Starting Ignition Issue mercruser 225 Cu 190 hp

Hello All
I have a real stickler of a problem. Having read Don S execellant guide for trouble shooting, I thought maybe I had the problem under control. But that is not the case. I assumed that because I had an intermittent starting problem I should replace the 3 position switch. That did not fix the problem. Still no solenoid action when I turn the switch to start. What's interesting, when I touch the "start" wire (Y/R) to the power wire I get a starter engagement. But holding the Red power wire and the purple "Ing" wire together and then touching the start wire, I get no action at all. Really confused. Thank for your help. I'll be out a few hours.

Cheers Gary

Re: Starting Ignition Issue mercruser 225 Cu 190 hp

Where are you touching all these wires together at? Ignition switch? Slave solenoid? Starter?

Do you have voltage on the red purple wire on the ignition switch? Check with a meter with you black to ground and red to the red purple wire.

What engine is this? V6, 4 cyl? Year and model number, or serial numbers are what we need, not cu in and hp.

Re: Starting Ignition Issue mercruser 225 Cu 190 hp

Thanks Don for responding.
The engine is a 1986-7, 4 cylinder, serial number is O-B486052. Yes, I have removed the ignition switch from the circuit The Red power wire coming from the fuse has 12 vdc to ground. Also checked the purple and y/r to ground and had no reading, which i expected.

I was attempting to simulate the start switch by holding the red and purple wires together as the switch would do. I think. When I touch the y/r wire to the power wire, the slave solenoid energizes and the starer motor engages but will not fire. I think this is because there in no voltage to the coil, don't know.

Re: Starting Ignition Issue mercruser 225 Cu 190 hp

Do you have a (cranking) problem, or is it cranking ok just not starting?

Re: Starting Ignition Issue mercruser 225 Cu 190 hp

When the start switch was wired in the circuit, Sometimes it would crank and then ignite. But after a short time I would stop the engine and attempt to restart it. I did not get any action from the slave solenoid. A couple of hours later, the engine would start normally.

But another condition also has occurred more recently, which is really confusing. I would turn the start switch to start and the engine would crank, but not fire and when I released the switch to run position, the engine would fire up and run. Now I can' even get it to that. Could something is loose and/or impacted warmth.?

Re: Starting Ignition Issue mercruser 225 Cu 190 hp

I would sure check the wiring connections on the slave solenoid, and make sure the base of the solenoid has a good clean ground. The base is where the ground is that operates the slave solenoid. Without a good ground, the solenoid will not operate.

Re: Starting Ignition Issue mercruser 225 Cu 190 hp

Hello Don
As a matter of fact i just changed that solenoid last week. So, I just removed it and did as you suggested. No change in the starting problem. But I did put the switch in the run position and jumper-ed the a and b terminal on the starter motor and the engine started right up and ran. Turned it off and then tried to restart it, no luck.

It seems that I have a grounding problem somewhere between the slave solenoid and the start switch. Is this possible? And if so where would i first start

Re: Starting Ignition Issue mercruser 225 Cu 190 hp

I was going to as if you replaced the slave solenoid, did you replace it with the proper type? Did it have both the I and the S teriminals on it?

Post the part number and manufacturer of the one you used.

Re: Starting Ignition Issue mercruser 225 Cu 190 hp

Hello Again
The information on the slave coil is Cole Hersee 24117-01. I don't recall if it had an I and S notation on it. I still have the one that I replaced it is SAE Jii/i which has the I and S identifier. I'll clean it up and reinstall it this morning. I've got a weird feeling that you may be on to something.

Re: Starting Ignition Issue mercruser 225 Cu 190 hp

Wrong one, that's just a standard ole single pole single throw solenoid. No wonder it doesn't work.

The Mercruiser PN for the solenoid you need is 65057A1. If you want to go aftermarket, make sure it will cross to that number.

Re: Starting Ignition Issue mercruser 225 Cu 190 hp

Hello Don
Success, Well who would have thought. Thank you, thank you. Now for the rest of the story. Upon review, the starting switch has been the source of the problem for some time.

Since i had gone through the entire electrical system, replacing points, plugs, etc, I thought I would just go ahead and replace the coil, even though it did not seem to be a problem. The switch was the source of the intermittent staring problem. Upon taking the switch apart I found that one contact was not really making good contact. I cleaned the contacts, applied a little dialectic grease and it to now works without fault. Oh well a good lesson learned. Now on to the next challange

Cheers Gary