Engine wont crank and purple coil wire starts smoking hot when ignition turned on

TimSImpson

I assume it is a ground issue but if anyone has a wiring diagram or suggestions that would help..  

I already checked the ignition switch and the starter and slave solenoid.

Thanks

89 V170 3.0 mercrusier with Alpha 1

Cableguy Greg

If you have the engine serial number, you can plug it into the Mercury parts finder to get exploded views of the entire engine.

https://www.mercurymarine.com/en/us/parts-and-accessories/parts-catalog

TimSImpson

Thanks been trying to troubleshoot one wire at a time

howardrams

The purple wire to the coil should be the 12v+ and if it is smoking hot the primary of the coil may be shorted.  If so you need a new coil.  You can check it with an ohmeter.  Between the + input and the high tension wire should be about 8000 ohms.  Across the + and minus of the coil should be about 0.4 ohms. Test it with all wires off of it.  There are of course many other sources of trouble but the coil is easy to check.

TimSImpson

Is the resister wire supposed to be hooked to the choke on the carb?

I got this boat with issues and the resister wire is going to the coil but in the wiring diagrams I have found it says it goes to the carb