4.3 GL Starting issues.

[REG123]

Hello folks

Im wondering of anyone can help with my starting issues. I have a 2003 Glastron 175SX with a volvo Penta 4.3GL .The Starter died on me at the end of the last season. I replaced the starter and I can get the boat to start but here is the odd thing. The engine will only start after I let go of the key. If i turn it all way the starter will just crank over and over and never start. But as soon and i let the key go it wil it will start but i have to be quick with the throttle or it will die and i have to repeat the process. I only took it out for a test drive one time after the starter was replaced and it worked well. Its not a huge deal because I can get it started i just don't want it turn into a problem when its really inconvenient. Any thoughts where should I start? I attached a picture of the starter that I put in.

 

[ESGWheel]

I’ll take a quick stab at this but I do not have your wiring diagram so this may be incorrect. However, your picture of a starter is a 4 terminal type so I am guessing that there is that 4th wire that did not get reconnected. Let me explain: Some electrical systems, and I assume yours too, will provide voltage to the coil in 2 ways: (1) when cranking the engine (so key in Start position) the coil gets 12V fm the starter’s 4th terminal. And (2) when you let the key return to Run that voltage goes away and in its place is voltage from the ignition key in Run.

The motor starts when you let the key go to Run because it’s still turning over due to inertia and BANG you now have voltage to the coil and thus spark and thus it runs.

Read thru the relevant parts of these two threads link and link and poke around a little bit and post what you find. For example, can you have someone crank the engine while you have a volt meter on the + of the coil? Note: best to remove the high tension lead fm coil to dist and ground it out to preclude it from starting > all you are trying to test is if you have voltage when you are (1) cranking and (2) when in key in run.

 

[Scott Danforth]

look at your key switch.

 

[REG123]

Follow up. Thanks to those that replied. When I replaced the starter last year I used this video as a guide and wired in the same configuration he uses.

I went through and confirmed the wiring to the to the starter is correct. The next suggested item was the key switch so I replaced that with, I did it one wire at a time and was careful not to mix things up. New switch same wiring the boat still would only start with much effort and only when the key was released. So I did a little more digging to confirm the wiring colors to the key switch and found it was wired incorrectly. The purple(ignition wire) was on the accessory spot and the radio power had been run to the ignition spot. I also found some other very questionable wiring under the dash that ill need to fix now. There are a few loose wires hanging not sure what they are for, a bunch poorly done butt and ring connectors, and the radio was wired with the old strip and twist technique. I've only owned the boat for a few years so im guessing the previous owner had the old starter wired in a manner that allowed it to run with the janky key switch wiring. When I wired the new starter back in properly the problems started.

Thanks again