Just had the problem that my engine started spontaniously with no engine key in use and switch in off position. Killed the engine and moving the wiring on the backpanel made it start again. Anyone experienced this ? Tips ? Could there be anything damaged as it run for a while before I discovered it ? Thanks, Jasper
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the problem is most likely in the...
ignition switch. Did it run without the seacock open? If so you dry ran the impeller. Remove the back cover on the motor control panel and wiggle things until you can replicate the problem. I replaced my ignition switch with a automotive style switch with a turn key start. Good luck. You could always keep the kill switch pulled out to stop it from happening again until you can effect a proper repair.
ignition switch. Did it run without the seacock open? If so you dry ran the impeller. Remove the back cover on the motor control panel and wiggle things until you can replicate the problem. I replaced my ignition switch with a automotive style switch with a turn key start. Good luck. You could always keep the kill switch pulled out to stop it from happening again until you can effect a proper repair.
It sounds to me
like you have a short circuit between the contacts on (1) the starter button, (2) the ignition switch, or (3) the contacts on the solenoid (although the problem seems to localized to the instrument panel). I'm not sure how the engine could start spontaneiously otherwise. I would shut off the power at the main switch until you find the cause of this problem. And as noted below, you may have destroyed your water pump impeller if the engine ran with the raw water seacock closed. Check all your fluids, as well. Let us know how this resolves.
like you have a short circuit between the contacts on (1) the starter button, (2) the ignition switch, or (3) the contacts on the solenoid (although the problem seems to localized to the instrument panel). I'm not sure how the engine could start spontaneiously otherwise. I would shut off the power at the main switch until you find the cause of this problem. And as noted below, you may have destroyed your water pump impeller if the engine ran with the raw water seacock closed. Check all your fluids, as well. Let us know how this resolves.
starter circuit problem
A not too widely known fact is that a diesel engine only needs to be cranked to start, you don't need to have the "ignition" turned on since diesels don't have ignitions! So the starter is kicking in and the engine correctly starts running. The ignition switch SHOULD control the current to the starter switch so both would have to short to get the starter to engage. I'd suspect a bare wire between the ignition hot wire and the starter switch wire going to the engine. As this problem could happen when you are away from the boat and leave your engine running without cooling water and a few other bad things, I'd turn the battery selector switch to OFF to prevent all current from getting to the short. This may effect your charging of the batteries while you are gone from the boat too.
A not too widely known fact is that a diesel engine only needs to be cranked to start, you don't need to have the "ignition" turned on since diesels don't have ignitions! So the starter is kicking in and the engine correctly starts running. The ignition switch SHOULD control the current to the starter switch so both would have to short to get the starter to engage. I'd suspect a bare wire between the ignition hot wire and the starter switch wire going to the engine. As this problem could happen when you are away from the boat and leave your engine running without cooling water and a few other bad things, I'd turn the battery selector switch to OFF to prevent all current from getting to the short. This may effect your charging of the batteries while you are gone from the boat too.
Rare but been known to happen.
A short in the wiring activates the starter selenoid. I customarily leave the raw water intake open mainly to avoid forgetting to open it but in such ocurrence at least the engine would be cooled while it empties the fuel tank out. I guess you could shut the battery switch but my problem with that would be the bilge pump. Or you could make it a habit of leaving the shut off cable in the off position. The downside is that it will rust much quicker if exposed to the elements.
A short in the wiring activates the starter selenoid. I customarily leave the raw water intake open mainly to avoid forgetting to open it but in such ocurrence at least the engine would be cooled while it empties the fuel tank out. I guess you could shut the battery switch but my problem with that would be the bilge pump. Or you could make it a habit of leaving the shut off cable in the off position. The downside is that it will rust much quicker if exposed to the elements.
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