www.iFourWinns.com

What the heck is this for? Its on my 5.7Gi, year 2004. I honestly don't recall seeing it on my last boat, which had the same engine, but I don't recall ever looking at that part of the engine.

It is right behind the alternator, but there is no place for it to attach. It is filled with what appears to be black RTV...







Any ideas?

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2007 358 T-5.7GXi IB
Previous Boats
'08 H240, '08 V318, '04 268, '04 225

That's your emergency spark generator.

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Gordon Arnold
New Hampshire

2003 268 Vista ..................................................................Prior: 97 245 Sundowner

I thought I recognised it; it's actually the original output cable for the alternator! That red cable with the red cap fitted to the alternator is not original.

Graham

So I take it I should trace that red wire and see where it leads?

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2007 358 T-5.7GXi IB
Previous Boats
'08 H240, '08 V318, '04 268, '04 225

It can't do any harm to do that ! I can't check where the other end of the orange wire goes on mine for at least a week I'm afraid. It'll either be to the solenoid or the fuse/ relay box on top of the engine.

Graham

No problem Graham. She just started and idled fine on the hose. The orange wire that isn't used goes directly into a wire loom headed towards the back of the engine. The red wire thats hooked up to the alternator heads over the engine and into a wire loom also...

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2007 358 T-5.7GXi IB
Previous Boats
'08 H240, '08 V318, '04 268, '04 225

So when do we get pictures of the driveway queen?

How's the clean up going?

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2008 318 Vista -SOLD, but I am still around!
All Night Long, Seattle WA

Hey now, Driveway Queen!?!? She just got here Friday at 8AM. Cabin is spotless, my wife is about to start on the cockpit. I'm in the process of changing out the fluids right now, and getting my "punch list" done. About half way through. Not bad, especially because I spent a good 4 hours Friday morning getting the WD hitch on my truck set up perfectly.

Pics to follow shortly....I'll start a new thread.

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2007 358 T-5.7GXi IB
Previous Boats
'08 H240, '08 V318, '04 268, '04 225

Great to hear the punchlist is rolling!

And I say driveway queen because unless you live on a chunk of property to spread out - that boat is HUGE in a driveway!

In my neighborhood, anything bigger than a 20 footer looks monstrous in a driveway.

Can't wait to see the updates!

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2008 318 Vista -SOLD, but I am still around!
All Night Long, Seattle WA

You need to identify that the "spare" red wire is no longer live, because if it is and creates a spark, KABOOOM! That should have been picked up when inspected because that does not adhere to ABYC standards. Looks like the alternator was replaced and went from a 3 wire to a 2 wire setup??? (looks like the black wire coming out of the alternator is also snipped)


Cougar,

I got sick of mine blocking up the driveway, it lives squarely behind the house now on it's own pad (seen below) which was going to be another garage... Now? I don't know...

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Brett DiMichele

Brett,

No, apart from the new red wire / disconnected orange wre. including the truncated black wire in the same connector as the purple wire, it's wired up exacty as mine is; mine is also a 2004 motor. I have had it since new, the alternator and wiring on mine is original

Graham

I'm upset I never looked at this on my 225 Sundowner. Same year and engine/drive package....

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2007 358 T-5.7GXi IB
Previous Boats
'08 H240, '08 V318, '04 268, '04 225

No need to be upset about it, there was no need to look at it as it was standard ! ( I only looked at mine when I had electrical problems a few months ago and also when there was a post a few weeks ago asking about alternator wiring).

Graham

Graham,

If it's standard then why wasn't it simply removed from the harness? It costs more money to leave it in there??

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Brett DiMichele

Brett,

The orange wire is standard, the purple wire fitted into it's connector is standard. The black wire in the same connector block as the purple wire ( or at least the wire that's underneath the black shrink on sleeve) is also standard. I imagine the harness is not generic VP; it'll be the GM one supplied with the engine since it uses a GM ECU/ injectors/ sensors etc. The black sleeved wire may be a carry over from a previous model year that had a different alternator and maybe it's sleeved to protect the connector on the alternator. Cost saving to remove it minimal; especially if the harness supplier already had say 10,000 pieces of that particular plug already assembled with 2 wires! Most automotive harnesses are made with the connectors for all optional equipment included, as it's cheaper and easier than having a number of different harnesses manufactured. Likewise boat harnesses.

The red wire is an add on made and fitted by someone somewhere, I can't imagine it was at the factory; easier for them to just stick on a new harness if the original was faulty rather than make and fit up a new wire. Unless they only found out when they tested the boat and no longer had good access ! Stripping out the orange wire from the harness would have been very difficult at that stage. I would have hoped that whoever did it, they disconnected the other end of the orange wire and replaced it with the red wire; it really does need to be checked out though.

Graham