Starter wiring / Battery dying = purple wire??

[96Sunbird]

I have a 302CMHUB motor manufactured by OMC Cobra for Volvo Penta. I have always had problems finding parts or anything with this model number.

My issue is that I had a starter replaced by a mechanic and notice afterwards that he didn't connect a purple wire. It seems as there should be four terminal points on my starter solenoid to accommodate this pur wire but I have only three. My mechanic told me this was an extra wire not used on my engine however I am having problems with my battery dying. I had the battery load tested and is good. Tried to have a local parts store load test the alternator but they couldn't cross reference it.

While doing my own testing I found that this pur wire is the same wire that connects to my alternator. So I am 99% sure this is why my battery is not be charged.

This is a new boat for me so I am not sure if the battery dying was an issue before.

 

[Don S]

Re: Starter wiring / Battery dying = purple wire??

Sounds like your mechanic put on an automotive starter instead of a marine starter. This can be dangerous. Marine starters are spark protected to protect against explosions if you get gas fumes built up in your bilge from a leak of some sort.
Automotive starters do not use that 4th terminal. It's used more for getting full voltage to the distributor for starting, not for the alternator.