QUIKDECISION

I have a question about Mercruiser / Marine starter switches.
When one cranks over the engine, does the ignition switch provide power simultaneously to the starter solenoid and the coil?
This is relative to a 1983 mercruiser 5.7 alpha.
The boat is a 26 ft. sea ray...
The ignition switch was corroded badly.
I used a switch from another piece of equipment.
Not a marine switch.
I have no juice to coil when cranking over the engine.
I do have juice when the key is in the run position.

I plan to purchase a marine switch, but cannot find any information as to how they function relative to simultaneously powering coil while cranking.
Any help from this vast sea... of knowledge, would be greatly appreciated.

picklenjim

Did you have this problem with the old switch? Yes it is supposed to supply power to both the solenoid and coil. On the switch you will have a RED wire which is hot all the time. A purple wire which goes to the coil + that should be hot in the run position and start position. And a yellow/red wire that goes to the solenoid that is only hot in the start position.
Sounds like the wires may be mixed up on the switch.

Just to let you know the purple wire that goes to the coil + usually has a resister in it so it provides a lower voltage to the coil when running. Then there is a purple/yellow wire that comes up to the coil + from the starter solenoid which provides full voltage only when cranking the starter.

May want to test the switch it self for continuity.