03 4Tec GTX SC Starting issues

[TMfrisco]

03 GTX 4-TEC SC with 2 isssues - maybe related, maybe not.

When riding in rough water or at higher speeds warning buzzer goes off intermittently while gauges peg out and then shut down momentarily. There are no performance issues and the ski doesn't stop or even slow down. I sent the gauges off to have them repaired and the previous owner had the main harness replaced. Nothing has stopped the issue. My answer was to remove the 3 amp fuse - right side fuse rack, top fuse - that controls the warning buzzer. Rode it all last summer with no issues. Put it up and winterized the ski.

Fast forward to this week. Replaced the starter relay and reinstalled the battery. Put the key on the post and nothing but 1 click - no buzzer, not gauge activity, no nothing. Reinstalled the 3 amp buzzer fuse and tried again. Put the key on and the buzzer came on in a continuous buzz until the 3 amp fuse blew, then nothing.

What would changing the Starter Relay do to cause any of this? The replacement was not an OEM Relay. I am thinking about putting the old one back on to see if the relay is the problem, but I can't see why the relay would cause this. Plus, changing that relay is a pain. The old relay had not failed completely - just needed several button pushes to get action when first starting. I understand this is a symptom of a failing relay.

Any idea about the warning buzzer and crazy gauge activity?

Thanks

 

[Coastiejoe]

Jumpy the solenoid you installed, does it crank over then?

 

[TMfrisco]

I will try that, but when I put the key on the post I don't get 2 beeps.
Do I just have to jump between the 2 main terminals?
Any ideas on the Buzzer fuse blowing?

Thanks

 

[Coastiejoe]

No lanyard on yet. Jump the two posts with pliers or a screwdriver. Does it crank or not?

 

[TMfrisco]

OK, got it started. A few things I don't understand.
1. Install lanyard on dess post - get one long beep and one click that sounds like it is coming from the starter relay. Ski starts. Never get 2 beeps.
2. Install lanyard on post - no gauge activity. Start the ski, no gauge activity.

What do I need to check next?

Thanks

 

[mkov608]

TM, why did you send the gauge cluster out for repair, and what did the repair facility find wrong with it?

I went through a similar problem with one of my '02 skis. Water intrusion in the information center cause corrosion on the electrical connector and all sorts of buzzes and erratic readings. One wire was held together by a single strand. I replaced my information center, and the problem disappeared.

I also experience the erratic starting. Sometimes I would put the lanyard on the DESS post and nothing would happen, sometimes I would get the beep, gauges would come to life, and the ski would start. I removed both of the MPEM connectors and sprayed them w/ Deoxit. I still have the intermittent power problem from time to time. With the lanyard on the post, I have to wiggle the forward MPEM connector. I can hear a relay click, I get two beeps, and the gauges will respond. When I take off on the water, suddenly the ski will die (no gauges). I remove the seat off and wiggle that connector and the ski will come back to life.

Last weekend, I pulled the MPEM and looked at each pin on the plug to make sure I had good pin retention (the MPEM pin wasn't pushing the wire out of the back of the connector.) Everything looked great, but I still have the problem. It's weird for sure. I had to wiggle the connector once last time I was on the water, but after it started back up, I was good for the whole day.

Hope this gives you some ideas.

K

 

[ski-d00]

1. long beep is signaling a communication error with the gauge. the click is your tops valve and normal.
2. see 1.

You need a new gauge or wiring to the gauge. They are simple to remove and swap in other skis for testing.

 

[TMfrisco]

Sent the gauges off to Florida last year for repair and they worked fine when I put the ski up last winter.