch (same sypmtoms so put the old one back in). Tried moving all cables around under the dash and near fuse box to see if I could get dim dash lights to turn off but no dice.

thoughts??

big mahalos (thanks in Hawaiian!)

Vinnie in HI

Re: dash lights stay on, buzzer on and engine keeps running(sometimes) when key off

FYI its a 2005 Bayliner CU210.

Re: dash lights stay on, buzzer on and engine keeps running(sometimes) when key off

The fact that the gauges are powered via the engine electrical harness (not the boat harness), and that the engine continued to run when the key was turned off can take many twists since you haven't told us whether you have an outboard or an I/O. Outboards have a very different ignition switch than an I/O so troubleshooting is a little. different. An outboard shuts off when the two "M" (magneto) terminals on the switch are connected together which shorts the magneto to ground. On an I/O, the "B" (battery) terminal and the "I" (ignition) terminal are connected together to make the engine run, and they open to shut it off. So if you have an outboard, you have two problems -- if you have an I/O you likely have one.

Outboard: something in the main harness or at the back of the ignition switch is preventing the two "M" terminals from closing while at the same time, something is causing the "I" terminal to remain connected to +12 volts IF (not the IF) the instrument lights are normally ON anything the key is on. Some boats are wired that way. On most boats, the internal lights in the gauges are wired to the NAV position on the navigation light switch. That circuit is totally separate from the "engine" harness. Since there is kill switch in the circuit you might look for issues in the control box (side mount) as well.

I/O: The internal lights on gauges have the same basic wiring as outboards but because of the differences in Ignition switches, the instrument lights staying on with the key (assuming of course they normally work off the ignition rather than the navigation light switch) means there is an issue in the ignition switch wiring. The fact that the engine doesn't quit means the "I" terminal (or that entire circuit back to the engine) is being kept at +12 volts with the key off. Again, it is likely some other circuit is cross-feeding that circuit. The problem can be at the helm or engine end of the circuit.

Re: dash lights stay on, buzzer on and engine keeps running(sometimes) when key off

Welcome to iboats!

Something is back-feeding into the gauge circuitry. It could be that some wires have melted and crossed. Check the wires at the motor and work forward.

Silvertip, the Bayliner 210 CU has an I/O.

Re: dash lights stay on, buzzer on and engine keeps running(sometimes) when key off

sorry its an I/O Merc 5.0. I did try swapping the ignition but the new one seemed to show the same symptoms (at least the dash light part). Only had the engine keep running one time so not sure about that.

Re: dash lights stay on, buzzer on and engine keeps running(sometimes) when key off

Ignition switches are rarely the issue when starting problems (or in your case stopping problems) occur.

Re: dash lights stay on, buzzer on and engine keeps running(sometimes) when key off

Silvertip said:

Ignition switches are rarely the issue when starting problems (or in your case stopping problems) occur.

Click to expand...

Thanks I'll start at the engine side. I'm guessing I should follow the I wire from the ignition switch and see if anything is touching/connecting that? I was also thinking about the water/oil temp guages but didnt think that would cause the dash light issue (buzzer perhaps tho). Engine is pretty clean and I did try moving the harness around a bit to see if i could get the dash lights to go back off (it did flicker a few times previously when it first started happening).

Any suggested spots to start my search greatly appreciated!

Re: dash lights stay on, buzzer on and engine keeps running(sometimes) when key off

I thought I already gave you some ideas. Key off, light switch off, start checking with a voltmeter to see where the power to the lights is coming from. If the engine doesn't shut off with the key then the "I" terminal on the ignition switch and the wire connected to it is being powered from somewhere other than the ignition switch. You need to determine if the gauge light is powered from the ignition switch or the NAV/ANC switch. The gauges wiring is simply daisy chained from one gauge to the next so the first gauge in the string will have the "L" terminal jumpered to the "I" terminal or it will come from the NAV/ANC switch. If jumpered to the "I" terminal then the gauge lights are an any time the ignitiion switch is on. Fix one problem you will likely fix both. If the engine has high water temp or low oil pressure the buzzer sounds. If the gauges are reading normal then you need to see why the buzzer is going off.