1984 Mercruiser 470 Ignition Switch

[DLACTR]

I am trying to find a replacement ignition switch for my Mercruiser 470. I can start the engine but when I let go of the key it turns off. When keyed into the ON position, none of the gauges function but when turned slightly past ON, they do work ok. So I found that if I start the engine, then turn the key back and hold it slightly past ON, the starter stops and motor keeps running.
Back to shopping for the correct switch. It's a 3-position switch (off/on/start) but has 4 terminals - ground, power, start and the two purple coil wires. I'm having trouble locating this particular switch. My switch has no labels on it for part# (also no labels for the 4 poles)
Any ideas?

 

[Dubed]

I bought one a few weeks ago on the shelf at West Marine.

 

[Dubed]

I am trying to find a replacement ignition switch for my Mercruiser 470. I can start the engine but when I let go of the key it turns off. When keyed into the ON position, none of the gauges function but when turned slightly past ON, they do work ok. So I found that if I start the engine, then turn the key back and hold it slightly past ON, the starter stops and motor keeps running.
Back to shopping for the correct switch. It's a 3-position switch (off/on/start) but has 4 terminals - ground, power, start and the two purple coil wires. I'm having trouble locating this particular switch. My switch has no labels on it for part# (also no labels for the 4 poles)
Any ideas?

I believe this is the one I bought. If I remember correctly,the 2 purple wires shared a 2 into 1 spade connector. I could definately be wrong about that, but I know it is a 3 terminal switch with one of the spades shared

 

[DLACTR]

View attachment 380778I believe this is the one I bought. If I remember correctly,the 2 purple wires shared a 2 into 1 spade connector

The one in the image only has 3 poles. Maybe the one you bought was different?

 

[Dubed]

The one in the image only has 3 poles. Maybe the one you bought was different?

Nope. This is the original that I replaced. 3 poles, 1 shared. Dont go by wire position, not sure if its correct in this picture.

 

[Dubed]

View attachment 380780Nope. This is the original that I replaced. 3 poles, 1 shared. Dont go by wire position, not sure if its correct in this picture.

Perhaps you just wired it wrong. Hopefully someone on here can lead you down the right path.
Im pretty sure (in my photo) yellow/red goes to remote, purple to tach, red to the fused power, the heavy yellow goes direct to my coil to (I installed pertronix and alternator)

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,..... Welcome Aboard,..... I've never seen a key switch, with a ground wire on it,.....
Usually it's (B) battery, (I) ignition, (S) start, 'n possibly (A) accessory,.....

 

[DLACTR]

Here are a couple of views of my existing switch. In this expanded view I can see the S on the yellow/red starter wire. The other connections have an orange wire, the double purple (coil) and a red wire.

 

[Bt Doctur]

standard 3 position switch
"B" main 12 volt feed Red or Orange
"I" ignition, gauges, etc "Purple"
"S" to slave solenoid Yellow/red stripe

 

[nola mike]

Interesting. That orange wire is spliced with the red in the diagram, and then appears to dead end in the cannon plug. Doesn't look like it does anything.