Bad ignition switch?
 

Please excuse my ignorance; I'm not a mechanic. I have a 1984 18 ft
open bow Rinker with a Mercruiser 185 I/O engine. Sometimes when I
turn the ingition switch, nothing happens (no clicking or anything).
After I try it 3 or 4 times, the engine starts fine. Is it likely a
bad ignition switch? As far as I know, it's the original switch. If
it is the switch, ideas on where to get a new one?

Bad ignition switch?
 

No doubt about it. You have a bad switch. Try Walmart or an auto parts
store. If you live near water, try a marine store.
Jim
BlueThunder wrote:
Please excuse my ignorance; I'm not a mechanic. I have a 1984 18 ft
open bow Rinker with a Mercruiser 185 I/O engine. Sometimes when I
turn the ingition switch, nothing happens (no clicking or anything).
After I try it 3 or 4 times, the engine starts fine. Is it likely a
bad ignition switch? As far as I know, it's the original switch. If
it is the switch, ideas on where to get a new one?

Bad ignition switch?
 

Thanks for the quick reply! By suggesting Walmart, I'm guessing they
are fairly standard as opposed to being specific to marine engines.
Anything to watch out for?
jiminfl wrote:
No doubt about it. You have a bad switch. Try Walmart or an auto parts
store. If you live near water, try a marine store.
Jim
BlueThunder wrote:
Please excuse my ignorance; I'm not a mechanic. I have a 1984 18 ft
open bow Rinker with a Mercruiser 185 I/O engine. Sometimes when I
turn the ingition switch, nothing happens (no clicking or anything).
After I try it 3 or 4 times, the engine starts fine. Is it likely a
bad ignition switch? As far as I know, it's the original switch. If
it is the switch, ideas on where to get a new one?

Bad ignition switch?
 

They have a marine section at Wal-Mart. Water proof or water resistant Is
desirable.
"BlueThunder" wrote in message
oups.com...
Thanks for the quick reply! By suggesting Walmart, I'm guessing they
are fairly standard as opposed to being specific to marine engines.
Anything to watch out for?
jiminfl wrote:
No doubt about it. You have a bad switch. Try Walmart or an auto parts
store. If you live near water, try a marine store.
Jim
BlueThunder wrote:
Please excuse my ignorance; I'm not a mechanic. I have a 1984 18 ft
open bow Rinker with a Mercruiser 185 I/O engine. Sometimes when I
turn the ingition switch, nothing happens (no clicking or anything).
After I try it 3 or 4 times, the engine starts fine. Is it likely a
bad ignition switch? As far as I know, it's the original switch. If
it is the switch, ideas on where to get a new one?

Bad ignition switch?
 

"Gene Kearns" wrote in message
...
On 26 Jun 2006 11:26:54 -0700, jiminfl penned the following well
considered thoughts to the readers of rec.boats:

No doubt about it. You have a bad switch. Try Walmart or an auto parts
store. If you live near water, try a marine store.
Jim
BlueThunder wrote:
Please excuse my ignorance; I'm not a mechanic. I have a 1984 18 ft
open bow Rinker with a Mercruiser 185 I/O engine. Sometimes when I
turn the ingition switch, nothing happens (no clicking or anything).
After I try it 3 or 4 times, the engine starts fine. Is it likely a
bad ignition switch? As far as I know, it's the original switch. If
it is the switch, ideas on where to get a new one?

Whoa....... dood..... there is a LOT of doubt about it...... It could
be anything from the ignition switch to a sticking starter
solenoid....

.... time to diagnose, not swap parts....

--

Grady-White Gulfstream, out of Oak Island, NC.

Homepage
http://myworkshop.idleplay.net/

Rec.boats at Lee Yeaton's Bayguide
http://www.thebayguide.com/rec.boats


I was also thinking that a bad solenoid could also be the problem. Loose
wire connections at the ignition switch, battery or solenoid are also
possible.

Bad ignition switch?
 

