Expert: Jeff Grigg - 2/23/2008

Question
QUESTION: Hello...i just got a boat with a mid seventies vintage 85 h.p. outboard.  Motor seems to run fine but there is a yellow wire on the main wiring harness comming into the boat that is free ended.  Just wondering what the yellow wire is supposed to go to ? ...hate to get out on the water and find out that its supposed to go somewhere really important...thanks

ANSWER: The yellow should be for the start system. It comes from the control box to the small energizing terminal on the start solenoid.
Jeff

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QUESTION: hi and thank you for the reply.  I think i may have explained it wrong.  After going to your website and printing a schematic of the electrical system i believe the yellow wire i am talking about is the one that goes to the neutral start inter-lock switch ? ...its not the yellow wire within the motor it is the yellow wire thats within the wiring harness that comes from the controller too the motor .  (external wiring harness ? )..is this correct? ..and what problems could that lead to ? ..thanks very much

Answer
That's the same wire I am referring to. From the key switch it goes to a neutral switch inside the control, from the other side of the internal neutral switch it goes into the boat wire harness to the engine where there is a connector. Then it goes to the start solenoid. If it is not hooked up the engine will not start.
Jeff