1998 3.0L Mercruiser blowing fuse/starter problem

[DKY]

hey folks

I got a 1998 MAXUM with the 3.0 mercruiser inboard, everytime I go to start the engine it pops the blade fuse in my fuse panel, this fuse is my main ignition fuse that powers everything else - guages all go dead and starter quits

I re-terminaled the battery cables by soldering on new eyelets, cleaned up the battery, checked all the connections all seems good.

I was just wondering if a bad starter solnoid could somehow pop that ignition fuse when I rotate the key to "start engine"

if I put in a new fuse all my guages light back up, everything works - until I turn that key to "start" then the fuse pops and I'm DITW





I was out running the boat and all was working well then I had power loss, dead engine and I was only a couple hundred yards from the spillway of the dam lol
good thing I had my buddy there with his boat and got a quick tow before I drifted into the spillway boom

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: 1998 3.0L Mercruiser blowing fuse/starter problem

If your popping 20A fuses, then I`d find the problem. Could some accessory be hooked to the ign circuit.stereo, amp, etc.

 

[fat fanny]

Re: 1998 3.0L Mercruiser blowing fuse/starter problem

I have had the same issue for the past 2 yrs, and have gone through the whole wiring harness completely out of the boat and come to pass this season that when the electric choke is hooked up it ground to short and blows the ignition fuse this will be remedied this winter but at any rate you best friend now is a multi meter start @ the ignition switch and start trouble shooting there are some helpfull tips in the adults only stikie @ the top of the forum start checking all the purple wire contacts and then all grounds as well as all the assesories like Bt Doctor said unplug everthing except whats needed to start the boat and work your way back.

 

[DKY]

Re: 1998 3.0L Mercruiser blowing fuse/starter problem

fixed it - and because the boat shop was so booked up I saved some cash

turns the wiring harness was rubbed through on the purple wire between the carb and back of the engine.

Also the battery wasn't very good so I replaced that with a nice AGM battery, the alternator orange wire was getting hot trying to charge that old battery and that orange wire was corroded a bit at the alternator.

I blew the 90 amp fuse at the starter on accident, so running with out that at the moment - just deleted the fuse and wired it direct.


Also I added a battery ground interrupt switch, that is the nicest thing I did I can just flip that off and kill the ground to everything.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: 1998 3.0L Mercruiser blowing fuse/starter problem

Also I added a battery ground interrupt switch, that is the nicest thing I did I can just flip that off and kill the ground to everything.

In the US we do that to the positive side.