2000 challenger ignition switch?

[jimbo3946]

Hi All,

I just got a 2000 challenger 1800 - love it! I was out today and turned key and ignition switch rotated with it, tightened down nut on outside of dash, twisted some more got it to start. Was out tubing, stopped motor to get kids tube off & couldn't start it again, I opened up windscreen and ignition switch wires were a bit twisted around, I untwwisted them and straightened them out and got it to start again. When I got home, I looked at it in more detail, seeing if any wires were chaffed and maybe shorting out, but wires going into potting at back of switch looked fine. Hooked up hose to flush connection and started it a dozen times fine, then it would not start and I could hear what sounded like a relay clicking in engine compartment. Would turn key and 2 or 3 (or 4 or 5) times - just clicking, then would start one or two times after that. Then repeat.. I was thinking I would replace ignition switch, since it seemed to start acting up when I over-rotated the switch but wondering if a bad ignition switch would cause clicking somewhere back near engine? Also are the wires going into the switch "universal"? i.e. will yellow wire on new switch = yellow wire on my boat, etc?

Appreciate any advice you might have!

Thanks
Jim

 

[Dr Honda]

On a Merc powered boat... you could wire in a universal key switch if you want... but it sounds like your solenoid is on it's way out. I think it's just a coincidence that the key switch rotated.

 

[jimbo3946]

Thanks. I bit the bullet and brought it to the marina. Hope it's not a zillion $!

 

[WAJetboating]

I could hear what sounded like a relay clicking in engine compartment. Would turn key and 2 or 3 (or 4 or 5) times - just clicking, then would start one or two times after that. Then repeat.. I was thinking I would replace ignition switch, since it seemed to start acting up when I over-rotated the switch but wondering if a bad ignition switch would cause clicking somewhere back near engine?

If it's a repeated fast click ("click click click click...") for about 30 seconds, that's totally normal. It's the lift pump drawing fuel from the tank and pressuring the low-pressure side of the fuel system. Happens every time you switch the key to "On".

Also are the wires going into the switch "universal"? i.e. will yellow wire on new switch = yellow wire on my boat, etc?

Hmm, lots of keyswitch issues on the forum today.

I don't know the colors by memory, but there's a schematic that includes wire colors in the manual for your engine which is supposedly available via the premium membership on this site. It's very easy to read.

I'm guessing all you need is either 1) debugged wiring, or 2) a replacement keyswitch.

Report back!