Catalina 30;A4 won t start off the key

[gregsails]

Hi everyone.I have just finished installing my A4 on my Catalina 30 after a tear down this winter.The motor will not start off the key.This is what I have done.
Both batteries are at 12.45.
There is hot power to the silinode. Sorry about the spelling
It is hot to the coil.
The motor DOES start with a remote starter switch.
I thought it might be the key switch. It is hot at the switch.Had a new one cause the tumblers sometimes locked on me so I installed it also.
I removed the entire wire harness and have good readings on it, or the middle long harness.
I have no clue what to do other than running a bypass from the harness.
The only thing I found unusual was my blower was not working. It always had before.And I did notice that it has a jump wire from the ignition switch to make it hot.
Anyone seen this problem before.Im at a loss as to whats going on. And electrical is my weakness of all the trades.
Thanks for reading.
Greg Catalina 30 1977 sail 696

[ndutton]

You've isolated the problem to the single start wire circuit, identified as a white #10 wire on a standard harness (not a guaranty on your particular boat). That's a good thing. The possible problems are:

1. Keyswitch as you originally suspected. If the switch is not making contact internally it'll never work.
2. Poor or broken terminal or connection on the white wire, either end or maybe a previous repair mid-harness.
3. The infamous Catalina rubber trailer plugs (see picture). Catalina used at least two, maybe three of these in the engine wiring harness. They are known to deteriorate and fail and your start circuit goes through the plug. The plugs are located at the instrument panel, the engine and a possible third in the vicinity of the ice box under the cabin sole.

Thoroughly check and repair if necessary those three items and you should be good.

[gregsails]

Thanks Neil. I'm a idiot Got it fixed.Greg

[ndutton]

We love idiot stories. Please tell us what happened so we can hopefully avoid doing it ourselves.