C-161 electrical issues - Starting

[KP Cool 2]

Hello, Have a C-161 Manual transmission Kohler engine.

I had been mowing a good bit and thought I would wash grass and dirt off it.  Well apparently got something wet and now may have shorted something out. After drying out, something is still wrong it tried to start a couple of time, but now nothing, unless I use two jumpers from the switch connector (and I even replaced switch and still have issue).  It will start and run and lights will work etc. except with way I have it jumper-ed it won't shut off unless you disconnect the 1st jumper.

To start and keep it running, use two jumper wires from the switch connector (five blade).  1st. jumper wire from the black wire to the positive on the battery and 2nd jumper wire from red wire to positive on the battery to engage the starter to start it.  hope that makes sense, see pictures  (Note - the amp meter was showing charging even though switch off and even disconnected, so to rule the amp meter I by passed it.).  Did the the one relay block get too wet and short out?   Other side note,  have had some issues with mice and even had a black snake in it this morning, guess it was looking for food.  Do not see any wires chewed, and it was running fine until hosed off dirt and grass clippings.  

 

Thoughts or suggestions??  

 

Thanks.

[8ntruck 7,613]

I'm going to guess that the big black snake has something to do with the lack of mouse damage in the wiring.

 

I washed the engine on my 14-8 and it would not start.  I waited a day for everything to dry, and it started.  Probably dampened the coil or condenser and spark came back when they dried.

Edited yesterday at 12:11 AM by 8ntruck

[Handy Don 13,670]

If you can successfully start/run using the jumpers from battery to switch, that leaves two possible sources of the problem:

1. the switch itself is no good. Get out your test meter and confirm that conductivity/non-conductivity is correct among the various terminals (this varies by switch model so you need your wiring diagram in the user manual). 

2. There is no power getting to the switch. Start at the B connection on the switch and work backwards toward the regulator and the engine looking for (and resolving) any bad connections. You’ll likely encounter a fuse along the way--be sure it’s good and its socket is clean. 

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,386]

This is the switch you should have

 

[953 nut 59,168]

Do you have power to the Green wire? It should have power at all times, if not the fuse holder could have some corrosion or the fuse is blown..

The black wire on your ignition switch passes through the PTO Switch on its way to the ignition coil. It should have power when the key is in the Start or Run position.

The red wire activates the starter via the solenoid.

It sounds like you are simulating the actions of the ignition switch with your jumpers and everything else is working as it should if the green wire has power and the switch is good. Using the drawing for the 103990 switch and a meter to confirm the switch is working properly. Could be some corrosion in the socket to the switch was aggravated by getting wet. If that is the case a good cleaning could do the trick. 

Edited 22 hours ago by 953 nut
fat finger

[rmaynard 16,175]

Might be a bad connection at the ammeter I would remove the ammeter from the circuit and just hook the two wires together.

[953 nut 59,168]

The item you have circled in green is the PTO Switch, with that unplugged the start function is disabled and ignition will only have power with the key switch in run or stare AND someone in the seat.

1 hour ago, rmaynard said:

Might be a bad connection at the ammeter I would remove the ammeter from the circuit and just hook the two wires together.

He said he had previously bypassed the ammeter.

[rmaynard 16,175]

25 minutes ago, 953 nut said:

The item you have circled in green is the PTO Switch, with that unplugged the start function is disabled and ignition will only have power with the key switch in run or stare AND someone in the seat.

He said he had previously bypassed the ammeter.

Must have missed that. My bad.