Penta 4.3 Servo Feed Fuse or Breaker.

[scotchontherocks]

Hi everyone, or howdy, since you all appear to be Americans.

My 2000 4.3 GS Chris Craft wouldn't start of course in the warmest March on record.

I tested all the ignition circuits from the key back (including ordering a replacement to the broken microswitch in my shifter that i then discovered had been bypassed, presumably by the electrician who fixed/broke my trim sender recently)

The slave relay works fine and switches with zero resistance so I bought and fitted a brand new servo/starter unit as mine had a little swim last year when the float switch didn't do its duty. Anyway it was a bit rusty and on the bench only the actuator worked reliably so I guess it was in the exit lounge.

I've fitted the new unit and if i short it, it works fine. However, at the key, no joy.

So, following the wiring diagrams available through this site, I've eventually tracked down the culprit. There is no positive feed to the switched side of the slave relay. Ive tracked it back through the circuit breaker, which is also fine, to a fat +- connector on top of the engine, which is also a good connection to the relay, before it disappears into the loom.

However, I just can't find how that thick red wire connects to the +ve battery terminal. There are 3 big fuses there and I'm guessing the cable of the same thickness is the feed.

The battery is fine, it spins the engine when shorted, all the wiring is in factory un-molested condition.

The only deviations from the wiring diagrams are that I don't have/need the 'R' feed from the solenoid to spark system etc, and I don't appear to have a second connection from the +ve solenoid into the loom.

Can anyone suggest anything before I just get a bit of wire and fit it straight from the battery fuses to the relay plug?

Regards,
David.

 

[Don S]

Re: Penta 4.3 Servo Feed Fuse or Breaker.

If I understand correctly, you have no voltage on the #30 terminal of the #5 relay in the image below. First, does the trim work and do you have power to the helm instruments? If not and since you had the starter off, make sure you didn't miss putting the third wire on the starters main terminal. There should be the main battery cable, the orange wire to the alternator and the red wire that powers the relay and trim.
If the trim and instruments do work, then the wire going from the relay to the harness is probably broken

View attachment Wiring dia 3.0GS EF.pdf

 

[scotchontherocks]

Re: Penta 4.3 Servo Feed Fuse or Breaker.

Oh For goodness sake!

As soon as i wrote that post I strolled down with an inspection mirror just in case there was a nice loose red wire dangling in the bilges.
In my haste yesterday to replace the whole thing in 10 minutes using blind keyhole surgery, I'd assumed that the 'other' wire was the -ve for the starter. But it's already wired into itself. so I'd connected the live feed for the relay, to the switched side of the solenoid. Sure it'd work, but only if it was already energised! Perpetual motion anyone?

I don't know if it's possible to delete threads off this site to save any other amateur gynaecologists from wasting their time rather than just getting a mirror and a lamp.

Thanks for your patient, and correct, response Don.

Watch the weather deteriorate now.
David.

 

[Maclin]

Re: Penta 4.3 Servo Feed Fuse or Breaker.

Hey Scotch,


I know it was not so much fun for you, but threads like this are good for future searchers with the same type of problem, as they may be able to get some hints and save some time and frustration for them.

Welcome aboard Guvnah!

and btw, you met the grand master of tech here in Don S