No Spark

[rollercoaster]

"40 hp Mercury Mariner 4 cyl.

"40 hp Mercury Mariner 4 cyl. All checks out to the best of my knowledge. One concern, the kill wire has small amount of voltage, (5) with switch on, o ohm reading with switch on, get ohm reading with switch off. This test don with black/yellow wire disconnected. Do this mean a bad harness or key switch problem? How do you get into the Quicksilver control?"

 

[galamb]

"That's not unusual. I hav

"That's not unusual. I have tested many kill switches and there is some continuity even when you would think there shouldn't be.

When you "kill" the motor the circuit is completely open (zero resistance), in the run position, there is significant resistance, but it is not total - they do (leak) a little bit."

 

[benjamin_jones]

"Hi Graham,

Is "complet

"Hi Graham,

Is "completely open" not infinity ohm?

Zero resistance closed loop?

Just thought I'd ask, the years are also creeping up on me!"

 

[rollercoaster]

"Key switch on, (infinity&

"Key switch on, (infinity), key switch off, (open)< is this correct? (Kill wire)!"

 

[galamb]

"Ohms always kinda screw me up

"Ohms always kinda screw me up on a digital ohm meter (so I use an old analog one with a needle)

With the kill switch in the "kill" position (to cut the motor), I mean zero resistance (completely connected, or closed circuit) so that all the ignition power is ground out instead of going to the coils.

With it set in the run positon, there is significant resistance (or almost a completely open circuit on the kill switch) - but it is not quite completely open (no power being grounded), there is still some continuity (so not infinate resistance) - a little bit of ignition voltage still leaks down to ground through the kill circuit..."

 

[galamb]

"Clarence, yes, sounds like yo

"Clarence, yes, sounds like your keyswitch is functioning properly there if you mean "closed" instead of "open".

The term open would mean "infinity" or "nothing" can pass along that circuit.

A closed circuit is when you get power going through it.

So with the key in the off position, the kill circuit should be "closed" so that power can travel through it to ground.

(It's the terms that sometimes screw us up because they don't always sound like you think they should - power travels through "closed" circuits and stops flowing through an "open" one)"