2000 Johnson key switch/ ignition problem

[taylorw13]

My 175 osprey has a 2000 115 Johnson with ois, when I take the black and yellow wire out from behind my key switch (where I turn the key to start the engine) it will run perfectly fine, but I have to put the black and yellow wire back in to shut the engine off. I don't want to run it on the water with this issue. Does anyone know if  it just a bad key switch or something else? Thanks for any  help in advance.

[wingtime]

The black and yellow wire is the magneto ground wire.  To shut the motor off that wire gets grounded to the black ground wire.  Sounds like you have a short in the switch.  Be careful handling that black and yellow wire... that sucker usually has very high voltage on it.

Here are some links to the wire color code and wire diagram:

http://www.maxrules.com/fixomcwiringcodes.html

http://www.go2marine.com/productcenters/electrical/johnson-evinrude-1991-2006.pdf

[Capt. Bob]

Be careful handling that black and yellow wire... that sucker usually has very high voltage on it.

Indeed!

On that same note, mine failed to start and while "jiggling" the wires.......well, what Wing said.
They seem to fail when exposed to the elements. Most Dealers parts department have a box full of them.

Good luck.