Solenoid/Starter issues

When the starter stays running, Ohm across the start relay contacts (the two big lugs) to see if the contacts are welded together. Last year when you had the problem, were you getting the volts to the start relay coil?

Pete I wish I understood electricity as well as you. Not sure on your questions; never checked last fall.   Gary the key switch is a very good question. I put the old solenoid back on and I think I need to check the new ignition switch because the fuel pump would not come on until I had the key in the start position.   

It has been a while since I pulled up my massive file of images. This is from a parts boat, a 1993 SN. So the grime and general lack of use is NOT from me! I was just documenting they way everything was when it arrived. But going through these files brought back a lot of memories.

I post this because it is difficult for me to see what wires go where in your photo. I replaced this solenoid because I was having similar issues as what you describe. I also replaced the starter (mine was horribly corroded) at the same time and now it cranks quite reliably. I also dumped the Pro-Tech ignition and replaced it with a DUI (documented elsewhere on this site).

One question that I'll lead with - why does your solenoid have four posts? Mine appears to have three.

Kevin

Pete
All of that makes sense, except I have a third wire that fits on one of the larger poles, It appears to run the fuel pump if we connect it to power. I thought when I took it off it was on the same side as the yellow/red wire going to the starter but I am not sure if that makes sense. Still not sure if my key is wired right either yet. I have an electronic ignition.

You have a 97 Pro Boss GT-40 EFI so the wiring diagram that Pete posted doesn't exactly pertain to your engine.

That's one is for a mid 80's engine with one of them old fashioned things like Pete (and me) called a carburetor and the older style starter

If you look in the GT-40 manual in the link section 6 has wiring diagrams.

Page 6-10 and 6-11 show a purple wire from the key switch "A" terminal to the solenoid "I" terminal.

There's not one big comprehensive wiring diagram but if you bounce around you'll see on Page 6-2 that it's part of the"EEC power and keep alive circuit"

So..........now you have a diagram with the wire but I'm not sure the diagram agrees with what you had originally.

I don't think any of the diagrams show the solenoid with all of the wires attached though.

Probably your best bet is to have somebody take a good clear picture of the solenoid on the same engine

There is a purple wire that runs from the I terminal but it has a smaller connection and definitely fits there.   The mystery one is the purple wire with the bigger connection made to fit on one of the larger terminals. I didn't see any of the wireing diagrams that showed anything there but I hooked it back up the way it was and the motor purrs.   Much better sounding than when the starter runs all the time!

Pete thanks a lot for the help, and yes somehow I figured out that you had gone to MSU in another thread and we visited about it some. I am also an engineering graduate from MSU.   I was civil. Big Sky is definitely different now days. Not the same as it used to be that's for sure. I know the area on the river you are talking about. That would be an awesome place to live especially back then.