"Gene Kearns" wrote in message
...
On 26 Jun 2006 11:26:54 -0700, jiminfl penned the following well
considered thoughts to the readers of rec.boats:

No doubt about it. You have a bad switch. Try Walmart or an auto parts
store. If you live near water, try a marine store.
Jim
BlueThunder wrote:
Please excuse my ignorance; I'm not a mechanic. I have a 1984 18 ft
open bow Rinker with a Mercruiser 185 I/O engine. Sometimes when I
turn the ingition switch, nothing happens (no clicking or anything).
After I try it 3 or 4 times, the engine starts fine. Is it likely a
bad ignition switch? As far as I know, it's the original switch. If
it is the switch, ideas on where to get a new one?

Whoa....... dood..... there is a LOT of doubt about it...... It could
be anything from the ignition switch to a sticking starter
solenoid....

.... time to diagnose, not swap parts....


Except, the OP indicated that the only thing he exercised the contacts of
was the ignition switch. He didn't indicate that he slapped anything else
around to get it to start. Did you, OP? Like wiggle the gearshift?
(neutral switch).

Eisboch

Bad ignition switch?
 

"Gene Kearns" wrote in message
...
On 26 Jun 2006 11:26:54 -0700, jiminfl penned the following well
considered thoughts to the readers of rec.boats:

No doubt about it. You have a bad switch. Try Walmart or an auto parts
store. If you live near water, try a marine store.
Jim
BlueThunder wrote:
Please excuse my ignorance; I'm not a mechanic. I have a 1984 18 ft
open bow Rinker with a Mercruiser 185 I/O engine. Sometimes when I
turn the ingition switch, nothing happens (no clicking or anything).
After I try it 3 or 4 times, the engine starts fine. Is it likely a
bad ignition switch? As far as I know, it's the original switch. If
it is the switch, ideas on where to get a new one?

Whoa....... dood..... there is a LOT of doubt about it...... It could
be anything from the ignition switch to a sticking starter
solenoid....

.... time to diagnose, not swap parts....

--

Grady-White Gulfstream, out of Oak Island, NC.

Homepage
http://myworkshop.idleplay.net/

Rec.boats at Lee Yeaton's Bayguide
http://www.thebayguide.com/rec.boats

Whoa yurself maaan! There wasn't a sound. Not even from the starter assist
solenoid. I may have been a bit exuberant with my hasty diagnosis, but I'll
stick by it. ( snerk)

Jim

Bad ignition switch?
 

Make sure that you check all your electrical connections including the
battery and grounds on the engine block. I would suggest that the
problem rests with a loose or corroded connection some where.

hank
Jim wrote:
"Gene Kearns" wrote in message
...
On 26 Jun 2006 11:26:54 -0700, jiminfl penned the following well
considered thoughts to the readers of rec.boats:

No doubt about it. You have a bad switch. Try Walmart or an auto parts
store. If you live near water, try a marine store.
Jim
BlueThunder wrote:
Please excuse my ignorance; I'm not a mechanic. I have a 1984 18 ft
open bow Rinker with a Mercruiser 185 I/O engine. Sometimes when I
turn the ingition switch, nothing happens (no clicking or anything).
After I try it 3 or 4 times, the engine starts fine. Is it likely a
bad ignition switch? As far as I know, it's the original switch. If
it is the switch, ideas on where to get a new one?

Whoa....... dood..... there is a LOT of doubt about it...... It could
be anything from the ignition switch to a sticking starter
solenoid....

.... time to diagnose, not swap parts....

--

Grady-White Gulfstream, out of Oak Island, NC.

Homepage
http://myworkshop.idleplay.net/

Rec.boats at Lee Yeaton's Bayguide
http://www.thebayguide.com/rec.boats

Whoa yurself maaan! There wasn't a sound. Not even from the starter assist
solenoid. I may have been a bit exuberant with my hasty diagnosis, but I'll
stick by it. ( snerk)

Jim