BrianSmith
Senior Member
- Joined
- Mar 20, 2014
- Messages
- 487
- Location
- USA
- Vessel Name
- Smartini
- Vessel Make
- 2002 Kristen 52' Flybridge Trawler
We bought the 1974 Gulfstar MkII Sundeck Trawler (43') in May. (After lots of great input from y'all, thank you very much!) One of the pre-purchase survey items was that none of the start / stop switches (actually, they're pushbuttons) at the upper helm station work. Yesterday, I finally got around to some troubleshooting.
Bottom line: one of each now works, and one of each doesn't. The switches are all the same, a simple pushbutton, that when pushed, closes the circuit. So to troubleshoot, I simply removed both wires from the back of the switch and touched them together. (As a result of this, I replaced two faulty switches, which solved two of my four problems.)
There is 12V on the positive wire, tested with a volt meter. Also, I get a little sparking when I touch them together. So I know there is power getting to the switches.
The stop switches (buttons) on the lower helm station both work. The start switches on the lower helm are activated by turning the ignition keys, and they both work.
I believe the stop switch works by activating a fuel cutoff solenoid at the engine, but since the lower helm stop buttons both work, I'm inclined to NOT suspect the solenoid. Seems like the most likely cause, therefore, is a problem with the wire "leaving" the switch, somewhere on its way to the solenoid. Agree? Or am I missing something? I don't want to go on a wild goose chase for a broken wire.
I believe the start switch works the same way, but by activating the starter solenoid. Again, since the lower start switch DOES work, I suspect a wiring problem, not a solenoid problem. Agreed?
Thanks so much for any help - even if it's just confirming my diagnosis.
Bottom line: one of each now works, and one of each doesn't. The switches are all the same, a simple pushbutton, that when pushed, closes the circuit. So to troubleshoot, I simply removed both wires from the back of the switch and touched them together. (As a result of this, I replaced two faulty switches, which solved two of my four problems.)
There is 12V on the positive wire, tested with a volt meter. Also, I get a little sparking when I touch them together. So I know there is power getting to the switches.
The stop switches (buttons) on the lower helm station both work. The start switches on the lower helm are activated by turning the ignition keys, and they both work.
I believe the stop switch works by activating a fuel cutoff solenoid at the engine, but since the lower helm stop buttons both work, I'm inclined to NOT suspect the solenoid. Seems like the most likely cause, therefore, is a problem with the wire "leaving" the switch, somewhere on its way to the solenoid. Agree? Or am I missing something? I don't want to go on a wild goose chase for a broken wire.
I believe the start switch works the same way, but by activating the starter solenoid. Again, since the lower start switch DOES work, I suspect a wiring problem, not a solenoid problem. Agreed?
Thanks so much for any help - even if it's just confirming my diagnosis.